1. Chapter 4 The Elements of Culture
Defining Culture
Chapter 4
The Elements of Culture

2. Objectives Define culture and explain its impact
Explain how culture changes and spreads
Describe how language unites and divides people and how it changes and spreads
Identify and define three categories of religions
Describe the worlds major religions
Identify modes of cultural expression

3. Defining Culture
The real question: What makes you similar to some people in the world but different from most others?
Culture – the total of ___________, __________, and ___________ shared and passed on by the members of a specific group

4. Culture. . .
. . . acts as a blueprint for how a group of people should behave if they want to fit in.
(societal _______ and __________)
. . . ties us to one group and separates us from other groups.
Cultural Factors
Food and shelter
___________
Relationships
_______________
Education
Security / Protection
________ and _______ Organization
Creative Expression

5. Elements of Culture Social Organization
A group that shares a geographic region, a sense of identity, and a culture is called a ________
Societies can be broken down into specific groups that share a language, customs, or a common heritage – ______ _______

6. Social Organization
All societies have social classes – a way to rank people in order of status
What can social classes be based on?

7. Elements of Culture
Customs and Traditions – rules of ________ (written and unwritten)

8. Elements of Culture
Creative Expression – products of the human imagination
___ ______ Literature
_____ Folk Tales
Teaches about cultural values
Promotes cultural pride and unity

9. Elements of Culture
_______ – belief in a supernatural power that is the creator and maintainer of life
Three Categories
Monotheism – belief in ____ god
Polytheism – belief in _____ gods
Anamistic – belief in divine forces of _______

10. Five Major Religions RELIGION M / P / A Date Founded Where Founded
# of Followers / Name
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism

11. Elements of Culture
Political Organization – ruling structure that provides for the common needs of society
Democracy – _________ have the power
___________ – ruling family headed by a king or queen
Dictatorship – an individual or group hold complete power
Communism – government and economic system are controlled by the _________ in the name of the _____

12. Elements of Culture
Economic Systems – the use of _______ to satisfy ______ or ______
Traditional – people produce most of what they need to survive
Market Economy – buying and selling goods and services
Command Economy – Government controls what/how goods are produced and what they cost
Mixed – individuals make some economic decisions and the government makes others

13. Levels of Economic Activity
Primary – involves gathering ___ _______ for use in making the final product
Secondary – involves adding value to materials by changing their form
Tertiary – involves providing ________ or __________ services
Quaternary – provides information, management, and research

14. Elements of Culture MORE LATER
Language – way to __________ and pass on traditions and beliefs
MORE LATER

15. Culture Change and Exchange
Innovation – taking existing technology and resources and creating something new to meet a need (EX)
Diffusion – the spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behavior
Acculturation – occurs when a society changes because it accepts or adopts an innovation

16. Be Careful of. . .
Ethnocentrism – judging other cultures by the ________ of your own
_______ – belief that one racial group is superior to another
__________ – classifying people using an oversimplified opinion or image