1. Sociology: Chapter 2 Section 1
Cultural Diversity and Conformity
“The Meaning of Culture”
Standards: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, & 4.6

2. What is Culture?
Unlike other animals, human action is not totally controlled by natural instincts
Culture: All of the shared PRODUCTS of human groups…
1. Physical
2. Beliefs
3. Values
Material Culture: Physical objects (Culture)
1. Artifacts
Non-Material Culture: Non “Physical” Culture
1. Language
2. Ideas
3. Rules…etc
Society: A group of mutually interdependent PEOPLE who share a common bond

3. Components of Culture 1. Physical Objects 2. Symbols 3. Language
4. Values
5. Norms

4. 1. Physical Objects
Not only the “Physical” objects, but also the RULES for using those objects
Technology: The combination of objects AND rules.
*Also, tools used to manipulate the environment
Ex. Computer= Physical
Surfing the Web= Rules and skills related to COMPUTER

5. 2. Symbols
Anything that stands for something else and is used by human cultures for communication
1. Word… “Hello” “Bless you”
2. Gesture… Wave
3. Image… Flag, Street sign
4. Sound… Bell tone (Church)
5. Physical Object
Ex. Flag, Handshake…etc
Symbolic Interaction: ex. Military Salute
Bowing when meeting someone
*How many purposes for
Symbols can you think of?

6. 3. Language Organization of written or spoken symbols
*Even though the SAME language may be spoken in two different places, there still may be differences in the Dialect
Ex: Northern (U.S.) English vs. Southern English
North (Region)= “Pop”
South =“Soda”
*Different accents also

7. 4. Values
Societies’ shared beliefs about what is good and bad. (Right and Wrong)
*Differ from culture to culture
Ex. Yanomamo: Brazil :Napoleon Chagnon… “Fierce People”
Warlike; Highly competitive
30% of people die from war wounds
Communities usually break apart because of competition and never get larger than 200 people
Ex. San: Highly cooperative. Each family owns territory and does not “trespass” on each others soil
Most members share various vital roles in society

8. 5. Norms Shared rules of conduct “Expectations” for behavior
Ex. “Excuse me” (When you belch)
Basically… Norms are what society agrees is “NORMAL”
5. Norms

9. Norms: Folkways and Mores
Folkways: Norms that have no great moral significance
Usually not enforced by rules
Ex. Eating salad with a spoon “Abnormal; not illegal”
*Break a Folkway exercise
Mores: Norms with GREAT “MORAL” Significance
Has the potential to become a Dysfunction of society
Are usually enforced by Laws: Written rule of conduct enacted and enforced for good of society
Ex. Killing someone

10. Examining Culture Culture is dynamic: It changes continuously
Ex. Pop Culture: What was cool in 1985 is NOT cool today (Depending on who you are)

11. Sociology: Chapter 2 Section 2
“Cultural Variations”
Standards: 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, & 5.8

12. A Diverse World
“If you count ONLY the languages that have over 2,000,000 speakers, there are more than 220 different languages…”
There are also different dialects of the same language

13. What do we have in common?
Cultural Universals: Traits common to ALL/MOST cultures
George Murdock: 1940’s Came up with 60 Cultural Universals
Ex:
1. Cooking
2. Feasting
3. Myths {Urban Legend} (Hull House; Reder Road)
4. Folklore
5. Religion

14. What does a vampire look like?

15. Romania: The “Real” Dracula!!!

17. Local Urban Legends

18. Studying Variation
Subculture: Do not share ALL of the culture traits of the dominant society
Ex. Little Italy in Chicago
Ex. Little Havana in Miami
Consider selves as PART of the main culture, but still retain SOME of their original culture traits
Counter Culture: REJECT ALL aspects of the dominant society
Ex. Anarchists
Ex. Hermit
* Culture PowerPoint Project (Std & 5.8)

19. Subculture and Counter Culture

20. Response to Variation Ethnocentrism: Caused by cultural diversity
Who is right?
“Tendency to view ones own culture as superior to others.”
We often mock the beliefs and actions of other cultures with the assumption that what we are doing is right

21. Would you eat this?

22. Response to Variation Cultural Relativism:
Cultures should be judged by their OWN standards; not ours (Verstehen)
Marvin Harris: Cannibals and Kings
Harris explored the Indian prohibition against killing cows in spite of food shortages
Harris concluded that Indians did not kill cows because they were needed for plowing fields and providing milk; both of which are essential to the Indian culture

23. Cultural Change Can happen quickly OR slowly The Process of Change
Usually slow
The Process of Change
Cultural Diffusion: Spreading of culture traits, ideas, beliefs, or material objects from one society to another
William Ogburn
Cultural Lag: Material change happens faster than non-material: Culture lag refers to the time when IDEAS/BELIEFS are adapting to material conditions- Ideas usually slow change down

24. Cultural Leveling
James Henslin: Explained “leveling” as the PROCESS by which cultures become more and more alike
Eg. McDonalds in 100 Countries

25. “The American Value System” Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, & 4.13
Sociology: Ch 2 Section 3
“The American Value System”
Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, & 4.13

26. Traditional American Values
1970: Robin Williams
Formulated “15 Central American Values”
1. Personal Achievement
Nation based on “Individual” & “Competition”: Economics/ Capitalism
2. Progress & Material Comfort
In spite of times, Americans look to future w/ optimism
Hard Work: on improving living conditions
***High value on material comfort

27. Traditional Values 3. Work
Discipline, Dedication, and Hard Work seen as a virtue by Americans
4. Individualism
Individual effort is KEY to success
5. Efficiency & Practicality
Americans tend to be practical and inventive
Every problem can be solved
Find an efficient way
*Americans judge people/product on usefulness

28. Traditional American Values
6. Morality & Humanitarianism
U.S. founded on “morality” (In Theory)
Charity toward less fortunate
View world in terms of “Right and Wrong”
World not viewed in terms of “Different”
7. Equality and Democracy
Principle of equality (In theory)
Equality in opportunity
Equal chance at success
*Success MUST be earned
Citizens SHOULD participate in Gov’t

29. Traditional American Values
8. Freedom
Very important
Freedom of Choice and FROM Government
Laissez Faire
9. External Conformity
Ideal of going along
Robin Williams: Other Core Values
-Nationalism Science and rationality
-Patriotism -Racial and Group Superiority
-Religion

30. Pick the FIVE things from the list that are MOST important to you
__Being Famous
__Having Nice Things
__Being Respected for Work Ethic
__Being an Individual
__Finding a Way to Solve Hard Problems
__Helping Less Fortunate
__Being Treated the Same as Everyone Else
__Being Free to Make Your Own Decisions
__Being Able to Fit In
__Being Proud of Your Nation
__Serving Your Nation
__Finding Logical Answers to Your Questions
__Being Proud of Your Race
__Practicing Your Religion
__Being Able to Vote

31. Our Changing American Values: Since the 1970’s
New Values
Self-Fulfillment
Commitment to development of one’s own talent, personality, and potential
*Education is also considered a new important value
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

32. Reactions to Change in Values
Christopher Lasch
The Culture of Narcissism
Narcissism: Extreme self centered
*Negative on society
Daniel Yankelovich: Psychologists
Believed that self-fulfillment is good for society
“If all of the PARTS of society strive to get better, then society, as a whole, WILL get better”