Sociology: Chapter 2 Section 1

Cultural Diversity and Conformity

“The Meaning of Culture”Standards: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, & 4.6

What is Culture? Unlike other animals, human action is not totally

controlled by natural instincts Culture: All of the shared PRODUCTS of human groups… 1. Physical 2. Beliefs 3. Values Material Culture: Physical objects (Culture) 1. Artifacts Non-Material Culture: Non “Physical” Culture 1. Language 2. Ideas 3. Rules…etc Society: A group of mutually interdependent PEOPLE

who share a common bond

Components of Culture 1. Physical Objects

2. Symbols

3. Language

4. Values

5. Norms

1. Physical Objects Not only the “Physical”

objects, but also the RULES for using those objects

Technology: The combination of objects AND rules.

*Also, tools used to manipulate the environment

Ex. Computer= Physical Surfing the Web= Rules

and skills related to COMPUTER

2. Symbols Anything that stands for

something else and is used by human cultures for communication

1. Word… “Hello” “Bless you” 2. Gesture… Wave 3. Image… Flag, Street sign 4. Sound… Bell tone (Church) 5. Physical Object Ex. Flag, Handshake…etc Symbolic Interaction: ex.

Military Salute Bowing when meeting someone *How many purposes for Symbols can you think of?

3. Language Organization of written

or spoken symbols *Even though the SAME

language may be spoken in two different places, there still may be differences in the Dialect

Ex: Northern (U.S.) English vs. Southern English North (Region)= “Pop” South =“Soda” *Different accents also

4. Values Societies’ shared beliefs about what is

good and bad. (Right and Wrong) *Differ from culture to culture Ex. Yanomamo: Brazil :Napoleon Chagnon…

“Fierce People” Warlike; Highly competitive 30% of people die from war wounds Communities usually break apart because of

competition and never get larger than 200 people

Ex. San: Highly cooperative. Each family owns territory and does not “trespass” on each others soil

Most members share various vital roles in society

5. Norms Shared rules of

conduct “Expectations” for

behavior Ex. “Excuse me”

(When you belch)

Basically… Norms are what society agrees is “NORMAL”

Norms: Folkways and Mores Folkways: Norms

that have no great moral significance

Usually not enforced by rules

Ex. Eating salad with a spoon “Abnormal; not illegal”

*Break a Folkway exercise

Mores: Norms with GREAT “MORAL” Significance

Has the potential to become a Dysfunction of society

Are usually enforced by Laws: Written rule of conduct enacted and enforced for good of society

Ex. Killing someone

Examining Culture Culture is dynamic:

It changes continuously

Ex. Pop Culture: What was cool in 1985 is NOT cool today (Depending on who you are)

Sociology: Chapter 2 Section 2

“Cultural Variations”Standards: 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, & 5.8

A Diverse World “If you count ONLY the languages

that have over 2,000,000 speakers, there are more than 220 different languages…”

There are also different dialects of the same language

What do we have in common? Cultural Universals: Traits common to

ALL/MOST cultures George Murdock: 1940’s Came up with 60

Cultural Universals Ex: 1. Cooking 2. Feasting 3. Myths {Urban Legend} (Hull House;

Reder Road) 4. Folklore 5. Religion

What does a vampire look like?

Romania: The “Real” Dracula!!!

Local Urban Legends

Studying Variation Subculture: Do not share ALL of the culture traits

of the dominant society Ex. Little Italy in Chicago Ex. Little Havana in Miami Consider selves as PART of the main culture, but

still retain SOME of their original culture traits Counter Culture: REJECT ALL aspects of the

dominant society Ex. Anarchists Ex. Hermit * Culture PowerPoint Project (Std. 2.7-2.9 & 5.8)

Subculture and Counter Culture

Response to Variation Ethnocentrism: Caused by cultural diversity Who is right? “Tendency to view ones own culture

as superior to others.” We often mock the beliefs and actions

of other cultures with the assumption that what we are doing is right

Would you eat this?

Response to Variation Cultural Relativism: Cultures should be judged by their OWN

standards; not ours (Verstehen) Marvin Harris: Cannibals and Kings Harris explored the Indian prohibition

against killing cows in spite of food shortages

Harris concluded that Indians did not kill cows because they were needed for plowing fields and providing milk; both of which are essential to the Indian culture

Cultural Change Can happen quickly OR slowly

Usually slow The Process of Change Cultural Diffusion: Spreading of culture traits,

ideas, beliefs, or material objects from one society to another

William Ogburn Cultural Lag: Material change happens faster

than non-material: Culture lag refers to the time when IDEAS/BELIEFS are adapting to material conditions- Ideas usually slow change down

Cultural Leveling James Henslin: Explained “leveling”

as the PROCESS by which cultures become more and more alike

Eg. McDonalds in 100 Countries

Sociology: Ch 2 Section 3

“The American Value System”Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, & 4.13

Traditional American Values 1970: Robin Williams Formulated “15 Central American Values” 1. Personal Achievement Nation based on “Individual” &

“Competition”: Economics/ Capitalism 2. Progress & Material Comfort In spite of times, Americans look to future w/

optimism Hard Work: on improving living conditions ***High value on material comfort

Traditional Values 3. Work Discipline, Dedication, and Hard Work seen

as a virtue by Americans 4. Individualism Individual effort is KEY to success 5. Efficiency & Practicality Americans tend to be practical and inventive Every problem can be solved Find an efficient way *Americans judge people/product on usefulness

Traditional American Values 6. Morality & Humanitarianism U.S. founded on “morality” (In Theory) Charity toward less fortunate View world in terms of “Right and Wrong” World not viewed in terms of “Different”

7. Equality and Democracy Principle of equality (In theory) Equality in opportunity Equal chance at success *Success MUST be earned Citizens SHOULD participate in Gov’t

Traditional American Values 8. Freedom Very important Freedom of Choice and FROM Government Laissez Faire 9. External Conformity Ideal of going along Robin Williams: Other Core Values

-Nationalism -Science and rationality -Patriotism -Racial and Group

Superiority -Religion

Pick the FIVE things from the list that are MOST important to you

__Being Famous __Having Nice Things __Being Respected for Work Ethic __Being an Individual __Finding a Way to Solve Hard Problems __Helping Less Fortunate __Being Treated the Same as Everyone Else __Being Free to Make Your Own Decisions __Being Able to Fit In __Being Proud of Your Nation __Serving Your Nation __Finding Logical Answers to Your Questions __Being Proud of Your Race __Practicing Your Religion __Being Able to Vote

Our Changing American Values: Since the 1970’s New Values Self-Fulfillment Commitment to

development of one’s own talent, personality, and potential

*Education is also considered a new important value

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Reactions to Change in Values Christopher Lasch The Culture of Narcissism Narcissism: Extreme self centered *Negative on society Daniel Yankelovich: Psychologists Believed that self-fulfillment is good for society “If all of the PARTS of society strive to get

better, then society, as a whole, WILL get better”