Culture & Society
What does culture have to do with human social behavior?
Culture must be learned through interaction & participation as it is passed from one generation to the next. Culture explains how people behave toward each other & interact as well as what they do, like, believe, and value. As a result, people's behavior is based on their culture.
What are the three forms of language? Give an example of each one.
1) Verbal - A spoken dialogue.
2) Written - A novel, poetry, signs.
3) Gesture - A handshake, thumbs up, shrugging shoulders.
Define the basic types of norms & provide an example of each one.
Folkways - Norms, or customary ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, that lack moral significance. Example: Picking your nose.
Mores - Norms that have moral dimensions (conduct related to right & wrong). Example: Cheating on your spouse.
Laws - A norm that is formally defined and enforced by officials. Example: Smoking on a plane.
How does ethnocentrism affect perception? What must one use in order to escape their ethnocentric tendencies?
Ethnocentrism causes people to see and judge others based on their own standards, values, norms, & cultural beliefs.
The sociological imagination is used to step away from one's own culture and examine it from an outsider's perspective.
What is the difference between an extended family & a nuclear family?
A nuclear family is a group that includes a parent or parents and any children.
An extended family consists of two or more adult generations of the same family whose members share economic resources & live in the same household - and sometimes close relatives such as grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
How is society different from culture?
A society is defined by geographical territory while culture is not restricted to location.
What are some examples of slang words & gestures unique to Michigan?
Verbal - Pop, Yooper, Up North, "Meer" instead of "Mirror."
Written - A "Michigan Left" sign.
Gestures - Using our hand to show where we live in Michigan.
How do values & beliefs influence human behavior? Give an example of each one.
Values are desirable goals that motivate people to act a certain way. For example, if someone values hard work, they are going to work hard at fulfilling their responsibilities.
Beliefs are what people perceive as the truth of our world. People base their behavior on what they believe. For example, people who believe COVID is real will be more cautious and wear a mask while people who don't believe COVID is real will be less cautious & hang out with friends without a mask.
What are three reasons culture changes? Give an example of each one.
1) Invention - the printing press, pop music, democracy, etc.
2) Discovery - recognizing minorities should have equal rights, the discovery of germs, etc.
3) Diffusion - Buddhism, sushi, etc.
What is the difference between a patriarchal family, a matriarchal family, & an egalitarian family?
In a patriarchal family, the oldest man living in the household has authority over the rest of the family members.
In a matriarchal family, the oldest woman living in the household holds the authority. This is uncommon.
In an egalitarian family, authority is split evenly between a husband and a wife.
What is the difference between material culture & nonmaterial culture? Are these two types of culture connected? Give an example of each one.
Material Culture is the concrete, tangible objects of a culture. For example, the hula skirt and the lei are physical objects from Polynesian culture.
Nonmaterial Culture is the ideas, knowledge, values, norms, and beliefs that influence people’s behavior. For example, hula dancing & luaus are cultural norms from Polynesian culture.
Physical objects (material culture) often represents cultural ideas & values (nonmaterial culture). For example, the lei is a symbol of the values of love & friendship.
How does language shape our perception of the world?
Language is our guide to reality; how we think about a thing or idea relates & is limited to the words we have to describe it.
What is used to encourage people to conform to a culture's norms?
Sanctions are rewards & punishments used to encourage or force people to conform to a culture's norms.
What is the difference between pop culture & folk culture? Give an example of each one.
Pop culture is the culture found in large, heterogeneous societies that share certain habits despite differences in other personal characteristics. Example: famous & popular musicians, TV shows, movies, books, social media platforms, fashions, etc.
Folk culture is the culture traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogenous, traditional groups. Example: ethnic festivals, folk music, traditional clothing, ethnic food, etc.
What is the difference between the sacred & the profane? Give an example of each one.
The sacred are things & ideas that are set apart and given a special meaning that goes beyond, or transcends, immediate existence. Ex: a Catholic rosary, etc.
The profane are the non-sacred aspects of life. Another word for profane is secular. Ex: a belt, etc.
What does the nature vs. nurture argument have to do with culture?
According to the "nurture" side of the argument, environment plays a role in human behavior. Because culture influences a society’s values, norms, traditions, & beliefs (a person's environment), the people raised in that environment behave according to the culture’s guidelines and rules.
How does language facilitate cultural transmission?
Cultural ideas can be written down or communicated orally making easier the transmission of norms & ideas from one generation to the next.
What are formal sanctions and informal sanctions? Give an example of each one.
Formal Sanction - Rewards & punishments enforced by authority figures. Example: suspension, speeding ticket, good grades, etc.
Informal Sanction - Rewards & punishments that can be applied by most members of a society. Example: being scolded or glared at, receiving a compliment, etc.
What is the difference between subculture & counterculture? Give an example of each one.
Subculture is a group that is part of the dominant culture but that differs from it regarding their occupation, religion, region, ethnicity/race, political beliefs, hobbies, or lifestyles. Example: Cosplayers, Rednecks, Nuns, Deaf Culture, Hackers, Nerds, Bodybuilders, Steampunk Culture, Trekkies, etc.
Countercultures is a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture. It challenges the dominant culture’s core values. Example: Hippies, Civil Rights Movement, Feminism, the Amish, etc.
How is real culture different from ideal culture? Give an example of each one.
Ideal culture refers to cultural guidelines publicly embraced by members of a society. Real culture refers to actual behavior patterns, which often conflict with these guidelines.
For example, many Americans value integrity & hard work & agree that cheating is wrong (ideal culture). However, many Americans cheat on their taxes, spouses, & many other things in life (real culture).
What does the "Hypothesis of Linguistic Relativity" state about language?
It states that our perceptions of the world depend in part on the particular language we have learned, and since languages differ, perceptions differ as well.
Why is it important to be familiar with the social norms in another culture (especially, if you are going to immerse yourself in that culture)?
Social norms are drastically different across cultures. It is important that we understand social norms in other cultures in order to avoid misunderstandings and possible offense.
What is the difference between cultural universals & cultural particulars? Give an example of each one.
Cultural Universals are general cultural traits that exist in all cultures. Examples: sports, cooking, courtship, education, funeral rights, language, marriage, mourning, music, etc.
Cultural Particulars are the ways in which specific cultures express universal traits - their specific traditions. Examples: rugby, sushi, french, K-Pop, flamenco dancing, etc.