Chapter 3 section1 Culture – knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by members of a society Culture – knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by members of a society Society – a specific territory inhabited by people who share some common characteristics Society – a specific territory inhabited by people who share some common characteristics

Culture and heredity Instincts – innate unlearned patterns of behavior Instincts – innate unlearned patterns of behavior Reflex – automatic reaction to physical stimulus Reflex – automatic reaction to physical stimulus Drive – impulse to reduce discomfort Drive – impulse to reduce discomfort

Chapter 3 section 2 Language and culture Symbols Symbols A things that stands for or represents something else A things that stands for or represents something else What do the familiar symbols say about our society?

Cultural Symbols Symbols are entities that represent ideas and concepts Symbols are entities that represent ideas and concepts It can be argued that people “consume” symbols It can be argued that people “consume” symbols

Symbols can be ideas and stereotypes

Symbols can be ideas

Page 77 Hypothesis of linguistic relativity Hypothesis of linguistic relativity (Sapir-whorf hypothesis) Theory that states that our idea of reality largely depends upon language Theory that states that our idea of reality largely depends upon language “We don’t know what to say …we say what we know”

Sociobiology The study of biological basis of human behavior The study of biological basis of human behavior Stresses genetics over environment Stresses genetics over environment

Ch3 section 3 Norms and Values Norms – rules of defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior Custom - a group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to another Values – broad ideas about what is good and desirable shared by people in a society

Folkway norms that lack moral significance Folkway norms that lack moral significance Mores – norms that have moral dimensions that “should be followed” by members of the society Mores – norms that have moral dimensions that “should be followed” by members of the society Taboo – behavior we “do not follow” the violation of which calls for some kind of strong punishment or extreme censuring Taboo – behavior we “do not follow” the violation of which calls for some kind of strong punishment or extreme censuring Law – A norm that is formally defined and enforced by officials Law – A norm that is formally defined and enforced by officials Jeff Sessler

` Enforcing the rules Sanctions Rewards OR punishments used to encourage people to follow norms

Formal sanctions Formal sanctions Sanctions imposed by persons given special authority Informal sanctions Informal sanctions Rewards or punishments that can be applied by most members of a group

Positive sanctions Positive sanctions A reinforcer that will increase the likelihood of a specific behavior Negative sanctions Usually some type of punishment (formal or informal) intended to prevent one from breaking a norm

Cultural relativism a view that cultural “truths” depend on the individuals and groups holding them. What is valued in one culture may not be valued in another, therefore there is no right or wrong

Basis of culture How are we ethnocentric?

Basis of culture Similarities of cultures around the world Similarities of cultures around the world

Material culture The concrete, tangible objects of a culture The concrete, tangible objects of a culture Non-material culture Ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that influence people’s behavior Ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that influence people’s behavior

How does material culture reflect society? Everything that we can see in our society says something about our culture.

What does this cathedral say about this culture? The High Middle Ages

What does this strip mall say about our culture?

What does this pyramid say about this culture?

What does this building say about our culture?

What does this Renaissance painting say about this culture?

What does this sculpture say about our culture?

IDEAL CULTURE IDEAL CULTURE Guidelines that group members claim to accept Real Culture Real Culture actual behavior patterns of members of a group

IDEAL Americans glorify academic achievement and material success Americans glorify academic achievement and material successREAL However, most students do not graduate with honors and most citizens are not wealthy. However, most students do not graduate with honors and most citizens are not wealthy. Thus there is a gap between ideal culture and real culture.

Section 5 Why does culture change? Why does culture change? Three reasons: Discovery – discovering something that already exists Invention – the creation of something new. i.e technology Diffusion – the borrowing of aspects from other cultures

Cultural diversity Social categories Groupings of people who share a social characteristic Groupings of people who share a social characteristic For example Senior citizens Senior citizens Women Women Catholics Catholics Middle class Middle class

Subculture A group that is part of the dominant culture but that differs from it in some important respects A group that is part of the dominant culture but that differs from it in some important respects For example: Pennsylvania Amish San Francisco's Chinatown Miami’s Hispanic population

Counterculture A subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to mainstream beliefs or attitudes. for example Punk rock scene White supremacist Black panthers hippies

Cultural Universals EconomyInstitutionsArtsLanguageEnvironmentRecreationBeliefs