Culture

1
Culture

• Way of life
• Learned behavior
• Transmitted from generation to generation
• Glue that holds a group together

2
Culture vs Society

• Culture way of life
• Society
• Territory
• Independent
• Culture as a glue to hold people together

3
Development of culture

• Innovation Introduction of new ideas..
• DiscoveryMaking known what existed
• InventionNot known before
• DiscoveryDNA molecule/technology in crime
• InventionReligions, beliefs, bow, arrows
• Diffusion Spread of ideas, things from one place
  to another

4
Cultural Universals--Murdock

• Is culture a dividing concept or unifying
  concept?
• Common traits, features found in most cultures
• Religions
• Family
• Recreation
• Education

5
Components of culture

• Material culturephysical things making up a way
  of life
• Non-Material cultureideas, beliefs making up a
  way of life

6
OgburnCultural Lag

• Disconnect between material and non-material
  culture
• Material moving at a faster rate than
  non-material aspects
• Causing anxiety, stress, conflict
• Computer technology culture lag

7
Elements of culture

• Languageverbal non-verbal communication
• Normsrules for behavior (how appropriately to
  behave?)
• ValuesCollective concepts of right/wrong,
  desirability, etc
• Sanctionsreward/punishment to enforce norms

8
Language

• Abstract system of meaning and symbols
• It varies from culture to culture
• It not only describe reality but it also shapes
  reality (the way we look at the world)
• Sapir-Whorf hypothesislanguage precedes thought

9
Norms

• Folkwaysrules if followed appreciated by all
• Mores rules necessary for the welfare of society
• Examples--

10
Values

• Freedom, liberty, happiness
• Robin Williamswhat are Americans core values
• See the workbook

11
Cultural variations

• Subculturesegments of society believe
  distinctive norms, values, etc.
• Examples
• Counter-culturesegments of society rejects basic
  values, values
• Examples

12
Cultural Variation

• Culture shock
• Feeling of disorientation, discomfort, and
  fearful facing cultural variations

13
Attitudes toward Variations

• Ethnocentrismjudging/seeing other culture from
  ones own experience
• Relativismjudging each culture in its own terms
  (Webers value neutrality)
• Xenocentrismjudging ones own culture as inferior