Warm Up: What is culture?

Monday, 9/30

Objective: I will be able to apply my understanding

of cultural relativism by citing an example from American culture.

Definition of Culture

Components of Culture

Culture vs. Heredity Instinct – innate (unlearned) patterns of

behavior Reflexes (crying when hurt) Drive (eating, drinking, sex)

Nature vs. Nurture Boys in some cultures are taught not to cry in

response to pain. Jewish & Italian boys are taught to express it more

openly. Identical Twins

About half of personality traits are inherited, the other half are taught through culture

Social Biology The study of the biologic basis of human

behavior. Idea that the behaviors that help people

are biological based and transmitted in the genetic code.

Why are stepfathers more likely to abuse their step children then the biologic fathers are?

Culture Within Us•We came into this world “without a language;

without values and morality; with no ideas about religion, war, money, love , etc…”

•These “learned and shared ways of believing and of doing” were acquired very early

•Language allows us to transmit culture.

•Culture = the “lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us”

Enforcing Cultural Rules Sanctions – rewards and

punishments Formal Sanctions - only awarded

by authorized people. Grades Medals of Honor Prison sentences

Informal Sanctions Thanking someone Staring at someone talking loudly

in a restaurant

Culture ShockWhen we

experience a culture and things (material and/or nonmaterial) are

NOT the way “they ought to be”

Ethnocentrism

•tendency to view one’s own culture and group as superior

•there are both positive and negative consequencesocan lead to discriminationocreates in-group loyalties, patriotism

Cultural Relativism•the belief that cultures should be judged by their

own standards•bullfighting in Mexico or Spain

•creating long necks with brass rings in Thailand

•eating monkey in parts of China

•binding girls feet to make them small and make her a desirable marriage prospect

Sources of Social Change

•values and beliefs

•technology

•population

•diffusion

•physical environment

•wars and conquests

Cultural Universals

•cooking

•feasting

•tool making

•body adornment

•religion

•sports

•Medicine

•forms of greeting

•dancing

•family

•housing

•music

•funeral ceremonies

•gift giving

Variations Within Societies•Subcultures

o“a world within the larger world of the dominant culture”

odoctorsorodeo participantsobody buildersotruckersoteachersomotorcyclists clubs

•Countercultureso“the group’s values and

norms place it at odds with the dominant culture”

omotorcycle gangsosurvivalistsosatanistsoMormons (doesn’t always

have to be negative)oAmish???

Task At your table, come up with one example of

cultural relativism . On the provided paper, write “Cultural

Relativism”, then illustrate an example under the title.