Download Chapter 3 Notes

CULTURAL
CONFORMITY AND
ADAPTATION
Chapter 3
The Asch Conformity Experiment
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRh5qy09nNw&safety_
mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcmvbXgmdsU&featur
e=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&sa
fe=active
Traditional American Values
• Identified by sociologist Robin
Williams in his study American
Society.
• A Set of 15 values that are central to
the American way of life.
Personal Achievement
• Not surprisingly, most Americans value
personal achievement.
• The U.S. was primarily built by people who
believed in individualism and competition.
• Very evident in the area of employment,
where achievement is often measured in
terms of power and wealth.
Individualism
• For most Americans, individual effort is the
key to personal achievement.
• Most people believe strongly in success
through hard work and initiative.
• The downside is that most people feel that
if a person does not succeed, they are to
blame.
Work
• Most Americans value work, no matter what
rewards are involved.
• Americans view discipline, dedication, and hard
work as signs of virtue.
• We often view people who do not work as lazy or
possibly immoral.
• Ex. welfare
Morality and Humanitarianism
• The U.S. was founded on strong religious faith,
on a belief in justice and equality, and on charity
towards those less fortunate.
• Most Americans place a high value on morality
and tend to view the world in terms of right and
wrong.
• Most Americans are quick to help those who are
less fortunate or in trouble.
Efficiency and Practicality
• Americans tend to be practical and inventive
people.
• We often solve problems using the most efficient
technique for dealing with a situation.
• As a result of our problem solving ability, we tend
to view new technology in terms of its usefulness
and judge people on their ability to get things
done.
Progress and Material Comfort
• Americans tend to believe that with hard
work and determination our standard of
living will continue to improve.
• We look to science and technology to
continue to develop the material comforts
that we strive for.
• Examples?
Equality and Democracy
• The United States was founded on the principle of
human equality.
• To have human equality there must be equality of
opportunity and an equal chance at success
.
• Even through equal opportunity, not everyone will be
successful.
• Americans believe that citizens have the right to
express their opinions and to participate in
government.
Freedom
• Americans value personal freedoms of
choice such as freedom of religion, speech,
and press.
• Americans fight to protect these freedoms
from direct government interference in their
daily lives and business transactions.
Other Core Values
• Williams also identified other core
values that help define American
culture.
• Nationalism
• Patriotism
• Science and rationality
• Racial and group superiority
Education
• Sociologist James Henslin suggests that
Americans value education.
• Many Americans feel that people should achieve
the highest level of education that his or her
abilities will allow.
• Americans tend to look down on people who
deliberately choose not to fulfill their educational
potential.
• Do we look negatively on people who drop out?
Religion
• Henslin also feels that religion is a core
American value.
• Although we don’t expect people to belong
to church, synagogue or mosque, we do
expect people to live their lives according to
basic religious principles.
Love
• Henslin also suggests that romantic love is
another core American value.
• Americans strongly believe that people should
marry primarily because they fall in love with each
other.
• Do we see any flaws in this? Do we think that this
might be changing in American society?
Assignment
•Page 48
•#’s 1, 3, 4a, and 4b
•Turn in when finished
•Due tomorrow
Our Changing Values
• Because our society is dynamic (always
changing), some values change and new ones
emerge.
• Researchers and sociologists have traced the
development of several new values in the U.S.
• These values fall under the group of selffulfillment values
• Leisure
• Physical fitness
• youthfulness
Our Changing Values
• Self-fulfillment is a commitment to the full
development of one’s personality, talents,
and potential.
• Seminars, TV programs, and books offer
people ideas on how to improve their
personal and professional lives.
Motivational Speakers…
• http://www.hulu.com/watch/4183/s
aturday-night-live-down-by-theriver
Problems
• According to some sociologists and
researchers, this increased attitude of selffulfillment has led to another, unintended
American value…
Narcissism
Narcissism
• Christopher Lasch, Culture of
Narcissism
• Looks at the growing emphasis on
personal fulfillment.
• Christopher Lasch feels that personal
fulfillment may be a personality
disorder.
• Narcissism: Extreme selfcenteredness
Narcissism
• Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people
have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for
admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that
they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's
feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile selfesteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.
• Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality
disorders. Personality disorders are conditions in which people have
traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways,
limiting their ability to function in relationships and in other areas of
their life, such as work or school.
• Narcissistic personality disorder treatment is centered around
psychotherapy.
• (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/narcissistic-personalitydisorder/DS00652)
Narcissism
• Sociologists feel that it weakens the established
values of hard work and moderation.
• Some sociologists feel that Americans believe
less in hard work than did earlier generations
(Yankelovich).
• Yankelovich viewed the development of selffulfillment as a beneficial change because it
marked a movement away from satisfaction
based on material gain.
Causes of Narcissism
• An oversensitive temperament at birth is
the main symptomatic chronic form.
• Being praised for perceived exceptional
looks or talents by adults.
• Excessive admiration that is never
balanced with realistic feedback.
• Excessive praise for good behaviors or
excessive criticism for poor behaviors in
childhood.
Causes of Narcissism
• Overindulgence and overvaluation by
parents.
• Severe emotional abuse in childhood.
• Unpredictable or unreliable caregiving from
parents.
• Valued by parents as a means to regulate
their own self-esteem.
Values… continued
• Concern for the environment (1990s)-
Growing support for environmental
protection.
• 60% of Americans favor protecting the
environment even at the expense of
economic growth (according to a study
done in the 90s).
How Values Change
• For long periods, the desire for progress took
precedence over concerns for the environment.
• Ex. clearing forests, diverting river paths, building
factories (pollution).
• Recently, it has become clear that some of these
actions have damaged the environment,
• We need to find a balance between progress and
conservation.
Advertising and Culture (Pg. 49)
• Top Ten Most Viral Super Bowl Ads of all time
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/01/viral-
ads_n_2581579.html#slide=2042965
• http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-most-viral-super-
bowl-ads-ever-2013-1?op=1
Advertising and Culture (Pg. 49)
• Advertisement #1
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL6JHB8oilI
• Advertisement #2
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE&safety_
mode=true&safe=active&persist_safety_mode=1
• Advertisement #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFMiTcFdNQ&safety_
mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
• Advertisement #4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWqj6OQQOHA&safet
y_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
Internalization of Norms
• When people come to believe that a particular norm is
good, useful, and appropriate, they generally follow it and
expect others to do the same.
• People have internalized the norm.
• Internalization is the process by which a norm becomes a
part of an individual’s personality, thus conditioning that
individual to conform to society’s expectations.
• Ex. Covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
• Stopping at a red light.
• You don’t do these things because you fear being
punished, you do them because you have internalized
society’s norms concerning sneezing and driving.
Sanctions
• Not everyone internalizes all of
society’s norms.
• Some people must be motivated by
sanctions; rewards or punishments
used to enforce conformity to norms.
• Sanctions can be positive or negative.
Positive Sanctions
• An action that rewards a particular kind of
behavior is a positive sanction.
• Most people are introduced to positive
sanctions early in life through family
interactions.
• Most parents praise their children for good
behavior.
• Teachers react favorably to students who
turn in good work, in the form of good
grades.
Positive Sanctions
• Positive sanctions continue into
adulthood as workers earn raises for
good work.
• Cheers from the crowd or teammates
push athletes to try even harder.
Negative Sanctions
• A punishment or the threat of punishment
used to enforce conformity is a negative
sanction.
• The threat of a punishment is often enough
to ensure acceptable behavior.
• The threat of having your car towed maybe
enough to not park in a “No Parking Zone.”
Negative Sanctions
• If the threat of punishment is not enough,
the actual punishment is there to remind
you that conformity is expected.
• Negative sanctions range from; frowns,
ridicule, fines, imprisonment, even death.
• If you are rarely or never rewarded for good
behavior nor punished for bad behavior,
then sanctions quickly become
meaningless to you.
Formal Sanctions
• In addition to positive or negative, sanctions
can be formal or informal.
• A formal sanction is a reward or punishment
given by a formal organization or regulatory
agency.
• Ex. School, business, or government
• Negative formal: low grades, termination from
job, imprisonment.
• Positive formal: Pay raises, promotions,
awards and medals.
Informal Sanctions
• The majority of norms are enforced equally.
• An informal sanction is a spontaneous
expression of approval or disapproval given by
an individual or group.
• Ex. Standing ovations, smiles, compliments,
pats on the back, gifts.
• Frowns, gossip, insults, ridicule, ostracism
(exclusion from a group).
• Informal sanctions are particularly effective
among teenagers.
Social Control
• The enforcing of norms through either internal or
external means.
• Self-control is the principle means of social control in
societies.
• Self-control is learned through internalization of
norms.
• Agents of self-control:
• Authority figures, police, the courts, religion, family,
public opinion.
• When a society’s methods for ensuring conformity
breakdown, social stability is lost.
Culture Change
• All cultures change over time, but cultures
change at different rates.
• The more culture traits a culture has, the faster
the culture can change since more possibilities
for change exist.
• Change can be accelerated because each
change brings about other changes.
• Ex. Automobiles- Not only changed
transportation, but also provided employment,
affected the way people shop, travel, where
they live, what they do for leisure.
Values and Beliefs
• Since society is interrelated, changes in
values and beliefs can be far reaching in
society.
• An ideology is a system of beliefs or ideas
that justifies the social, moral, religious,
political, or economic interests held by a
society.
• Ideologies are often spread through social
movements.
Social Movements
• A social movement is a long term
conscious effort to promote or prevent
social changes.
• Social movements usually involve large
numbers of people.
• Ex. Prohibition movement, women’s rights
movements, peace movements, gay rights
movements, civil rights movements,
environmental movements.
Factors That Cause Social Change
• Technology- Social change also
occurs when people find new ways
to manipulate their environment.
• The knowledge and tools people
use to manipulate their
environment are called technology.
1. Technology
• 2 ways technology arises:
• Discovery- Recognizing new uses for existing
elements in the world or begin to understand
them in new ways.
• Ex. Atomic fission, chewing gum and oil shale.
• Invention- When people use existing
knowledge to create something that did not
previously exist,
• Can take the form of material objects, ideas,
or patterns of behavior.
2. Population
• A change in population size may bring
about changes in culture (food, economy).
• Population growth in the early 1900s.
• Economy: A growing population can
increase the demand for goods and
services, which can stimulate an economy.
• A community with declining population may
need fewer jobs, which can limit
employment needs.
Population
• Larger populations need more space,
which affects the need for energy, food,
housing, schools, stores, transportation,
etc.
• People moving within a country may cause
a loss of regional distinction.
• Average population age also creates social
and cultural change.
3. Diffusion
• The process of spreading culture traits from
one society to another.
• What is spread?
• Ideas, beliefs, and material objects are
borrowed.
• The more contact a society has with
another, the more it will borrow.
• Today, diffusion is constant with radio,
internet, TV, telephone.
Diffusion
• Society tends to adopt material culture and
technology more freely than ideas and beliefs.
• Reformulation: Adapting borrowed cultural
traits.
• Diffusion is a 2 way process:
• Americans eat pasta, Mongolian BBQ, sushi
• American movies, music, cars, etc. are used
throughout the world.
4. The Physical Environment
• The environment provides conditions that may
encourage or discourage cultural change.
• Natural disasters such as droughts, floods,
tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. can produce social and
cultural change.
• People in some societies depend on foods
that can be grown locally.
• Other societies must import their food or adapt
new crops to their area.
The Physical Environment
• A change in supplies of natural resources may
bring about cultural change (oil and gas prices
from 1970s to today).
• Development of fuel efficient cars, once gas
prices eased high-performance cars were
produced again.
• What have the trends been over the last 5
years?
• Alternative forms of energy (wind power,
alternative forms of fuel)
5. War and Conquests
• Wars can bring about the greatest change
in the least amount of time.
• War causes changes in the economy as
industry focuses on producing war
materials rather than consumer goods.
• War can produce new technologies that
can have civilian applications.
• War may also result in changes in
government as new rulers come to power.
Resistance to Change
• Cultural change rarely occurs without some
opposition.
• Social change often results from a
compromise between opposing forces.
• Over time, people may accept a new idea
that they strongly resisted at first.
• Other people may not accept, but they do
learn to adapt.
Resistance to Change
• What are the reasons people
resist cultural change?
• Ethnocentrism
• Cultural lag
• Vested interests
Ethnocentrism
• Change that comes from outside a society
often meets with particularly strong
resistance.
• People tend to believe that their own ideas
and ways of doing things are best.
• Ex. “Buy American” campaign of the 1970s
and 1980s.
• Hard to differentiate today between where
foreign and domestic automobiles are
produced.
Cultural Lag
• Some cultural traits change quickly,
while others take considerable time.
• Cultural lag is a situation in which
some aspects of the culture change
less rapidly, or lag behind, other
aspects of the same culture.
Cultural Lag
• Material culture usually changes quicker
and non-material culture lags behind.
• School year and cultural lag
• 1800’s, school broke for summers so
farming could begin.
• We don’t farm as much today, but we still
have summers off. The traditional year
stays.
Vested Interests
• People will usually take an imperfect
present over an unknown future.
• People will also resist change that
threatens their security or standard of
living.
• Ex. Workers may oppose the introduction
of new technology because they fear
technology may replace them and cost
them their jobs.
Vested Interests
• Entire industries have vested interests to
protect.
• Oil companies benefitted from rising prices in
the 1970s.
• It was difficult to pass permanent energy
reforms because the oil industry lobbies the
government to protect their industry and
interests.