Social Structure and Norms ReviewBlackhurst

AgendaIt’s been a while… so let’s review what we’ve learned. 1234

NormsMore, Folkways, Laws

CultureMaterial and Non-material culture

SanctionsFormal, Informal, Positive, Negative

ValuesHow can we tell what a society values?

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American ValuesRobin Williams’

Culture ChangeDiffusion, Discovery and Invention

Subcultureand Countercultures

Components of CultureTaboos, Symbols, Language

MORES Have a greater moral significance Violations of Mores endangers the well-being & stability of society Do not kill other people Do not steal Do not hurt children Keep your promises Pay back borrowed money

Rules that cover customary practices without a moral concern Males—take off hats inside a building Sending “Thank You” notes Using proper table manners Do not eat peas with your fingers Shake hands when you are introduced to someone Get to class on time Do your homework Do not cut in line

FOLKWAYS

NormsMores, Folkways, Laws

Laws are mores

formalized into laws.

Culture

Material Culture.• The concrete, tangible objects of a culture.• All of these physical aspects of a culture help to define its members‘ behaviors and perceptions.Ex: Art pieces, sculptures, computers

Non-Material Culture.• Non-Material Culture---ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that influence people’s behaviors

Material and Non-material

Can you come up with more examples of

material/non-material culture?

What are the possible sanctions for someone who received a D in Sociology on their report card?

• Negative – Having a “D” bring your gpa down.• Positive – none• Formal – Teacher calls home.• Informal – Your friends make fun of you because they know

sociology is an easy class.

SanctionsFormal, Informal, Positive and Negative

ValuesHow can we tell what a society values?

Societies values show up in their norms.

If a culture values a specific set of rules for it’s people, it will impose those rules upon the people by making them conform to norms.

American ValuesRobin Williams

(1) Achievement and Success(2) Individualism(3) Activity and Work(4) Efficiency and

Practicality(5) Science and

Technology(6) Progress

(7) Material Comfort(8) Humanitarianism(9) Freedom(10) Democracy(11) Equality(12) Racism and Group Superiority(13) Education(14) Religiosity(15) Romantic Love

Diffusion - process of spreading culture traits from society to society. Technology and material traits diffuse faster than beliefs and ideas. Discovery – societies creating culture based on discovery for new uses of former ways to conform

Ex: Light bulb (There was always a way to light a room with a candle. They discovered a new way.)

Invention – Creation of culture traits and patterns from new elements in a society

Culture ChangeDiffusion, Discovery and Invention

SubcultureAnd counterculture.

• Subculture a group that is part of the dominant culture but that differs from it in some important respects

• Counterculture a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture

Culture ComponentsCultu

re Patterns

combination of a number

of culture

complexes into

an interrelated whole

Culture Complexes

individual culture traits combine to form culture

Culture Traitsindividual tool, act, or belief that’s related to a

particular situation or need

Symbols stand for or represent something else. Some symbols have greater meaning than others.

Language affects culture in different ways. It helps define reality by restricting thought to available words. It shapes behavior in the same manner. Equipped with language, humans can pass their experiences, ideas, and knowledge to others.

CultureSymbols, Language

Arapesh v. MundugumorWhat did we learn about their personalities compared with their culture?

Who studied these cultures?Margaret MeadWhere did she study?New GuineaWhen did she study?1930sWhy did she study these people?Her purpose was to determine whether differences in personal temperament results mainly from inherited characteristics or cultural influences.