Post on 25-Dec-2015
Chapter 3: CultureChapter 3: Culture
Culture & Society in a Changing World
Components of CultureTechnology, Cultural Change, &
DiversityA Global Popular Culture
Sociological Analysis of CultureCulture in the Future
Culture & Society in a Changing World
Components of CultureTechnology, Cultural Change, &
DiversityA Global Popular Culture
Sociological Analysis of CultureCulture in the Future
Culture:Culture:
The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.
The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.
We ask, therefore:We ask, therefore: What part does culture play in shaping
people and the social relations in which they participate?
What are the essential components of culture?
To what degree are we shaped by popular culture?
How do subcultures and countercultures reflect diversity within a society?
How do the various sociological perspectives view culture?
What part does culture play in shaping people and the social relations in which they participate?
What are the essential components of culture?
To what degree are we shaped by popular culture?
How do subcultures and countercultures reflect diversity within a society?
How do the various sociological perspectives view culture?
Culture and Society in a Changing World
Culture and Society in a Changing World
Travelers are wise to know what various gestures mean in different culturesKicking, showing sole of shoe or
throwing a shoe is a great insult in the Arab world
“Hook ’em horns” sign means “your spouse is unfaithful in Italy, or “hang loose” in Hawaii
Travelers are wise to know what various gestures mean in different culturesKicking, showing sole of shoe or
throwing a shoe is a great insult in the Arab world
“Hook ’em horns” sign means “your spouse is unfaithful in Italy, or “hang loose” in Hawaii
Culture is essential:Culture is essential:
For our survival For our communication with other
people For the survival of societies The common denominator that makes
the actions of individuals intelligible to the group
The rules and laws, the systems that make our lives live-able
For our survival For our communication with other
people For the survival of societies The common denominator that makes
the actions of individuals intelligible to the group
The rules and laws, the systems that make our lives live-able
We don’t act as we do out of instinct
We don’t act as we do out of instinct
Humans don’t have instinct, they have reflexes (unlearned, biologically determined involuntary responses to some physical stimuli) or drives (unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species)
Nature: biological & genetic makeup Nurture: our social environment Nurture tells us the appropriate way to
satisfy our drives
Humans don’t have instinct, they have reflexes (unlearned, biologically determined involuntary responses to some physical stimuli) or drives (unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species)
Nature: biological & genetic makeup Nurture: our social environment Nurture tells us the appropriate way to
satisfy our drives
Material & Nonmaterial Culture
Material & Nonmaterial Culture
Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use & share (Examples?)
Nonmaterial culture consists of the abstract or intangible creations of society that influence people’s behavior (Examples?)
Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use & share (Examples?)
Nonmaterial culture consists of the abstract or intangible creations of society that influence people’s behavior (Examples?)
Cultural Universals:Cultural Universals:
All humans have the same basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) thus we engage in similar activities that contribute to our survival
George Murdoch compiled a list of >70 cultural universals (customs and practices that occur across all societies)
All humans have the same basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) thus we engage in similar activities that contribute to our survival
George Murdoch compiled a list of >70 cultural universals (customs and practices that occur across all societies)
Cultural Universals include:
Cultural Universals include:
Physical appearance (bodily adornments, etc.)
Activities (sports, dance, games) Social institutions (family, law, religion) Customary practices (cooking, folklore,
gift giving, hospitality) Present but forms vary from society to
society Ensure the smooth and continual
operations of societies
Physical appearance (bodily adornments, etc.)
Activities (sports, dance, games) Social institutions (family, law, religion) Customary practices (cooking, folklore,
gift giving, hospitality) Present but forms vary from society to
society Ensure the smooth and continual
operations of societies
Cultural universals also:Cultural universals also:
May be imposed by members of a society on members of another
Conquering nations do this to conquered ones
Examples?
May be imposed by members of a society on members of another
Conquering nations do this to conquered ones
Examples?
Components of Culture:Components of Culture:
Symbols: anything that meaningfully represents something else
Shared meanings among peopleCan be used to induce loyalty, as
well as for animosityExamples: flags, clothing, cars,
logos
Symbols: anything that meaningfully represents something else
Shared meanings among peopleCan be used to induce loyalty, as
well as for animosityExamples: flags, clothing, cars,
logos
Language:Language:
A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another
Verbal Written/visual Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says language
shapes the view of reality of its speakers
Not necessarily determinate but certainly influential
A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another
Verbal Written/visual Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says language
shapes the view of reality of its speakers
Not necessarily determinate but certainly influential
Language and Gender:Language and Gender:
English language ignores women--refers to humans in general in the masculine
He/she usage reflects this, especially as related to occupations
Descriptive terms for women also objectify them
Use of Ms to replace Mrs or Miss is a way to make language less gender biased
English language ignores women--refers to humans in general in the masculine
He/she usage reflects this, especially as related to occupations
Descriptive terms for women also objectify them
Use of Ms to replace Mrs or Miss is a way to make language less gender biased
Language, race, ethnicity:Language, race, ethnicity: Language also can reinforce racial
stereotypes: blackhearted, a black mark, etc.
Derogatory racial slurs are often used in conjunction with physical threats, “popularized” in movies
Words are used to create or reinforce perceptions about a group (natives as savages or primitives)
Voice of verbs may minimize or wrongly identify the achievements of others
Language also can reinforce racial stereotypes: blackhearted, a black mark, etc.
Derogatory racial slurs are often used in conjunction with physical threats, “popularized” in movies
Words are used to create or reinforce perceptions about a group (natives as savages or primitives)
Voice of verbs may minimize or wrongly identify the achievements of others
More on ethnicity/language
More on ethnicity/language
Adjectives that typically have positive connotations can have different meanings when used in certain contexts
Dominant language speakers often feel threatened when they witness others speaking a different language
Assimilation and inclusion often depend upon acquisition of and fluency of language
Adjectives that typically have positive connotations can have different meanings when used in certain contexts
Dominant language speakers often feel threatened when they witness others speaking a different language
Assimilation and inclusion often depend upon acquisition of and fluency of language
Values: Values:
Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture
Typically, values come in pairs of positive and negative
We use values to justify our behavior and we defend our values
Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture
Typically, values come in pairs of positive and negative
We use values to justify our behavior and we defend our values
American Values:American Values: Individualism: people are responsible
for their own success or failure Achievement and success: personal
achievement results from successful competition with others
Activity & work: we praise those who achieve by industrious work; we ridicule those we see as lazy
Science & technology: faith in advances Progress & material comfort: we want
more than the basics, but nicer things
Individualism: people are responsible for their own success or failure
Achievement and success: personal achievement results from successful competition with others
Activity & work: we praise those who achieve by industrious work; we ridicule those we see as lazy
Science & technology: faith in advances Progress & material comfort: we want
more than the basics, but nicer things
More American values:More American values:
Efficiency & practicality: bigger, better, faster
Equality: in the US, this is equality of opportunity, not outcome
Morality and humanitarianism: we help others, particularly after natural disasters
Freedom and liberty: basic rights Racism and group superiority: we value
our own culture group and nation
Efficiency & practicality: bigger, better, faster
Equality: in the US, this is equality of opportunity, not outcome
Morality and humanitarianism: we help others, particularly after natural disasters
Freedom and liberty: basic rights Racism and group superiority: we value
our own culture group and nation
Value contradictions:Value contradictions:
Values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive
Example: morality and humanitarianism can conflict with individual achievement and success
All countries have these, not only the US
Values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive
Example: morality and humanitarianism can conflict with individual achievement and success
All countries have these, not only the US
Ideal Versus Real CultureIdeal Versus Real Culture
Ideal culture: the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold
Real culture: the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow
The degree of discrepancy between ideal and real cultures is relevant to sociologists studying social change
Ideal culture: the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold
Real culture: the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow
The degree of discrepancy between ideal and real cultures is relevant to sociologists studying social change
Norms:Norms:
Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct
Prescriptive norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable
Proscriptive norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable
Prescriptive: opening the door for someone carrying a heavy load
Proscriptive: texting while driving
Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct
Prescriptive norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable
Proscriptive norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable
Prescriptive: opening the door for someone carrying a heavy load
Proscriptive: texting while driving
Norms, continued:Norms, continued: Not all norms are of equal importance,
but those most important are formalized Laws are the most common type of
formal norm, enforced by sanctions Sanctions are rewards for appropriate
behavior and penalties for inappropriate behavior
Informal norms--unwritten standards Informal sanctions--less clearly defined
and can be applied by anyone
Not all norms are of equal importance, but those most important are formalized
Laws are the most common type of formal norm, enforced by sanctions
Sanctions are rewards for appropriate behavior and penalties for inappropriate behavior
Informal norms--unwritten standards Informal sanctions--less clearly defined
and can be applied by anyone
Norms--Folkways:Norms--Folkways:
Informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture
Examples: wearing deodorant, brushing teeth, dressing appropriately
Culture specific, learned
Informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture
Examples: wearing deodorant, brushing teeth, dressing appropriately
Culture specific, learned
Norms--Mores:Norms--Mores:
Particular culture’s strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may NOT be violated without serious consequences
Based on cultural values, considered to be crucial for the well-being of the group, more serious sanctions
Taboos: mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable
Particular culture’s strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may NOT be violated without serious consequences
Based on cultural values, considered to be crucial for the well-being of the group, more serious sanctions
Taboos: mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable
Examples of Mores and Taboos
Examples of Mores and Taboos
Incest taboo--nearly universalSharia law--in Muslim nations that
follow the edicts of the Koran relating to dominance of men over women, women may not mix with men in public, must cover up, may go only to women’s banks, see women doctors, etc.
Incest taboo--nearly universalSharia law--in Muslim nations that
follow the edicts of the Koran relating to dominance of men over women, women may not mix with men in public, must cover up, may go only to women’s banks, see women doctors, etc.
Norms--Laws:Norms--Laws:
Formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions
Civil law deals with disputes among persons or groups
Criminal law deals with public safety and well being
When criminal law is violated, fines and prison sentences are the most likely sanctions
Formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions
Civil law deals with disputes among persons or groups
Criminal law deals with public safety and well being
When criminal law is violated, fines and prison sentences are the most likely sanctions
Technology, Cultural Change, and DiversityTechnology, Cultural
Change, and Diversity