The Dispute Over Defining CultureChapter 1

What are the meanings of the following terms?Culture, race, co-culture, subculture, & subgroup

Give examples of norms or rules of behavior provided by diverse cultures and subgroups

Culture Defined

The traditions, customs, norms, beliefs, values and thought patterning passed down from generation to generation.

Culture refers to:

A community or population large enough to be self-sustaining

The totality of the group’s thought

A process of social transmission of these thoughts and behaviors over the course of generations.

Members who identify themselves with that group

• Cultural Identity.

Race Defined

Race: refers to large body of people characterized by similarity of descent.Biological definition.Race such as skin color and hair texture were caused by recent evolution in response to climate and diet.20th century studies indicated that there is NO single race-defining gene.Race is a sociohistorical concept.

Ethnicity Defined

It reflects a continuing social debate.

Ethnic group refer to a group of people of the same descent and heritage who share a common and distinctive culture passed on through generation.

E.g., Italian-American, Asian-American (culture within a culture).

Subculture Defined

Subculture: a part of the worldA subdivision is a part of but no less important.

May imply being under or beneath or being inferior

Exists within a dominant culture & often based on economic or social class, race or geographical region.

Myths Defined

Represent the society’s values and are passed on from generation to generation.

Make the world understandable, support the social order.

Change slowly and are widely taught and believed.

Myths are expressed in the rituals of a culture in story form and in novels and literature.

Co-Culture Defined

No culture is inherently superior to other co-existing culture

American Indian Nation

Rules vs. NormsRules: socially agreed-on behavior

Individual guidelines for behavior.

Norms: appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

Individuals are rewarded or punished as they conform to or deviate from the norms.

Superstitions: some cultural customs are labeled as superstitions.