Culture

A way of life

Material Culture

physical things (artifacts), produce and use in daily life

Nonmaterial Culture

abstract meanings (values, beliefs, behaviors)

Cultural Universals

patterns, traits, common to all societies (ideas, beliefs, attitudes)

Ethnocentrism

evaluate and judge other cultures compared to our own

Cultural Imperialism

force a way of life on others

Cultural Relativism

understand context of the culture (respect, curiosity)

Xenocentrism

View other cultures as superior to your own

Culture Shock

feeling lost, disoriented, and/or frustration in a new place/way of life

Values

standards and principles

Beliefs

truths ("all men are created equal", "life, liberty, pursuit of happiness")

Ideal Culture

What we wish our society was

Real Culture

How society truly is

Sanctions

a way to authorize or disapprove behaviors, reinforcement

Social Control

How we enforce conformity (social institutions)

Norms

expectations for behavior

Mores

formal, laws and rules

Folkways

informal, kindness

Language

our spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning

High Culture

elements of culture found in elite groups (out of touch for the rest of society)

Low Culture

elements of culture found in lowest classes (rest of society doesnt want to touch it, seen as taboo)

Popular Culture

elements of culture mass produced and consumed (mainstream, accessible to most of society)

Subculture

smaller groups that exist within societies (unique)

Counterculture

groups that react against the dominant way of life

Cultural Changes

new items are discovered/invented, enter a culture as a result of globalization

Innovation

brand new, initial appearance

Invention

make new from existing objects or ideas

Discovery

new to you but was already in existence

Diffusion

Share/Spread culture and adopt culture

Culture Lag

there is a gap between introducing a thing and accepting it

Globalization

interconnected to other cultures

Functional Theory

Parts are contributing to the whole, shared/ common culture/Social integration/global coheison (culture=glue)

Functions

- manifest - survive, thrive, continue (ulture/structure) - latent-entertainment, fulfillment, escape (subculture)

Conflict Theory

groups compete for resources, culture is not accessible to everyone equally (socioeconomic status, low culture, language), countercultures are a threat, values conflicts

Dominant Culture

oppressive way of life

Symbolic interaction theory

symbols of culture and their meaning (micro) - language - values - norms - beliefs -interactions within and between groups, countercultures and subcultures -constructivism-create/build culture -social change is constant/evolving