Elements of Culture

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, 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 in lap, use a fork instead of your hands, chew with your mouth closed, TIP your waiter

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 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 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 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 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