Cultural Diversity Chapter 2 Section 1 The Meaning

Cultural Diversity Chapter 2 Section 1 The Meaning of Culture

The Meaning of Culture n What is Culture? n The Components of Culture n Examining Culture

What is Culture? n Culture: consists of all the shared products of human groups. n n Physical objects Beliefs Values Behaviors n Material Culture: the physical objects that people create and use. n Examples: automobiles, books, buildings, clothing, computers, cooking utensils.

What is Culture cont. n Non-material culture: abstract human creations. n Examples: beliefs, family patterns, ideas, languages, rules, skills, work practices, political and economic systems. n Society: a group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity.

The Components of Culture is both learned and shared n Specific examples of the material and nonmaterial elements of culture vary society but all cultures have certain basic components. n n Ex. Technology, symbols, languages, values, norms.

Technology n n Culture consists of not only physical objects but also the rules for using those objects. The relationship between the objects and the rules is known as n n n Technology You need basic skills to know how to use money. Sociologists look at the rules that accompany this such as “spending”.

Symbols n n The use of symbols is the basis of human culture. We use symbols to create our culture and communicate with others. n n Words, gestures, images, sounds, physical objects, event or element of the natural world serves as a symbol. Give examples of each.

Language n Language: is the organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system. n When organized according to accepted rules of grammar, words can be used to express any idea.

Values n Language and symbols are important because they allow us to communicate our values. n Values are shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. The types of values held by a group help to determine the character of its people and its culture. Yanomano Tribe n

Norms n n Norms are used to enforce their cultural vales. Norms are shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations. n Remember norms are expected behavior not actual behavior. n n Example: cover your mouth when you yawn, do not kill a human being. Name any others

Norms n Folkways: are norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but do not have great moral significance attached to them. n n They outline the common customs of everyday life. Some degree of nonconformity to folkways is permitted because it does not endanger the well being of society.

Norms n n Mores: have great moral significance attracted to them because the violation of these rules endangers society’s well being. Murder, fraud n n Laws: written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government. Enforce both folkways and mores.

Examining Culture n n Sociologists must keep up with all the changing behaviors, ideas, and objects in society. They break them into groups and study them each. n Traits n Complexes n Patterns

Culture Traits n Definition: an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation. Ball n Goal posts n Pads n cleates n

Culture Complexes n Definition: a cluster of interrelated traits. n Cleats, ball, goal posts, pads make up football

Culture Patterns n Definition: the combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole. n There are separate complexes for baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and combine all of them into an American athletic pattern.