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Culture

Culture. the learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, and material objects that characterize a particular group or society. culture determines a people’s way of life. Every group has a culture. Society. A group of people that has lived

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Culture

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  1. Culture

  2. the learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, and material objects that characterize a particular group or society

  3. culture determines a people’s way of life

  4. Every group has a culture

  5. Society A group of people that has lived and worked together long enough become an organized population and to think of themselves as a social unit

  6. Society and Culture are mutually dependent

  7. Society and Culture can not exist without the other…this is why these terms are often used interchangeably – BUT you need to know the difference!

  8. Characteristics of Culture Culture is learned Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next Culture is shared Culture is adaptive and always changing

  9. 1. Culture is learned Culture is not innate If a baby was born in one culture but adopted into another culture- that child will more than likely practice the culture of his or her adoptive parents

  10. 2. Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next • Informally- through interactions such as families and friends • Formally- through schools, jobs, community organizations, etc.

  11. 3. Culture is Shared • Culture brings member of society together • Allows people to have a sense of belonging as they share beliefs, values and attitudes about • What is right • What is wrong • What is normal

  12. What would happen if we did not have a shared culture?

  13. 4. Culture is adaptive and always changing Culture changes from generation to generation • Technology • Family values • Marriage

  14. Premarital Sex

  15. Material vs. Non Material Culture

  16. Material Culture Tangible objects that members of society make, use and share.

  17. Non-Material Culture The shared set of meanings that people in a society use to interpret and understand the world Symbols Values Beliefs Sanctions

  18. Symbols Anything that stand for something else and has a particular meaning for people who share a culture. Through symbols we engage in symbolic interaction

  19. symbols may unify or divide a society

  20. Language A system of shared symbols that enable people to communicate with each other

  21. Language and Gender Businessman, Chairman, Mailman Abortion- why do we not talk about the number of men who impregnate women but rather we often just talk about the women? Men who have a lot of sexual partners vs. Women who have a lot of sexual partners

  22. Values The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is… • Good • Bad • Moral or immoral • Proper or improper • Desirable or undesirable • Beautiful or ugly

  23. Values are ‘general guidelines’

  24. Values are emotion-laden

  25. Major US Values Achievement and Success Activity and Work Morality Humanitarianism Efficiency and Practicality Progress Material Comfort Equality* Freedom Conformity Nationalism and Patriotism Democracy Individuality* Identified by Sociologist Robin Williams

  26. Trouble in US Values Individuality vs. Those who are not ‘ideal’ Discrimination against groups Equality vs. Income Gaps Responsibility vs. “TV and Kids”

  27. Norms Specific rules of right and wrong

  28. General Characteristics Unwritten- Most are passed down and are not written Instrumental- They serve a specific purpose They can be both explicit (save money for a rainy day) and implicit (keep your car clean) Change- from generation to generation Conditional- apply in some settings but not others (singing in your car by yourself vs with new friends) Rigid/Flexible

  29. Folkways norms that members of a society (or a group within a society) look upon as not being critical and that may be broken without severe punishment

  30. Folkway- Dating The first date at someone’s home

  31. Mores norms that maintain moral and ethical behavior these are considered very important

  32. Southwest Airlines

  33. Laws Formal rules about behavior that are defined by a political authority that has the power to punish violators

  34. Sanctions Rewards for good behavior Penalties for bad behavior

  35. sanctions vary

  36. often are not consistent despite universal norms

  37. cheating

  38. higher education

  39. Ideal vs. Real Culture

  40. Ideal Culture Norms that people in a society say that they follow

  41. Real Culture The actual norms that people follow within a society

  42. Cultural Similarities Obviously there are differences from society to society with culture- but there are quite a few universal culture staples

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