Sociology: Chapter 2 Section 1

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Sociology Chapter 2 Section 1

• Cultural Diversity
• The Meaning of Culture
• Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9,
  2.10, 4.6

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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. Rulesetc
• Society A group of mutually interdependent
  PEOPLE who share a common bond

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Components of Culture

• 1. Physical Objects
• 2. Symbols
• 3. Language
• 4. Values
• 5. Norms

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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

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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, Handshakeetc
• Symbolic Interaction ex. Military Salute
• Bowing when meeting someone

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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

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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

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5. Norms

• Shared rules of conduct
• Expectations for behavior
• Ex. Excuse me (When you belch)
• Basically Norms are what society agrees is
  NORMAL

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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

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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)

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Three Levels of Culture

• Culture Trait Individual tool, act, or belief
  that is related to a certain situation (Spoon,
  Baseball..etc)
• Culture Complex Cluster of interrelated traits
  (Silverware, Baseball Equipmentetc)
• Culture Pattern Combination of culture complexes
  (Sportsnot just baseballetc)
• See Diagram on page 27