Culture Basics
What is culture?
Shared beliefs, values, norms, and behaviours of a group
What is a norm?
Expected behaviour in a society
What is ethnocentrism?
Judging another culture by your own standards
What is socialization?
The process of learning norms and values
A student takes off their shoes before entering a house. What concept does this show?
Cultural norms
Give one example of a cultural norm.
(Any valid example: shaking hands, saying thank you, lining up, etc.)
What is deviance?
Behaviour that violates social norms
What is cultural relativism?
Understanding a culture based on its own values
Name one agent of socialization.
Family, school, media, peers, religion
Someone laughs at another culture’s clothing. What concept is this?
Ethnocentrism
What is the difference between material and non-material culture?
Material = physical objects; Non-material = beliefs, values, norms
What is the difference between formal and informal norms?
Formal = laws; Informal = unwritten rules
Which concept is shown: “That food is disgusting because I would never eat it”?
Ethnocentrism
What is nonverbal communication?
Communication without words (body language, eye contact, etc.)
A child learns to say “please” and “thank you.” What concept?
Socialization
Why might something considered “rude” in one culture be normal in another?
Norms are culturally constructed and vary between societies
Why is deviance considered socially constructed?
What is deviant depends on cultural context
Why is cultural relativism important in anthropology?
Helps avoid bias and better understand other cultures
Why might eye contact cause misunderstanding between cultures?
Different meanings (respect vs disrespect)
A person feels torn between their family’s culture and their friends’ culture. What is this?
Identity conflict / cultural conflict
Explain how culture influences behaviour using one example.
Must connect behaviour to learned cultural values (e.g., eye contact, food, communication)
Give an example of behaviour that is deviant in one culture but normal in another. Explain why.
Must show cultural variation + explanation
Can cultural relativism ever be problematic? Explain.
Yes—can conflict with human rights or ethical concerns
How does socialization affect how people behave as adults?
Shapes beliefs, behaviour, communication styles
Two people misinterpret each other’s body language and get offended. Explain using anthropology concepts. (Hint: A form of _____ communication + ___differences + _______
Nonverbal communication + cultural differences + misinterpretation