components of culture the basic components of all cultures that vary from society to society
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Components of Culture
The basic components of all cultures that vary from society to society.
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1. Technology• Physical objects (tools) and the rules for
using them• Includes skills/procedures necessary to make
& use tools– Emerging technologies a.k.a. “new technologies”– Ex. printing press & computer– Sets framework for nonmaterial culture…
influencing the way people think & how they relate to one another
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• Cultural Lag: – occurs when not all parts of culture change @
same pace• Material culture changes faster than nonmaterial
culture. • WHY???
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• Cultural Diffusion:– Transmission of cultural characteristics– More likely to occur with material culture– Occurs more rapidly today as a result of:
• Technology• Transportation• Communication
• Cultural Leveling:– Occurs when cultures become similar to one another– Ex. Japan has adopted the Western culture in many ways
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2. Symbols• Anything that represents something else• Through symbols we create culture (attach
meaning) and communicate it to group members
• Examples of symbols:– Words -Objects– Gestures -Events– Images– Sounds
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3. Language• Organization of written or spoken symbols
into a standardized system– Primary means of communication between people
• Allows for cumulative history of people• Allows for social (shared) past & future• Allows for exchange of perspectives (complex, shared,
goal-directed behavior)
• Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: when we learn words, we learn a way of thinking and perceiving; our language determines our consciousness
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4. Values• Shared beliefs about what is good/bad,
right/wrong, desirable/undesirable, beautiful/ugly– Determine character of people & the material and
non-material culture they create – Every group develops values & expectations
regarding the right way to reflect them
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5. Norms• Expectations (rules of behavior) that develop
out of a group’s values– Can vary in enforcement– Can be applied differently or selectively to
different groups
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Norms vary in their importance to a culture
– Folkways: describe socially acceptable behavior, that do not have great moral significance• Not strictly enforced• Can vary by groups
– Mores: norms believed to be essential to core values and that have great moral significance• Require conformity• Violation of mores threatens society’s well-being and stability• Laws are formally defined mores enacted and enforced by the
government
– Taboo: norms so strongly ingrained that even the thought of them is greeting with revulsion
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Sanctions: enforcement of norms
Positive Sanctions• Expressions of approval
– Money– Prize– Smile– Handshake– Sticker– Applause
Negative Sanctions• Denote disapproval for
breaking a norm– Fine– Frown– Harsh words– Ridicule– Ticket
In addition to positive/negative, sanctions can also be formal or informal .
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• Moral Holiday: specified times when people are allowed to break norms and not worry about sanctions– Mardi Gras– Spring Break