CulturePART 2- COMPONENTS OF CULTURE

ValuesGeneral principles of right and wrong, good and evil, etc.

Beliefs: ideas people hold true in the absence of evidence.

Value contradictions

Ideal culture versus real culture

NormsGuidelines for behavior in specific situations

Prescriptive v. proscriptive

Formal v. informal

The normative aspect of culture social control

Social sanctions +/- imposed by agents of social control

Different types of normsDepending on how seriously we take the violations of these norms:

Folkways

Mores

Laws

Taboos

Examples of norm violations1. Follow the link: http://youtu.be/zAjWi663kXc

2. Follow the link: http://youtu.be/jwMj3PJDxuo

Try to answer the following questions:◦ Which norms were violated?

◦ Were they formal or informal norms?

◦ What were the sanctions?

◦ Were they positive or negative?

◦ Who are the agents of social control?

Next: Cultural Variation and Change