Sociology chapter three Culture Flashcards
What is culture
The entire way of life of a group of people.
Components of culture (material culture)
-Material culture
- objects associated with a cultural group
Example;tools, machines utensils, buildings, artwork
Components of culture (symbolic culture)
Symbolic culture
-ways of thinking
-beliefs, values, and assumptions
Ways of behaving
-Norms, interactions, and communications
-allows communication through signs, gestures, and language
Components of culture (nonmaterial culture)
Nonmaterial culture- reflects the ideas and beliefs of a group of people.
Variations in culture (multiculturalism)
-values diverse racial,ethnic, national, linguistic backgrounds
- encourages the retention of cultural differences within society, rather than assimilation.
Variations in culture (Dominant culture)
-Dominant culture
-values, norms, and practices of the group within society that is most powerful in terms of wealth, prestige, status, and influence.
-part of it can become part of counterculture.
Variations in culture (Subcultures)
Subcultures
-subculture
-groups within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms and lifestyle.
-can become part of dominant culture.
Countercultures
Couterculture
-openly rejects and or actively oppposes society values and norms.
Variations in culture (Hegemony)
Term developed by Antonio Gramsci to describe the cultural aspects of social control, whereby the ideas of the dominant group are accepted by all.
Cultural change
-Cultures
-usually change slowly
-change can happen in rapid and dramatic ways
American culture in perspective
This means recognizing that because it is pervasive, it may also be viewed with suspicion and even contempt when the values it expresses clash with those of other cultures.
Components of culture (symbolic culture)
Symbolic culture
-ways of thinking
-beliefs, values, and assumptions
Ways of behaving
-Norms, interactions, and communications
-allows communication through signs, gestures, and language
Other culture concepts (technological determinism)
-technological determinism- Material artifacts and the knowledge and techniques required to use them.
Other culture concepts (cultural diffusion)
The disambiguation of material and nonmaterial culture tools and technology beliefs and behavior from one group to another.
Other culture concepts (culture laveling)
Occurs when cultures that were once distant become increasingly similar to one another.
