Download Sociology Ch 2 S 1 The Meaning of Culture

Sociology Ch 2 S 1
The Meaning of Culture
Obj: Define the meaning of the term ___________ and explain how ____________
culture and ________________ culture differ; identify and describe the basic
components of culture
Most sociologists believe that, unlike other animals, __________ are not controlled by
natural instincts. Because humans are not locked into a set of predetermined
behaviors, they are able to ____________ and change their environment. The
methods by which collections of people-be they small ____________ or entire
societies-deal with their environment form the foundation of their culture.
What is Culture?
_____________ consists of all the shared products of human groups. These products
include both physical objects and the __________, values and _____________
shared by a group.
The __________ objects that people create and use form a group’s
_________________ culture. Examples of material culture include automobiles,
books, buildings, clothing, computers, and cooking utensils. Abstract human
creations form a group’s _______________ culture. Examples of nonmaterial
culture include beliefs, family patterns, ideas, language, political and economic
systems, rules, skills, and work practices.
In everyday speech, people tend to use the terms society and culture interchangeably.
However, sociologists distinguish between the two terms. A _______________ is a
group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a
common culture and feeling of ____________. Society consists of ___________,
and culture consists of the material and nonmaterial products that people create.
The Components of Culture
Culture is both _______________ and _____________. This idea does not mean that
everyone in the US dresses the same way, belongs to the same church, or likes the
same type of music. It does mean that most people in the US choose from among
the same broad set of material and nonmaterial elements of culture in dealing with
and making sense of their __________________.
Many _____________________ are spoken in the US; however, ____________ is the
most shared language. Specific examples of the material and nonmaterial elements
of culture vary from society to society, but all cultures have certain basic
______________. These components are technology, symbols, language, values,
and norms.
Technology
A society’s culture consists of not only physical objects but also the rules for using
those objects. Sociologists sometimes refer to this combination of __________ and
__________ as ___________________.
Using items of material culture, particularly tools, requires knowledge of various
_________, which is part of the nonmaterial culture. For example, an understanding
of how silicon chips work, knowledge of __________________ languages, and the
ability to access and surf the Internet are all skills related to the computer.
Sociologists are not only interested in skills but also in the rules of acceptable
behavior when using material culture. For example, the practice of
“________________” – accessing Web sites or computer systems illegally – is
usually considered unacceptable behavior.
Symbols
The use of ____________ is the very basis of human culture. It is through symbols that
we __________ our culture and communicate it to group members and future
generations. As you learned in Chapter 1, a symbol is anything that
_______________ something else.
In other words, a symbol has a shared _____________ attached to it. Any word,
gesture, image, sound, physical object, event, or element of the natural world can
serve as a symbol as long as people _______________ that it carries a particular
meaning. A church service, a class ring, the word hello, the Lincoln Memorial, and a
handshake are examples of common symbols in the US. Although, specific
examples vary from culture to culture, all cultures _____________________
symbolically.
Language
One of the most _____________ aspects of any culture is its language. Language is
the organization of written or spoken symbols into a ______________ system. When
organized according to accepted rules of grammar, words can be used to express
any ______.
In the US most people learn to speak an American form of English and use this
language as their _____________ means of communicating with one another.
English is the principal language used in schools, in books and magazines, on radio
and television, and in _______________ dealings, even though there are members
of American society who do not speak English. Have you ever visited a
______________ country and been unable to speak the language? If so, you will
realize how important the use of language is in daily life.
Values
Language and other symbols are important partly because they allow us to
communicate our _____________ to one another and to ____________
generations. Values are shared ____________ about what is good or bad, right or
wrong, desirable or undesirable.
The types of values held by a group help to determine the _______________ of its
people and the kinds of material and nonmaterial culture they create. A society that
values war and displays of physical ____________ above all else will be different
from one that places emphasis on cooperation and _____________. The
Yanomamo of South American and the San provide examples of how different value
systems produce different cultures.
Norms
All groups create ______________ to enforce their cultural values. Norms are shared
rules of _____________ that tell people how to act in specific situations. For
example, in the US the value of a democratic government is reinforced through
norms governing political participation, respect for the American flag, and the
treatment of elected ______________.
It is important to keep in mind that norms are ___________________ for
__________________, not actual behaviors. The fact that a group has norms
governing certain behaviors does not necessarily mean that the actions of all
individuals will be in line with those norms. In the US, for example, there are norms
concerning _______________ responsibility. Nevertheless, some people do not pay
their bills.
A tremendous number of norms exist in our society ranging from the unimportant, such
as cover your mouth when you yawn, to the very important, such as do not kill a
human being.
While some norms apply to everyone in society, others are applied _______________.
For example, no one in American society is legally allowed to marry more than one
person at a time. But only selected groups of people, such as children and the clergy
of some religions are _______________ from marrying at all. Norms have also been
influenced by geographic factors. Restrictions against ________________ have
been placed in some regions of the western US to prevent deadly and costly forest
fires.
Even _______________ norms are sometimes applied selectively. The norm against
taking another person’s life, for example, is applied ________________ to soldiers
and police officers’ acting in the line of duty than it is to most members of society.
Norms also vary in the ________________ with which they are enforced. In
recognition of all these variations, sociologists distinguish between two types of
norms: folkways and mores.
_________________ are norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but do not
have great moral significance attached to them. In essence, they outline the
_____________ customs of everyday life. All of the following are folkways: do not
put food in your mouth with a knife: when lowering the American flag, do not allow it
to touch the ground, etc. Failure to abide by such rules usually results in a reprimand
or a minor punishment. Some degree of ___________________ to folkways is
permitted because it does not endanger the well-being or stability of society.
_____________, on the other hand have great significance attached to them. This
________ exists because the violation of such rules endangers society’s well-being
and stability. For example, dishonesty, fraud, and murder all greatly
___________________ society.
Societies have established punishments for violating mores in order to protect the
social well-being. These serious mores are formalized as ________ – written rules of
conduct enacted and enforced by the government. Most laws enforce mores
essential to social stability, such as those against arson, murder, rape, and theft.
However, laws may also enforce less severe folkways, such as not parking in spaces
reserved for drivers with disabilities.
Examining Culture
Although some cultural norms such as prohibiting ______________ have existed in
almost every society over time, culture is continually changing. In sociological terms,
it is __________ rather then _______________.
New material _______________ are constantly being introduced, as are new words,
expressions, and ideas. If cultures are so vast and complicated and are constantly
changing, how do sociologists _____________ them? Sociologists examine a
culture by breaking it down into ____________ and studying each level separately.
The features of a culture can be divided into three levels of complexity: traits,
complexes, and patterns.
The simplest level of culture is the culture _____________. A culture trait is an
individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular _____________ or need.
Using knives, forks, and spoons when eating is a culture trait. Another trait is the
specific greeting used when meeting people. If you see a good friend you probably
say, “Hi”. On the other hand, when greeting the human-resources manager at a job
interview you would probably not be as informal. The greeting you use is related to
the particular situation or __________.
Individual culture traits combine to form the next level – culture
____________________. A culture _____________ is a cluster of interrelated traits.
The game of football is a culture complex that involves a variety of traits.
_________________ traits include the football, the measuring chain, cleated shoes,
helmets, etc, Kicking, passing, etc are among the specific acts of football.
Specific beliefs related to the game also exist, including the belief that certain rules
should be followed and that _______________ should be given for rule violations.
The ______________, marketing, and advertising of football games also form a
large part of the sport’s culture. In _____________ societies, thousands of culture
complexes can be identified and studied.
Culture complexes combine to form larger levels called culture _______________. A
culture pattern is the combination of a number of culture complexes into an
interrelated whole. For example, the separate complexes of baseball, basketball,
football, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track combine to form the American athletic
pattern. Other patterns relate to such aspects of society as _________________,
education, family life, manufacturing, and religion. These ________________ form
important components of a society’s culture.