3.2 and 3.3: The Determinants of Culture, Religious and Ethical Systems Flashcards
What are the determinants of culture, as mentioned in the text?
The determinants of culture include:
prevailing political and economic philosophy,
social structure,
dominant religion,
language,
and education.
How does political and economic philosophy influence the value systems of a society? Provide an example.
Political and economic philosophy significantly influences the value systems of a society.
For instance, the values in the former Soviet Union regarding freedom, justice, and individual achievement were different from those in Canada due to the distinct political and economic philosophies operating in each society.
Explain the two-way relationship between social structure, religion, and the values and norms of a society.
Social structure and religion can influence the values and norms of a society.
Simultaneously, the values and norms of a society can influence its social structure and religion.
This relationship is dynamic and interactive, with both factors shaping each other.
How does language contribute to the formation of cultural values and norms?
Language plays a crucial role in shaping cultural values and norms.
It influences how people communicate, express ideas, and perceive the world, thereby contributing to the cultural identity of a society.
In what ways does education impact the values and norms of a society?
Education influences the values and norms of a society by shaping the beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge of individuals.
Formal education systems transmit cultural values, beliefs, and norms to new generations, ensuring the continuity of the society’s cultural heritage.
Figure 3.1: The Determinants of Culture
What does a society’s “social structure” refer to?
A society’s social structure refers to its basic social organization, encompassing various aspects that define how individuals and groups are organized within the society.
What are the two important dimensions of social structure when explaining cultural differences?
The first dimension is the degree to which the basic unit of social organization is the individual versus the group.
Western societies emphasize the primacy of the individual, while many other societies prioritize groups.
The second dimension is the degree of social stratification, indicating the presence of classes or castes within a society.
How do Western societies and many other societies differ in terms of the importance of the individual versus the group?
Western societies emphasize the importance of the individual, while many other societies give more significance to groups in their social organization.
What is social stratification, and how does it vary between different societies?
Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social classes or castes within a society.
Some societies, like India, have a high degree of social stratification with low mobility between strata, while others, like Canada, have lower stratification and higher mobility between social classes.
What is a group in the context of social organization?
A group is an association of two or more individuals who share a common identity and interact with each other in structured ways based on mutual expectations about behavior.
How do societies differ in their view of individuals and groups as means of social organization?
Societies differ in the degree to which the group is considered the primary means of social organization.
In some societies, individual attributes and achievements are valued more than group membership, while in others, the reverse is true.
In what way is individualism reflected in many Western societies?
Individualism in Western societies is reflected in the emphasis on individual achievement.
Social standing is often determined by individual performance, and individuals are encouraged to pursue personal success in various settings, including social and business contexts.
What are some benefits of the emphasis on individual performance in Western societies?
The emphasis on individual performance fosters entrepreneurship and innovation.
It leads to the creation of new products and business methods.
Additionally, high managerial mobility allows executives to gain diverse experiences and learn from different business practices.
What challenges can arise from the emphasis on individualism in organizations?
High managerial mobility can lead to a lack of loyalty and commitment to a specific company, potentially resulting in managers lacking company-specific knowledge and contacts.
Moreover, an excessive focus on individual performance might hinder cooperation and teamwork within organizations, making it difficult to perform collective tasks effectively.
How does the view of individualism in Canada differ from that in the United States, especially concerning government interference in citizens’ lives?
In the United States, neither of the two major political parties endorse significant government interference in the daily lives of Americans.
In contrast, Canada experiences government interference through high taxes, group social programs, and perceived or real intervention in business.
In Japanese society, what determines an individual’s social status, and how is this different from Western societies?
In Japanese society, an individual’s social status is determined not only by individual performance but also significantly by the standing of the group to which they belong.
This is different from Western societies where individual achievements often carry more weight in determining social status.
How does group identification impact cooperation and work ethic in Japanese society?
Group identification in Japanese society creates a strong incentive for individual members of the group to work together for the common good.
This close cooperation is driven by the need to improve the performance of the group, such as a business firm.
The value of group identification fosters a strict work ethic and mutual self-help among group members.
How does the emphasis on group identification impact the mobility of managers and workers in Japanese society?
The emphasis on group identification discourages managers and workers from moving from company to company in Japan.
Lifetime employment in a particular company was a norm in certain sectors, and this continuity allowed individuals to build up knowledge, experience, and interpersonal business contacts, which facilitated effective job performance and cooperation.
What is one potential drawback of the emphasis on group identification in Japanese society, particularly in comparison to North American societies?
One potential drawback of the emphasis on group identification in Japanese society is a lack of dynamism and entrepreneurship.
Some argue that this emphasis hampers the creation of new industries and the pioneering of radically new products and business methods, which are often seen in more individualistic societies like Canada and the United States.
How are societies stratified, and what factors determine social strata?
Societies are stratified into social categories or strata based on characteristics such as family background, occupation, and income.
Individuals are born into a specific stratum, often determined by their parents’ social category.
What are some advantages of being born into a higher social stratum?
Individuals born into a higher social stratum often have better life chances, including improved education, health, standard of living, and work opportunities compared to those born into a lower stratum.
In what two ways do societies differ concerning social stratification?
Societies differ in terms of the degree of mobility between social strata and the significance attached to social strata in business contexts.
Explain the concept of social mobility.
Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or families from one social stratum to another.
It can be upward, where individuals move to a higher social stratum, or downward, where they move to a lower stratum.
Why is social stratification significant in business contexts?
Social stratification is significant in business contexts because it can influence access to resources, opportunities, and networks.
Individuals from higher social strata may have more advantages and connections, potentially impacting their success and opportunities in the business world.
What is a caste system, and how does it differ from a class system in terms of social mobility?
A caste system is a closed system of stratification in which social position and occupation are determined by the family into which a person is born, and change in position is usually not possible during an individual’s lifetime.
In contrast, a class system is a more open form of social stratification where social mobility is possible; an individual’s position in society can change based on their own achievements and luck.
Describe the historical British class system and the factors that contributed to limited social mobility.
Historically, the British class system was divided into upper, middle, and working classes.
Members of the upper and upper-middle classes had access to prestigious private schools and universities, leading to better job opportunities.
Those from the working and lower-middle classes attended state schools, faced challenges in accessing top universities, and were often discriminated against due to accents and social skills.
Limited social mobility was perpetuated through generations, although upward mobility was possible over time.
How did the British class system perpetuate itself from generation to generation?
The British class system perpetuated itself through factors like access to prestigious education.
Individuals from working-class backgrounds, even if they achieved an income consistent with the upper-middle class, might not be accepted due to accent and background.
However, by ensuring their children attended the “right kind of school,” parents could increase their children’s acceptance into higher social strata.
