Chapter Two

Culture
by John J. Macionis

What is Culture?
Culture the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a peoples way of life
Only humans rely on culture rather than instinct to ensure survival.

What is Culture?
Nonmaterial culture ideas created by members of a society. Material culture tangible things created by members of a society.

What is Culture?
Society refers to people who interact in a defined territory and share culture.
Culture shock refers to personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life.

How Many Cultures?

One indication of culture is language Global estimates document 7,000 languages In the USA, there are about 200 languages Upcoming decades will show the disappearance of hundreds of languages

The Elements of Culture

Although cultures vary, they all have five common components:

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Symbols Language Values and Beliefs Norms Ideal and Real Culture

Elements of Culture Symbols

Symbols anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture.

Elements of Culture Symbols

Symbols collective creations
General Marketing Aimed at a total population Segmented Marketing Aimed at a specific population

Elements of Culture Language

Language a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another. Language allows for the continuity of culture.

BBC

Elements of Culture Language

Cultural transmission the process by which one generation passes culture to the next. Every society transmits culture through speech.

The Sapir-Whorf Thesis

Languages are not just different sets of labels for the same reality. All languages fuse symbols with distinctive emotions. The Sapir-Whorf Thesis people perceive the world through the cultural lens of language.

Elements of Culture Values and Beliefs

Values culturally defined standards by which people assess desirability, goodness, and beauty and that serve as broad guidelines for social living.

Values are abstract standards of goodness.

Elements of Culture Values and Beliefs

Beliefs specific statements that people hold to be true.
Beliefs are particular matters that individuals consider true or false.

Elements of Culture
Societies show significant cultural variations in their favorite sports.
Canada: Ice Hockey Jamaica: Cricket Thailand: Kite flying China: tai chi chuan

Key Values of United States Culture

Robin M. Williams, Jr.

Equal Opportunity Achievement and Success Material Comfort Activity and Work Practicality and Efficiency

Key Values of United States Culture

Robin M. Williams, Jr.

Progress Science Democracy and Free Enterprise Freedom Racism and Group Superiority

Elements of Culture Norms

o Norms rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. o Most important norms in a culture apply everywhere and at all times.

Elements of Culture Norms

Mores norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance.
Folkways norms for routine, casual interaction.

Elements of Culture Norms

Mores
Societal taboos such as:

Murder Treason Child sexual abuse

(Right vs. wrong)

Inspire intense reactions Punishment inevitably follows

Elements of Culture Norms

Folkways (polite vs. rude) People chew quietly with mouths closed Accepting ones place in line People avoid facing each other in elevators

No written rules No one physically harmed

Technology & Culture

Material culture also reflects a societys technology knowledge that people use to make a way of life in their surroundings.

Sociocultural evolution

Technology and Culture

hunting and gathering societies horticultural & pastoralism agriculture industry postindustrial information technology

Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity can involve social class. Many cultural patterns are readily accessible to only some members of a society.

Cultural Diversity
High culture cultural patterns that distinguish a societys elite
Popular culture cultural patterns that are widespread among a population.

Subcultures

Subculture cultural patterns that set apart

some segment of societys population.

Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism an educational program recognizing the cultural diversity of the United States and promoting the equality of all cultural traditions.

Multiculturalism
Afrocentrism the dominance of African cultural patterns.

Eurocentrism the dominance of European cultural patterns.

Counterculture
Counterculture
cultural patterns that rejects and opposes those widely accepted within a society.

Examples:
Hippies of the 60s Street Gangs Hare Krishna Extreme rightwing religious groups

Cultural Change

Cultural integration the close relationships among various elements of a cultural system.

Some elements of culture change faster than others cultural lag.

Cultural Change
Cultural integration
Examples:

Women in the workforce Later first marriages Change in family patterns Increased use of day care

Cultural Change
Cultural lag
Examples:

Contraception Increased availability Use by adolescents Medical Advances Little or no ability to provide higher quality of life

Cultural Change
Cultural changes New cultural elements
Cell phones Blackberry iPhones Diffusion Spread of objects from one society to another

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism the practice of judging another culture by the standards of ones own culture.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism
the practice of evaluating a culture by that cultures own standards.

Cultural Universals

A Global Culture
Global economy: the flow of goods Global communication: the flow of information Global migration: the flow of people

Theoretical Analysis of Culture

The structuralfunctional paradigm depicts culture as a complex strategy for meeting human needs. The socialconflict paradigm suggests that many cultural traits function to the advantage of some and the disadvantage of others. Sociobiology explores ways in which human biology affects how we create culture.