Culture Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is religion?
A system of beliefs and practices related to the sacred or supernatural that gives meaning and purpose to life.
What are some key aspects of religion?
Beliefs, rituals, sacred texts, ethics, experiences, and community.
What are functions of religion?
Provides meaning, builds community, controls behavior, and offers support.
What are major world religions?
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, etc.
What is race?
A social construct used to group people by physical traits like skin color.
Why is race a social construct?
It’s created by societies and history—not biology.
What are consequences of race?
Power imbalances, racism, inequality, and discrimination.
What is ethnicity?
A shared cultural identity based on ancestry, language, religion, or traditions.
How is ethnicity different from race?
Ethnicity is cultural; race is often based on appearance.
What is language?
A system of communication using words, sounds, and rules.
What are functions of language?
Communication, social bonding, cultural transmission, and identity.
What is a language family?
A group of languages with a common ancestor (protolanguage).
What is a dialect?
A regional or social version of a language with unique words or accents.
What is cultural diffusion?
The spread of cultural traits from one group or place to another.
What is relocation diffusion?
Culture spreads because people move and bring it with them.
What is contagious diffusion?
Culture spreads quickly from person to person.
What is hierarchical diffusion?
Culture spreads from influential people or places to others.
What is stimulus diffusion?
An idea spreads but is changed to fit the new culture.
What is assimilation?
When a group adopts the dominant culture and loses its original culture.
Is assimilation always voluntary?
No—it can also be forced.
What is acculturation?
When cultures influence each other but don’t fully lose their identity.
How is acculturation different from assimilation?
Assimilation = full adoption. Acculturation = blending.
What is cultural appropriation?
Taking elements from a minority culture without understanding or respect.
Why is cultural appropriation harmful?
It can exploit or misrepresent another culture.
