Elements of Culture Society and Culture Cultureset of

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Elements of Culture

Elements of Culture

Society and Culture � Culture—set of rules that guide our behavior � Made up

Society and Culture � Culture—set of rules that guide our behavior � Made up of our beliefs, history, knowledge, language, moral principles, skills, et cetera � Society� large number of people who � 1. live in the same area � 2. see themselves as separate and different from people outside their territory. � 3. Participate in a common culture. �A Society consists of social interactions among people who think of themselves as similar.

Cultural Traits � Cultural Trait – single object, action, or belief. � Wedding Ring,

Cultural Traits � Cultural Trait – single object, action, or belief. � Wedding Ring, handshake, the belief that washing one’s hands helps prevent the spread of germs. � Cultural traits usually combine to form culture complexes. � Culture Complex – set of interrelated traits. � All people eat, and many cultural traits surround this action. � Napkin waiter in lap, use a fork instead of your hands, chew with your mouth closed, TIP your

Key Elements of Culture � All cultures consist of the same key elements: �

Key Elements of Culture � All cultures consist of the same key elements: � Values – Broad, abstract, and basic ideas that reflect what is considered good, desirable, important, right, preferred, and proper in a culture. Freedom of Expression � Strong Families � Competition � Loyalty to a leader � Religious beliefs � Norms – are the guidelines � people follow in their relation with one another. (shared standards of behavior).

Key Elements of Culture � Norms are divided into two categories according to strictness

Key Elements of Culture � Norms are divided into two categories according to strictness of enforcement. • Folkways – everyday group habits and conventions that people obey without giving them much thought. • Greetings • Replying to invitations • Child-raising customs • Mores – norms that have powerful moral significance attached to them (moral standards). • Incest, murder, stealing • Take care of the homeless • Lets be honest!

Key Elements of Culture �A society enforces norms with… � Laws—written rules of conduct

Key Elements of Culture �A society enforces norms with… � Laws—written rules of conduct that are enacted and enforced by governments. May formalize folkways (no littering) and relate to mores (against murder). � Marriage and Divorce Laws � Laws against Murder � � Sanctions—rewards � or punishments (2 Types) Informal-given by individuals or groups � Employee of the Week (positive) � Being grounded by a parent (negative) � Formal-given by organizations or bodies, such as governments, police, schools. � Medals for athletic performance (positive) � Fines for traffic violations (negative)

Key Elements of Culture � Symbols—commonly understood gestures, words, sounds, objects, colors, or designs

Key Elements of Culture � Symbols—commonly understood gestures, words, sounds, objects, colors, or designs that have come to stand for something else. � Words, maps, diagrams, traffic signs, logos, national anthems, emergency vehicle siren � Languages—organization of written or spoken symbols into standardized system with rules for putting symbols together � Nonverbal signs—can communicate across languages

�A Culture’s definition of reality comes from their knowledge and beliefs… � Knowledge—attempts to

�A Culture’s definition of reality comes from their knowledge and beliefs… � Knowledge—attempts to define what exists, or the reality of the world. � Beliefs—theories and ideas about physical and social world � Not all beliefs can be proven. � Sociologists are interested in how people decide what to count as knowledge and what to count as beliefs. � Knowledge or Beliefs? ? ? � History, Science, Medicine, Skills needed to perform the work of the society, ways of doing things, ways of making things