Lecture 3: Culture

Question 1

enculturation

Answer 1

• process by which a child learns his or her culture

Question 2

cultural learning depends on the human capacity to use…

Answer 2

• symbols
• signs that have no necessary or natural connection
to the things they stand for

Question 3

popular culture

Answer 3

• aspects of culture that have meaning for most of the

people within the same national culture

Question 4

E.B. Taylor definition of culture

Answer 4

• holistic

* learned

Question 5

human cultures depend on 3 things…

Answer 5

• symbolic communication
• learning
• ability to live in groups

• rooted in biology, but biology alone cannot explain how human cultures function, interact, and change

Question 6

features of culture

Answer 6

• learned
• shared
  
  • can have difference in meaning
• symbolic
• shapes and channels nature
• all-encompassing

Question 7

ethnocentrism

Answer 7

•tendency to view one’s own culture as superior and to apply one’s own values in judging the behavior and beliefs of people in other cultures

ex: Papua New Guinea sexual activity difference

Question 8

cultural relativism

Answer 8

•viewpoint that behavior one culture should not be judged by the standards of another culture;

counteracts ethnocentrism

Question 9

diffusion

Answer 9

•borrowing of culture between cultures; can be direct or indirect

Question 10

acculturation

Answer 10

• ongoing exchange of cultures in which either or both cultures can change;
• ALWAYS direct
• continuous first-hand contact

Question 11

independent invention

Answer 11

•process by which humans innovate, create; common trends emerge independently

Question 12

globalization

Answer 12

• process that connects the changes in economic, technologic, social spheres;
• accentuates difference as well as individualization

Question 13

international/national culture

Answer 13

•extends beyond and across national boundaries
ex: equality, democracy

•values instilled and shared among those in the same nation
ex: movies, dress

Question 14

subcultures

Answer 14

•different symbol based patterns and traditions associated with a particular group
ex: ethnicity, job-related culture, being part of team

Question 15

cultural dimensions

Answer 15

• universality
  
  • all humans use language; same basic physical appearance; kinship; share food; against incest

•generality
•things a little more specific to each culture
ex: English is a common language, monogamy is
common type of marriage

•particularity
less common things shared
ex: polygamy practice