Culture and SocietyCulture and SocietyA Social Systems PerspectiveA Social Systems Perspective

HBSE II HBSE II

Definitions Definitions

Culture:Culture: Those qualities and attributes that seem to be Those qualities and attributes that seem to be

characteristic of all humankind.characteristic of all humankind. Humans evolve and adapt primarily through Humans evolve and adapt primarily through

culture rather than changes in anatomy or culture rather than changes in anatomy or genetics.genetics.

Culture survives if it can accommodate to Culture survives if it can accommodate to changing conditions.changing conditions.

Culture is viewed as a macrosystem.Culture is viewed as a macrosystem. Binds a particular society together, and includes Binds a particular society together, and includes

its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.

Society:Society: A group of people who have learned to live A group of people who have learned to live

and work together.and work together.

Society is a holon and within the society, Society is a holon and within the society, culture refers to the way of life is followed culture refers to the way of life is followed by the group (society).by the group (society).

Nature of Culture Nature of Culture

Culture is a group phenomenon.Culture is a group phenomenon. Cultures evolve from the interaction of Cultures evolve from the interaction of

person with others, and a person’s belief person with others, and a person’s belief or behavior becomes part of the culture or behavior becomes part of the culture when it is externalized and objectified.when it is externalized and objectified.

A culture evolves as each person encounters A culture evolves as each person encounters four “poles”.four “poles”.

One’s own body or somatic process.One’s own body or somatic process. Biological constitutionBiological constitution Genetic endowment Genetic endowment

Other persons or society.Other persons or society. Feedback cycleFeedback cycle

The material world of nonhuman objects. The material world of nonhuman objects. The universe of social constructed meanings.The universe of social constructed meanings.

According to Erikson, cultures change According to Erikson, cultures change through the action of persons whose ideas through the action of persons whose ideas and behavior “fit” the culture.and behavior “fit” the culture.

Change can also occur as a result of Change can also occur as a result of cataclysm, either physical as in famine, cataclysm, either physical as in famine, war, epidemic, or disaster.war, epidemic, or disaster.

It can also change as a result of a It can also change as a result of a “paradigm shift” in fundamental “paradigm shift” in fundamental understandings by those in the culture.understandings by those in the culture.

Unique Aspects of the Human Unique Aspects of the Human Species Species

The capacity to think.The capacity to think. Sets humans apart from most other forms of Sets humans apart from most other forms of

life.life.

Humans have the capacity to externalize Humans have the capacity to externalize the thought process.the thought process. ToolsTools Human reproductionHuman reproduction Cloning Cloning

The Family as Human Universal The Family as Human Universal

The family is biologically based and is the The family is biologically based and is the primary social unit.primary social unit.

Family is constant; the form of the family is Family is constant; the form of the family is variable.variable.

The development of culture exists The development of culture exists because culture is transmitted from one because culture is transmitted from one generation to the next through education generation to the next through education not through the genes.not through the genes.

Language and Communication Language and Communication

Language is defined as any transfer of Language is defined as any transfer of meaning, but general usage refers only to meaning, but general usage refers only to spoken and written messages.spoken and written messages.

It is essential to be attuned to unspoken It is essential to be attuned to unspoken and unwritten language.and unwritten language.

Language structures realityLanguage structures reality Form and variability determine how members Form and variability determine how members

of the culture will view reality and structure of the culture will view reality and structure their thoughts. their thoughts.

Territoriality Territoriality

Tendency of people to seek and maintain Tendency of people to seek and maintain a territory.a territory.

The definition of spatial and interactional The definition of spatial and interactional territories is paramount feature of any territories is paramount feature of any culture.culture.

Refers to the cultural ways people locate Refers to the cultural ways people locate themselves in their universe and establish themselves in their universe and establish the boundaries of their various human the boundaries of their various human systems.systems.

Qualities of a Society Qualities of a Society

Culture is that complex whole that Culture is that complex whole that includes knowledge, belief, art, law, includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a human being as and habits acquired by a human being as a member of society.a member of society.

Culture is viewed as the ways of doing, Culture is viewed as the ways of doing, being, and explaining, as they exist in being, and explaining, as they exist in each particular system.each particular system.

Tools Tools

Amplifiers of human capacities:Amplifiers of human capacities: Sensory capacitySensory capacity Motor capacityMotor capacity Reasoning and thinking capacityReasoning and thinking capacity

Include devices, objects, and procedures that Include devices, objects, and procedures that are extensions of human natural capacities.are extensions of human natural capacities.

Tools of a culture include not only understanding Tools of a culture include not only understanding their built-in purpose but, their purpose for the their built-in purpose but, their purpose for the user. user.

Social Organizations:Social Organizations:Society and RolesSociety and Roles

All cultures, being social systems, have All cultures, being social systems, have organization.organization.

Three aspects operating to define social class:Three aspects operating to define social class: Economic statusEconomic status Social statusSocial status Political powerPolitical power

Social class suggests a group consciousness on Social class suggests a group consciousness on the part of members.the part of members.

Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in American society.American society.

Role relates to and derives from status.Role relates to and derives from status. Total of the cultural expectations associated with Total of the cultural expectations associated with

a particular status, including:a particular status, including: AttitudesAttitudes ValuesValues BehaviorBehavior

Role expectation are defined by the culture and Role expectation are defined by the culture and its components and incorporated by the persons its components and incorporated by the persons filling the role.filling the role.

All persons occupy a complex set of roles:All persons occupy a complex set of roles: ParentParent ChildChild WorkerWorker VoterVoter Worshipper Worshipper

The total number of roles is influenced by The total number of roles is influenced by the quantity of networks they are involved the quantity of networks they are involved in.in.

Language Language

Transfer of meaning between systems Transfer of meaning between systems and between subsystems.and between subsystems.

Composed of symbols and the meanings Composed of symbols and the meanings are learned and transferred through social are learned and transferred through social interaction.interaction.

Communication of symbols and their Communication of symbols and their meanings represents the major form of meanings represents the major form of transaction between systems.transaction between systems.

Mead stated that we do not simply respond to Mead stated that we do not simply respond to the acts of others; we act on our interpretations the acts of others; we act on our interpretations of their intentions and judgments. of their intentions and judgments.

A means of setting and maintaining cultural A means of setting and maintaining cultural boundaries; also to organize the energies of the boundaries; also to organize the energies of the system.system.

The importance of screening and interpreting The importance of screening and interpreting symbols in working with people is quite clear.symbols in working with people is quite clear.

Child RearingChild Rearing

A major task of any culture.A major task of any culture. As a culture becomes more complex and As a culture becomes more complex and

differentiated, so too does child rearing, differentiated, so too does child rearing, and other social provisions appear.and other social provisions appear.

These new systems arise to realize more These new systems arise to realize more effectively the complex values of a culture.effectively the complex values of a culture.

Certain values are in conflict with certain Certain values are in conflict with certain other values, leading to tension and strain other values, leading to tension and strain within the culture.within the culture.

Human Urge to Explain the WorldHuman Urge to Explain the World

Humans are congenitally compelled to Humans are congenitally compelled to impose a meaningful order upon reality.impose a meaningful order upon reality.

Religion, philosophy, science, and Religion, philosophy, science, and superstition are some of the means.superstition are some of the means.

Science continues to be the dominant Science continues to be the dominant means of exploring, explaining, and means of exploring, explaining, and changing our world.changing our world.

Social Relations:Social Relations:Caring Caring

Cultures are marked by the style in which Cultures are marked by the style in which they conduct social relationships.they conduct social relationships.

Caring involves both an emotional Caring involves both an emotional disposition and caring labor.disposition and caring labor.

It is a practice in which both thought and It is a practice in which both thought and action are integrated around central aims action are integrated around central aims or goals.or goals.

Caring is a dimension of culture as much Caring is a dimension of culture as much as tools and language.as tools and language.

A feminist critique states that caring is largely A feminist critique states that caring is largely delegated to women by a male-dominated delegated to women by a male-dominated society.society.

Regardless of sex, individuals and groups who Regardless of sex, individuals and groups who occupy subordinate status display a responsive occupy subordinate status display a responsive orientation to others characterized by deference, orientation to others characterized by deference, attentiveness, awareness of needs, attentiveness, awareness of needs, understanding of perspectives, moods, understanding of perspectives, moods, intentions, and responsiveness.intentions, and responsiveness.

An emphasis on autonomy as a basis for An emphasis on autonomy as a basis for caring may be more acceptable to men.caring may be more acceptable to men.