Societies and Culture

Society

• Collection of interacting individuals sharing the same way of life and living in the same territory

• Foundations of society- Statuses-position in society Roles-expectation of what individuals should do in

according to their status Groups- collection of people who interact w/ one

another and have some unity Institutions- set of widely shared beliefs, norms and

procedures necessary for meeting the basic needs of society

How can you tell if someone is from a different culture than

yours?

What is Culture?

• Defined as the language, beliefs, values, norms, behavior, and even material objects that are passed from one generation to the next Material culture- jewelry, art, buildings, weapons,

machines, clothing, hairstyles Non-material culture- way of thinking (beliefs, values,

and assumptions) and common patterns (language, gestures, and other forms of interaction)

Practice

• Identify the following as either material or non-material culture

Symbols

• Something to which people attach meaning and that people use to communicate Include language, gestures, values, norms,

sanctions, folkways and mores

Gestures

• Using one’s body to communicate with others Used by people in every culture, although

meanings differ• Confusion or offense can result because of

misunderstandings over the meanings or misuse of a gesture

Can create strong emotions

Language

• Consists of a system of symbols that can be put together in an infinite number of ways to communicate abstract thought Each word is a symbol, a sound to which a

culture attaches a particular meaning

Language

• Language is important because it is the primary means of communication between people Allows human experience to be cumulative

• Each generation build upon experiences that are passed on to it by the previous generation

It extends time back into the past, enabling is to share past experiences, and forward in the future allowing us to share our future plans

It allows shared perspectives or understandings and complex, goal directed behavior

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

• States that language predisposes us to see the world in a certain way

• Language molds our minds, determining how we think about the world

• Example: societies that are surrounded by ice much of the year have numerous terms for ice- enables people to see many different kinds of ice- info that’s useful for ensuring safety and comfort in the environment

Practice

• : - ) LOL

 

• :. ) TTYL

• : -( SMH

• >: - ( ROFL

• O : -)

 

Components of Culture

• Knowledge- collection of relatively objective ideas and facts about our physical and social worlds Can be turned into technology and can be

used to control the natural environment and to deal with social problems

• Beliefs- ideas that are relatively subjective, unreliable, or unverifiable Example: Religion

Components continues

• Norms- social rules that specify how people should behave

• Sanctions are the positive or negative reactions to the way in which people follow norms Positive sanctions- expressions of approval

• Money reward, prize, smile, handshake

Negative sanctions- denotes disapproval for breaking a norm

• A fine, a frown, or harsh words

Components of Culture

• Values-socially shared ideas about what is good, desirable, or important Ideas that support the norms

• More likely to abide by the norm if we believe in its values

Folkways and Mores

• Folkways-weak norms that specify expectations about proper behavior No real consequences- dirty looks, etc

• Mores- strong norms that specify normal behavior and constitute demands, not just expectations More severe punishment Most are formalized into laws

• One groups’ folkway may constitute another group’s mores

Taboos

• Norms that are so strongly ingrained that even the thought of them is greeted with revulsion Eating human flesh, incest