1. Chapter 2: Cultural diversity
Mrs. Hansen/ Sociology
Chapter 2: Cultural diversity

2. Section 1: The Meaning of Culture
What is Culture?
Material Vs. Non material
Cars, clothes, computers, cell phones, books, buildings
Beliefs, family patterns, ideas, language, political and economic systems

3. Society Vs. Culture Sociologist distinguish between the two
Society =people
Culture= material and non material products that people create

4. Components of Culture:
Technology
Symbols
Language
Values
Norms

5. Technology Physical objects and the rules for using those objects
Using tools requires knowledge of various skills
Sociologist interested in skills but the rules of acceptable behavior when using material culture

6. Symbols
Through symbols we create culture and communicate it to group members and future generations
Symbols have a shared meaning attached to them
Any word, gesture, image, sound, physical object, event, or element of the natural world
Everyone must understand the symbol in order for it to have meaning!

7. Language:
Organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system
Used daily to communicate and express ideas

8. Values:
Shared Beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable
The type of value held by a group help to determine the character of its people and the kinds of material and nonmaterial culture they create
The Yanomamo and the San people

9. Norms
Shared rules of conduct that tell people how act in specific situations
These are expectations for behavior not the actual behavior
Norms range in importance
Covering your mouth when you yawn
Don’t kill another human being
Some apply to everyone others apply to select groups
Marriage

10. Folkways Mores Laws Norms without great moral significance
Norms with a lot of moral significance
Laws
Written norms enacted and enforced by governments that must be followed

11. Examining Culture Norms are Dynamic instead of Static
Sociologists break down culture into levels and studying them separately
Three Levels
Culture Traits
Culture Complexes
Culture Patterns

12. Culture Traits Simplest level of culture
An individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need.
Using utensils when eating
Specific greetings when meeting people

13. Culture Complexes: Individual Culture traits combine to form complexes
A cluster of interrelated traits
Example = Football
The ball, measuring chain, gear, and benches are the material traits
Kicking, passing, running, catching, blocking and tackling are the acts of football
There are also beliefs like following the rules, etc.
In an industrial society a variety of Complexes exist and can be studied

14. Culture Patterns Complexes combine to form patterns
The combination of a number of culture complexes
Example=
Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis and track combine to form the American athletic pattern
Other examples are related to specific areas of society
Agriculture, religion, education, family life, and manufacturing

15. All of these combine to form a society’s culture!!!