Cultural Conformity & Adaptation

1. Cultural Conformity & Adaptation Chapter 3

2. Truth or Fiction • There are no values that are central to the American way of life. • True: The population of the U.S. is extremely diverse and the variety of values Americans hold reflect this diversity • False: Values such as freedom, liberty, and democracy, are fundamental to America’s government, and as a result are central to the American way of life

3. Truth or Fiction • The only reason people comply with the norms of society is to avoid being punished. • True: Without laws and the threat of punishment for breaking them, people would do whatever they desired . • False: People also conform to society norms to be accepted and liked, gain friends, and achieve positive results, such as success or awards.

4. Truth or Fiction • Cultures change at the same rate and for the same reasons. • True: Although the world’s cultures may vary a great deal, they are all changing continuously and for the same basic reasons, such as advances in technology. • False: The diversity of cultures and cultural values in the world illustrates that cultures change at different rates for different reasons.

5. Ben Franklin’s Virtues 1. Temperance: eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 2. Silence: speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. 3. Order: let all your things have their places… 4. Resolution: resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve 5. Frugality: make no expense but to do good to other or yourself; i.e., waste nothing

6. Ben Franklin’s Virtues 6. Industry: lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary action. 7. Sincerity: use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly…. 8. Justice: wrong none by doing injuries… 9. Moderation: avoid extremes; forebear resenting injuries, so much as you think they deserve 10. Cleanliness: tolerate no uncleanliness

7. American Core Values? What do you think some of America’s core values are based on the Bill of Rights and Franklins virtues?

8. Traditional American Valuesby Robin M. Williams • Personal Achievement • Surprise? • America built on this idea and competition • Evident in areas of employment • Achievement often measured in power and wealth • Good or bad?

9. Traditional American Values • Individualism • Individual effort is key to personal achievement • Hard work and initiative = success • Person is to blame if they don’t have success

10. Traditional American Values • Work • Regardless of rewards involved, Americans value it • Discipline, dedication, and hard work = virtue • Those who don’t are lazy or even immoral

11. Traditional American Values • Morality and Humanitarianism • America founded on religious faith, belief in justice, and equality • Charity toward less fortunate • Place high value on morality, view things right from wrong • Quick to help those who are less fortunate

12. Traditional American Values • Efficiency and Practicality • Americans are practical and inventive people • Every problem has a solution • Find the most efficient technique for dealing with a situation • Determine the most practical response to issue at hand

13. Traditional American Values • Progress and Material Comfort • Americans have always looked to the future with optimism • Hard work and determination will lead to improved living standards • Belief in the ability of science and technology to make the world better and more comfortable • High value of material comfort

14. Traditional American Values • Equality and Democracy • U.S. founded on the principle of human equality. “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” • Human equality=equal opportunity and chance at success • Not everyone will have equal success. • Democracy

15. Traditional American Values • Freedom • Personal freedoms (name some…think Constitution) • Try and protect these from government interference in daily lives and business

16. Traditional American Values • Name some other values we have no discussed • Values are vital to a stable society • Values can also lead to conflict • Not everyone agrees on what are acceptable American vales • Individuals don’t always uphold all values the same

17. Our Changing Values • Values are like all aspects of society…they change • Some disappear, some new ones emerge • New American values? • Leisure time, physical fitness, and youthfulness • Self-fulfillment: commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents, and potential • This can be seen as narcissism: extreme self-centeredness

18. Our Changing Values • Some sociologists saw danger in focusing on the self • Weakens the est. values of hard work and moderation • Some saw it as a beneficial change, moving away from satisfaction based on material gain • 1990’s Caring for the environment • 2000’s caring less

19. Group Up! 9 groups of 4 GROUP 1: Jazmin, Tia, Gabby, Alex GROUP 2: Keke, Daniel, Isis, David GROUP 3: Iman, Ellis, John, Kency GROUP 4: Catherine, Christian, Christina, Kemric GROUP 5: Asia, Ruvi, Megan, Giselle GROUP 6: Olivia, Ashley, Dazmen, Precious GROUP 7: Dakisha, Giordana, Kelli, Marcelo GROUP 8: Dillan, Antwanesha, Angel, Shavon GROUP 9: Nelson, Sylvia, Evelina, Lametrius

20. Group Up! GROUP 1: PERSONAL ACHIEVMENT GROUP 2: INDIVIDUALISM GROUP 3: WORK GROUP 4: MORALITY AND HUMANITARIANISM GROUP 5: EFFICIENCY AND PRACTICALLITY GROUP 6: PROGRESS AND MATERIAL COMFORT GROUP 7: EQUALITY AND DEMOCRACY GROUP 8: FREEDOM GROUP 9: LIESURE AND FITNESS

21. Draw Some Knowledge On Me You are to artistically demonstrate the American value you have been assigned BE CREATIVE! EACH member WILL contribute or your grade will suffer (I will be floating) Use the entire space given

22. Section 2. Social Control • Remember norms? What do norms reflect? • Cultural values society deems important • For a functional society, norms must be upheld • Norms are enforced two ways: Internalization and Sanctions

23. Internalization of Norms • When a norm is believed to be good, useful, or appropriate…what do we expect? • Internalization: the way norms become part of our personality, conforming us to society’s expectations • Cover your face when you sneeze or cough • Having manners, “please” “thank you”

24. Sanctions Not everyone follows norms without conscious thought Not everyone internalizes societies norms…some people must be motivated Sanctions: are rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms Four types of sanctions

25. Sanctions

26. Positive Sanctions • An action that rewards a particular kind of behavior is a positive sanction • Usually taught positive sanctions at an early age… • Give me some examples of positive sanctions • Parental praise for good behaviors • Teachers remarks for good work or answers • Employers give pay raises to dedicated/hard workers • Fans cheering for a great play

27. Negative Sanctions • A punishment or threat of punishment used to enforce conformity is a negative sanction • Threat is usually enough to force conformity • Name some negative sanctions • “NO PARKING ZONE” • “TOW AWAY ZONE” • “NO LOITERING”

28. Formal Sanctions • If rewards or punishments aren’t regular or don’t follow a particular behavior…what happens? • Become meaningless and they lose their power • Formal sanctions: reward or punishment given by a formal organization or agency • School, business, or government • Positive formal sanction? Negative formal sanction?

29. Informal Sanctions • Formal sanctions play a major role in maintaining social stability • But the majority of norms are forced through… • Informal sanctions: spontaneous expression of approval given by an individual or group • Positive: standing O’s, compliments, smiles, gifts • Negative: gossip, frowns, insults, ridicule

30. Social Control • The enforcing of norms through either internal or external means is called social control • Various agents of social control perform external enforcement through sanctions • Police, courts, religion, family, public opinion • No society can survive long without an efficient system of social control

31. Section 3. Social Change • Some cultures change faster than others • The more culture traits, the faster change is possible • The automobile: • Changed transportation • Employment • Shopping • Housing • Leisure

32. Sources of Social Change: 6 Factors Values and Beliefs • Society is interrelated parts (says who?) • Changes in society produce change throughout • Same for values and beliefs • Ideology: beliefs or ideas that justify the social, moral, religious, political, or economic interest held by a group or society • Often spread through social movement: long term effort to promote social change • Examples?

33. Interwebs Log onto a computer www.scoop.it Search: sociology, 3rd square down on left (CCW Sociology- Social Movements) 3rd square down on the right: “Kony 2012 and the 5 craziest social movement in recent history”

34. Interwebs Read through the 6 slides about the “5 craziest social movements in recent history” Pick 1 movement, describe when at what it was/is, explain how social media helped, explain how this prompted social change, and lastly your opinion if you think it is/was/will have an impact on culture CITE AND QUOTE EVERYTHING OR ITS PLAGARISM

35. Technology • Knowledge and tools used to manipulate the environment is also known as technology • Technologies arise through discovery and invention • Discovery: new uses for existing elements or understand thing in new ways • Inventions: using existing knowledge to create something new

36. Population • Population brings changes to culture • Immigrants bringing traditions, food, language • Affects economic demands for goods and services • Affects how many jobs are available • Can create housing, food, & energy crises

37. Diffusion • Diffusion: spreading culture traits from one society to another is called • Mass transportation and communication • Material culture/technology quicker than ideas/beliefs • Reformulation: adapting borrowed cultural traits • Diffusion is a 2 way street

38. Physical Environment • How can the physical environment affect culture? • Some cultures rely on their land to plant crops • Some cultures import their foods • The scarcity or intro. Of new foods can bring cultural change • How can a natural disaster change culture? • Building practices, preemptive measures, etc? • Change in supply of natural resources can change culture as well…how?

39. Wars and Conquest • How does a war affect a culture? • Rapid change in short time • Replacing destroyed cities • Producing war materials • Advances in technology and medicine • Morphine, cell phones, radar, GPS

40. Resistance to Change • Change almost always comes with opposition • Interpersonal and Societal level • After time many accept the new ideas • Others may never accept it, but adapt • Examples of societal change? • Women in the workforce • Gay marriage • Pro choice

41. Think About It • Using Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe as categories, name the traits mentioned in the article according to their origin. • How have Native Americans and immigrant groups influenced American Culture? • What can we conclude about the extent of cultural diffusion that has taken place in the U.S.?

42. Cultural Lag • Some traits change rapidly, and the transformation of others may take considerable time, this is time is cultural lag • Material culture changes faster than nonmaterial • School system: summer break

43. Vested Interest • If we are comfortable do we like change? • Imperfection is better than an unknown future • Vested interest is protecting or promoting whatever is to our own personal advantage • Oil crisis 1970…current?