Culture Values and Norms n n Most people

Culture, Values, and Norms n n Most people believe that people are not locked into predetermined sets of behaviors. They are changed by their environments. n These environments make individual cultures

What is culture? n Culture consists of all the shared products of human groups. n Include physical objects n Material culture n n books, cars, clothing, etc. Include beliefs, values, and behaviors shared by a group. n Nonmaterial culture n Language, rules, politics, etc.

What is society? n Society n n n A group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture in unity. Society = People Culture = Materials and nonmaterial products that people create.

Components of Culture n Technology n n Knowledge and material goods people use for practical purposes. Internet Cars Cell phones

Components of Culture n Language n Organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system. n Used to express ideas of a culture

Components of Culture n Values n n Shared beliefs about what is good, bad, right, or wrong. SHARED BY WHOLE CULTURE!!

Components of Culture n Norms n n Shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations. Example: In US, value of a democratic government is reinforced through norms such as: n n Stating the Pledge of Allegiance Respect to the flag

Norms n Norms = expected behavior in society n Norms ≠ actual behavior n Example: n n People are taught to pay their bills People don’t always pay their bills