Chapter 3: CultureChapter 3: Culture

Culture & Society in a Changing World

Components of CultureTechnology, Cultural Change, &

DiversityA Global Popular Culture

Sociological Analysis of CultureCulture in the Future

Culture & Society in a Changing World

Components of CultureTechnology, Cultural Change, &

DiversityA Global Popular Culture

Sociological Analysis of CultureCulture in the Future

Culture:Culture:

The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

We ask, therefore:We ask, therefore: What part does culture play in shaping

people and the social relations in which they participate?

What are the essential components of culture?

To what degree are we shaped by popular culture?

How do subcultures and countercultures reflect diversity within a society?

How do the various sociological perspectives view culture?

What part does culture play in shaping people and the social relations in which they participate?

What are the essential components of culture?

To what degree are we shaped by popular culture?

How do subcultures and countercultures reflect diversity within a society?

How do the various sociological perspectives view culture?

Culture and Society in a Changing World

Culture and Society in a Changing World

Travelers are wise to know what various gestures mean in different culturesKicking, showing sole of shoe or

throwing a shoe is a great insult in the Arab world

“Hook ’em horns” sign means “your spouse is unfaithful in Italy, or “hang loose” in Hawaii

Travelers are wise to know what various gestures mean in different culturesKicking, showing sole of shoe or

throwing a shoe is a great insult in the Arab world

“Hook ’em horns” sign means “your spouse is unfaithful in Italy, or “hang loose” in Hawaii

Culture is essential:Culture is essential:

For our survival For our communication with other

people For the survival of societies The common denominator that makes

the actions of individuals intelligible to the group

The rules and laws, the systems that make our lives live-able

For our survival For our communication with other

people For the survival of societies The common denominator that makes

the actions of individuals intelligible to the group

The rules and laws, the systems that make our lives live-able

We don’t act as we do out of instinct

We don’t act as we do out of instinct

Humans don’t have instinct, they have reflexes (unlearned, biologically determined involuntary responses to some physical stimuli) or drives (unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species)

Nature: biological & genetic makeup Nurture: our social environment Nurture tells us the appropriate way to

satisfy our drives

Humans don’t have instinct, they have reflexes (unlearned, biologically determined involuntary responses to some physical stimuli) or drives (unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species)

Nature: biological & genetic makeup Nurture: our social environment Nurture tells us the appropriate way to

satisfy our drives

Material & Nonmaterial Culture

Material & Nonmaterial Culture

Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use & share (Examples?)

Nonmaterial culture consists of the abstract or intangible creations of society that influence people’s behavior (Examples?)

Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use & share (Examples?)

Nonmaterial culture consists of the abstract or intangible creations of society that influence people’s behavior (Examples?)

Cultural Universals:Cultural Universals:

All humans have the same basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) thus we engage in similar activities that contribute to our survival

George Murdoch compiled a list of >70 cultural universals (customs and practices that occur across all societies)

All humans have the same basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) thus we engage in similar activities that contribute to our survival

George Murdoch compiled a list of >70 cultural universals (customs and practices that occur across all societies)

Cultural Universals include:

Cultural Universals include:

Physical appearance (bodily adornments, etc.)

Activities (sports, dance, games) Social institutions (family, law, religion) Customary practices (cooking, folklore,

gift giving, hospitality) Present but forms vary from society to

society Ensure the smooth and continual

operations of societies

Physical appearance (bodily adornments, etc.)

Activities (sports, dance, games) Social institutions (family, law, religion) Customary practices (cooking, folklore,

gift giving, hospitality) Present but forms vary from society to

society Ensure the smooth and continual

operations of societies

Cultural universals also:Cultural universals also:

May be imposed by members of a society on members of another

Conquering nations do this to conquered ones

Examples?

May be imposed by members of a society on members of another

Conquering nations do this to conquered ones

Examples?

Components of Culture:Components of Culture:

Symbols: anything that meaningfully represents something else

Shared meanings among peopleCan be used to induce loyalty, as

well as for animosityExamples: flags, clothing, cars,

logos

Symbols: anything that meaningfully represents something else

Shared meanings among peopleCan be used to induce loyalty, as

well as for animosityExamples: flags, clothing, cars,

logos

Language:Language:

A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another

Verbal Written/visual Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says language

shapes the view of reality of its speakers

Not necessarily determinate but certainly influential

A set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another

Verbal Written/visual Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says language

shapes the view of reality of its speakers

Not necessarily determinate but certainly influential

Language and Gender:Language and Gender:

English language ignores women--refers to humans in general in the masculine

He/she usage reflects this, especially as related to occupations

Descriptive terms for women also objectify them

Use of Ms to replace Mrs or Miss is a way to make language less gender biased

English language ignores women--refers to humans in general in the masculine

He/she usage reflects this, especially as related to occupations

Descriptive terms for women also objectify them

Use of Ms to replace Mrs or Miss is a way to make language less gender biased

Language, race, ethnicity:Language, race, ethnicity: Language also can reinforce racial

stereotypes: blackhearted, a black mark, etc.

Derogatory racial slurs are often used in conjunction with physical threats, “popularized” in movies

Words are used to create or reinforce perceptions about a group (natives as savages or primitives)

Voice of verbs may minimize or wrongly identify the achievements of others

Language also can reinforce racial stereotypes: blackhearted, a black mark, etc.

Derogatory racial slurs are often used in conjunction with physical threats, “popularized” in movies

Words are used to create or reinforce perceptions about a group (natives as savages or primitives)

Voice of verbs may minimize or wrongly identify the achievements of others

More on ethnicity/language

More on ethnicity/language

Adjectives that typically have positive connotations can have different meanings when used in certain contexts

Dominant language speakers often feel threatened when they witness others speaking a different language

Assimilation and inclusion often depend upon acquisition of and fluency of language

Adjectives that typically have positive connotations can have different meanings when used in certain contexts

Dominant language speakers often feel threatened when they witness others speaking a different language

Assimilation and inclusion often depend upon acquisition of and fluency of language

Values: Values:

Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture

Typically, values come in pairs of positive and negative

We use values to justify our behavior and we defend our values

Collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture

Typically, values come in pairs of positive and negative

We use values to justify our behavior and we defend our values

American Values:American Values: Individualism: people are responsible

for their own success or failure Achievement and success: personal

achievement results from successful competition with others

Activity & work: we praise those who achieve by industrious work; we ridicule those we see as lazy

Science & technology: faith in advances Progress & material comfort: we want

more than the basics, but nicer things

Individualism: people are responsible for their own success or failure

Achievement and success: personal achievement results from successful competition with others

Activity & work: we praise those who achieve by industrious work; we ridicule those we see as lazy

Science & technology: faith in advances Progress & material comfort: we want

more than the basics, but nicer things

More American values:More American values:

Efficiency & practicality: bigger, better, faster

Equality: in the US, this is equality of opportunity, not outcome

Morality and humanitarianism: we help others, particularly after natural disasters

Freedom and liberty: basic rights Racism and group superiority: we value

our own culture group and nation

Efficiency & practicality: bigger, better, faster

Equality: in the US, this is equality of opportunity, not outcome

Morality and humanitarianism: we help others, particularly after natural disasters

Freedom and liberty: basic rights Racism and group superiority: we value

our own culture group and nation

Value contradictions:Value contradictions:

Values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive

Example: morality and humanitarianism can conflict with individual achievement and success

All countries have these, not only the US

Values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive

Example: morality and humanitarianism can conflict with individual achievement and success

All countries have these, not only the US

Ideal Versus Real CultureIdeal Versus Real Culture

Ideal culture: the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold

Real culture: the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow

The degree of discrepancy between ideal and real cultures is relevant to sociologists studying social change

Ideal culture: the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold

Real culture: the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow

The degree of discrepancy between ideal and real cultures is relevant to sociologists studying social change

Norms:Norms:

Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct

Prescriptive norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable

Proscriptive norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable

Prescriptive: opening the door for someone carrying a heavy load

Proscriptive: texting while driving

Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct

Prescriptive norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable

Proscriptive norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable

Prescriptive: opening the door for someone carrying a heavy load

Proscriptive: texting while driving

Norms, continued:Norms, continued: Not all norms are of equal importance,

but those most important are formalized Laws are the most common type of

formal norm, enforced by sanctions Sanctions are rewards for appropriate

behavior and penalties for inappropriate behavior

Informal norms--unwritten standards Informal sanctions--less clearly defined

and can be applied by anyone

Not all norms are of equal importance, but those most important are formalized

Laws are the most common type of formal norm, enforced by sanctions

Sanctions are rewards for appropriate behavior and penalties for inappropriate behavior

Informal norms--unwritten standards Informal sanctions--less clearly defined

and can be applied by anyone

Norms--Folkways:Norms--Folkways:

Informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture

Examples: wearing deodorant, brushing teeth, dressing appropriately

Culture specific, learned

Informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture

Examples: wearing deodorant, brushing teeth, dressing appropriately

Culture specific, learned

Norms--Mores:Norms--Mores:

Particular culture’s strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may NOT be violated without serious consequences

Based on cultural values, considered to be crucial for the well-being of the group, more serious sanctions

Taboos: mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable

Particular culture’s strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may NOT be violated without serious consequences

Based on cultural values, considered to be crucial for the well-being of the group, more serious sanctions

Taboos: mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable

Examples of Mores and Taboos

Examples of Mores and Taboos

Incest taboo--nearly universalSharia law--in Muslim nations that

follow the edicts of the Koran relating to dominance of men over women, women may not mix with men in public, must cover up, may go only to women’s banks, see women doctors, etc.

Incest taboo--nearly universalSharia law--in Muslim nations that

follow the edicts of the Koran relating to dominance of men over women, women may not mix with men in public, must cover up, may go only to women’s banks, see women doctors, etc.

Norms--Laws:Norms--Laws:

Formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions

Civil law deals with disputes among persons or groups

Criminal law deals with public safety and well being

When criminal law is violated, fines and prison sentences are the most likely sanctions

Formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions

Civil law deals with disputes among persons or groups

Criminal law deals with public safety and well being

When criminal law is violated, fines and prison sentences are the most likely sanctions

Technology, Cultural Change, and DiversityTechnology, Cultural

Change, and Diversity