CULTURECULTURE The body of learned behaviors

common to a given human society. It includes all of the artifacts,

symbols, language, values and norms that make up the social environment of human life.

CULTURECULTURE All cultures have the same drives:

food, water and sleep Have many of the same activities:

raising crops or herding animals Major Difference:

each develops its own answers to the same problems.

Cultural Variation

CULTURECULTURE Cause of Cultural Variation

Geography: climate, topography (land elevation), and resources have a tremendous impact

• Ex. Arctic vs. tropic Discovery: finding some element or principle

not previously known. • Ex. Fire

Invention: Finding of some known elements or principles into some form not previously used.

• Ex. Telegraph, Telephone, Cell Phone

CULTURECULTURE Isolation: The absence of interaction

with others. • Ex. Tribal societies today

Values: Those things which are considered important and good in a particular society.• Ex. Being on time, respect of all people

Culture Norms:

Shared rules of behavior particular to a certain group

• Formal: school rules that include sanctions• Informal: unwritten standards of behavior

Folkways: Etiquette and customs of a people that are

not of critical importance to the society. • May not apply to all segments of society.

• Holidays• Family tradition• Religion

Culture Mores:

Rules of behavior that are very important to a particular culture whose violation would endanger its basic stability. • No legal consequence• Could create social outcast

Laws: Norms established and enforced by the

local, state and/or federal government

Culture Values:

Collective idea of what is right or wrong, good or bad, desirable or undesirable in a particular culture.• Usually referred to in pairs

• Brave / Cowardly• Hardworking / lazy

• *A Process of Evaluation• Who evaluates???

CULTURECULTURETwo types of Culture:

Material Culture: Begins as raw materials or resources Transformed into usable items

• Clothing, phones, computers, cars

CULTURECULTURE Nonmaterial Culture:

The abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people’s behavior.• Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior,

family patterns, political systems.• What is acceptable and right to the majority of

people in a given society

CULTURECULTURE As a society, are we more concerned

with material or nonmaterial culture? Give examples to support your belief