CULTURAL CONFORMITY AND ADAPTATION THE AMERICAN VALUE SYSTEM SOCIAL CONTROL SOCIAL CHANGE

THE AMERICAN VALUE SYSTEM Ethnic, racial, religious, and geographical variations in American society make for a culture rich in diversity. However, certain values are shared by the majority of Americans.

TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES In a 1970’s study, sociologist Robin Williams outlined a set of 15 values that are central to the American way of life. Robin Williams (Sociologist) Robin Williams (Comedian)

WILLIAMS AMERICAN VALUES Personal Achievement Work Morality and Humanitarianism Efficiency and Practicality Progress and Material Comfort Equality and Democracy Freedom

OUR CHANGING VALUES The problem of value conflict is complicated by the fact that values, like all aspects of society, change over time. Self-fulfillment- a commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents, and potential. Narcissism- extreme self-centeredness

SOCIAL CONTROL Every society develops norms that reflect the cultural values its members consider important. Internalization- the process by which a norm becomes part of an individual’s personality, thereby conditioning the individual to conform to society’s expectations.

SOCIAL CONTROL CONT. Sanctions- rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms. Positive Sanction- when a sanction is in the form of a reward. Negative Sanction- a punishment or the threat of punishment used to enforce conformity. Being confined to the stocks served both as a punishment for wrongdoers and as a warning to others.

FORMAL AND INFORMAL SANCTIONS Formal Sanction- reward or punishment that is given by some formal organization. Ex: Fines, being fired, imprisonment, pay raises, awards, medals. Informal Sanction- a spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval given by an individual or group. Ex: Standing ovations, compliments, smiles, frowns, gossip, being ignored.

SOURCES OF SOCIAL CHANGE All cultures change over time. Yet some cultures change much faster than others. There are many factors that contribute to the changes in culture. The invention of the automobile did more than furnish Americans with a new form of transportation. It also provided employment, affected the way people shop, where they live, and what they do with their leisure time.

VALUES AND BELIEFS Ideology- a system of beliefs or ideas that justifies the social, moral, religious, political, or economic interests held by a group or society. Social Movement- a long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change. The civil rights movement of the 1960s was one important social movement that sought to ensure equal rights of African Americans and other minority groups.

TECHNOLOGY Technology- knowledge and tools that people use to manipulate their environment for practical purposes. Invention- occurs when people use existing knowledge to create something that did not previously exist.

POPULATION A change in the size of the population may bring about changes in a culture Population changes also affect the economy. Changes in age structure of a population bring about social and cultural changes.

Other cultures borrow many traits from the US such as fast food DIFFUSION Diffusion- the process of spreading culture traits from one society to another. Today with mass transportation and instant communication, the number of traits that Americans borrow from other cultures is immense. Other cultures borrow many traits from the US such as fast food

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT The environment provides conditions that may encourage or discourage cultural change. Natural disasters such as droughts, floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes also produce social and cultural change.

HENRY CLAY: THE GREAT COMPROMISER WARS AND CONQUESTS Although not as common as other sources of social change, wars probably bring about the greatest change in the least amount of time. War causes the loss of many lives, broken families, destruction of property, and a change in the workforce. HENRY CLAY: THE GREAT COMPROMISER

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE Cultural change never occurs without some opposition. Ethnocentrism- the tendency to view one’s own culture or group as superior Cultural Lag- when some aspects of the culture change less rapidly, or lag behind, other aspects of the same culture Vested Interests- An individual or group that is satisfied with the way things are now and resist any effort to change the situation.