1. Chapter 2 “Cultural Diversity & Conformity” Section 1 “The Meaning of Culture”

3. What Is Culture?
Culture consists of all the shared products of human groups, both physical and abstract.
Material culture: physical objects created by humans
Includes automobiles, books, building, clothing, computers, and cooking utensils
Physical products
Nonmaterial culture: abstract human creations
Beliefs, family patterns, ideas, language, political and economic systems, rules, skills, and work practices
Abstract products

4. Society & Culture…
Are they the same?

5. Society
A group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way to share a common culture and feeling of unity.

6. Society
People
Culture
Material Products
Nonmaterial Products

7. The Components of Culture
Technology
Norms
Symbols
Values
Language

8. (1) Technology Refers to objects and the rules for using them
Any tool and its usage
Any rule that makes a use of an object illegal

9. (2) Symbols The basis of human culture Any words, gestures, or images
Different cultures use different symbols

10. Cross-cultural Communication An example of different meanings of the same gesture

11. (3) Language
Organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system
Can be used to express and communicate any idea

12. (4) Values Values are shared beliefs
Distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, desirable and undesirable
Group’s values help to determine character and culture

13. (5) Norms
Shared rules of conduct in specific situations
Folkways do not carry heavy moral significance. They are norms for for routine or casual interaction. (distinguish the difference between right and rude)
Mores carry heavy moral significance (distinguish the difference between right and wrong)
Laws are written and enforced by government

14. Classwork!
Write a couple of paragraphs describing a culture to which you belong. For example, you might write about a club or a team of which you are a part.

15. Chapter 2 “Cultural Diversity & Conformity” Section 2 “Cultural Variation”

16. What Do We Have in Common?
Cultural Universals
Basic Needs
Arts & Leisure
Government
& Economy
Beliefs

17. Cultural Variations
Variations exist between societies, but they also exist within societies.
Subcultures and countercultures are examples of variations within societies.

18. Subculture Counterculture
Groups that share traits with each other but not the larger society
Examples are groups organized by age, gender, politics, or geography
Most do not reject all of the values of the larger society
Most subcultures do not threaten the larger culture
Counterculture
Countercultures adopt values that are designed to challenge the values of the larger society
Examples are groups such as cyberpunks, anarchists, the Mafia, and hippies

19. Response To Variation

20. 1) Ethnocentrism

21. Ethnocentrism
Judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture, especially with concern for language, behavior, customs, and religion.
Textbook P. 41

22. 2) Cultural Relativism

23. Cultural Relativism
The belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than by applying the standards of another culture; the attempt to understand cultural practices from the points of view of the members of the society being studied.
Photo credits: Bassem El-Boghdady, NYC 2014

24. Response To Variation Ethnocentrism Cultural Relativism
A tendency to view one’s own culture and group as superior
People from all cultures are somewhat ethnocentric at different times
Can lead to discrimination
Even professional scholars struggle with ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism is the idea that a culture should be judged by its own standards
Can help explain beliefs or behaviors that seem strange or different

26. Assignment! In a few paragraphs identify:
How might ethnocentrism cause discrimination? (providing examples)

27. Cultural Change
Do cultures change?

28. The Process of Change Cultural diffusion
Cultural diffusion is the spreading of culture traits from one society to another
Today it can happen almost instantly
Cultural leveling
Cultural leveling is a process by which cultures become more and more alike
Some suggest it is the first step toward a global culture
Cultural lag
Cultural lag is the time it takes for nonmaterial culture to “catch up” to changes in material culture

29. The Process of Change