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SA150 - Chapter 3 - Culture
Cue cards from Chapter 3 - Culture.
38
Sociology
Undergraduate 1
10/09/2011

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Term
Culture
Definition
The ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together shape a people's way of life. Includes our thoughts, actions and possessions; both the link to the past and the future.
Term
Nonmaterial Culture
Definition
The ideas created by members of a society.
Term
Material Culture
Definition
The physical things created by members of a society.
Term
Culture Shock
Definition
Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life. (It is a two way process)
Term
Symbols
Definition
Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture. One of the elements of culture.
Term
Language
Definition
A system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another. An element of culture.
Term
Cultural Transmission
Definition
The process by which one generation passes culture to the next; language is key for this.
Term
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Definition
States that people perceive the world through the cultural lens of language, developed by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf.
Term
Values
Definition
Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good and beautiful and that serve as broad guidelines for social living. Part of values/beliefs, an element of culture.
Term
Beliefs
Definition
Specific statements that people hold to be true. Part of values/beliefs, an element of culture.
Term
Norms
Definition
Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members. Divided between proscriptive and prescriptive, as well as mores and folkways.
Term
Proscriptive Norms
Definition
Norms which stipulate "do not do."
Term
Prescriptive Norms
Definition
Norms that stipulate "do this".
Term
Mores
Definition
Term coined by William Graham Sumner, referring to norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance; the difference between right and wrong aka taboos.
Term
Folkways
Definition
Term coined by William Graham Sumner referring to norms for routine or casual interaction; the difference between right and rude.
Term
Social Control
Definition
Attempts by others to regulate people's thoughts and behaviour. Sanctions operate as a system of social control.
Term
Sanctions
Definition
Rewards or punishments; praise and approval for conforming to norms, punishment for violation of norms.
Term
Shame
Definition
The painful sense that others disapprove of our actions.
Term
Guilt
Definition
A negative judgment we make of ourselves.
Term
Ideal Culture
Definition
Social patterns mandated by cultural values and norms; not the same as real culture.
Term
Real Culture
Definition
Actual social patterns that only approximate cultural expectations.
Term
Artifacts
Definition
A wide range of human creations; part of Material Culture/Technology which is an element of culture.
Term
Technology
Definition
Knowledge that people use to make a way of life in their surroundings; part of Material Culture/Technology, an element of culture.
Term
High Culture
Definition
Cultural patterns that distinguish a society's elite (ex. Opera, Symphony Orchestra concerts, fine cuisine, etc.)
Term
Popular Culture
Definition
Cultural patterns that are widespread throughout society.
Term
Subculture
Definition
Cultural patterns that set apart some segment of a society's population (ex. Teenagers, First nations members on reserves, homeless people, etc.)
Term
Multiculturalism
Definition
Social policy designed to encourage ethnic or cultural heterogeneity, prevalent in Canada.
Term
Eurocentrism
Definition
The dominance of European cultural patterns.
Term
Arguments for Multiculturalism
Definition
1) It acts as a way to capture a more accurate picture of our past
2) It allows us to come to terms with our current diversity
3) It is a way to strengthen the academic achievement of children of immigrants whom are from visible minorities and find little personal relevance in traditional educational programs
4) It is a worthwhile preparation to live in a world that is increasingly independent
Term
Arguments Against Multiculturalism
Definition
1) It fuels the "politics of difference"
2) It encourages divisveness and promotes segregation
Term
Counterculture
Definition
Cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society (ex. Hippies in the 60s).
Term
Cultural Integration
Definition
The close relationship among various elements of a cultural system.
Term
Cultural Lag
Definition
A term coined by William Ogburn, referring to when cultural elements change at different rates, causing various degrees of disruption in cultural systems. (Ex. We have the technology for a woman to give birth to another woman's egg, however this raises ethical questions that we are not prepared to answer)
Term
Causes of Cultural Change
Definition
1) Invention - creating new cultural elements
2) Discovery - recognizing and understanding something not fully understood before
Diffusion - the spread of cultural traits from one society to another
Term
Ethnocentrism
Definition
The practice of judging another culture by the standards of one's own. Its alternative is cultural relativism.
Term
Cultural Relativism
Definition
The practice of judging a culture by its own standards.
Term
Cultural Universals
Definition
Traits that are part of every known culture. (Ex. The family, funeral rites,, jokes)
Term
Sociobiology
Definition
A theoretical approach that explores the ways in which human biology affects how we create culture; rests on Darwin's theory of evolution.
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