Cultural Concepts and Processes Quiz

Study Notes

Culture encompasses shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and material objects.
Folk culture is traditionally practiced by small, homogenous groups in rural areas, with strong ties to the land.
Popular culture is widely diffused and practiced by large, heterogeneous societies, often influenced by mass media.
Material culture refers to the physical objects created by a culture, such as clothing, tools, and buildings.
Non-material culture refers to intangible aspects of culture, including values, beliefs, behaviors, and traditions.
Cultural landscape is the visible imprint of human activity on the landscape, reflecting cultural values and practices.
Cultural appropriation: adoption of elements of another culture by members of a dominant culture, often without understanding or respect for their significance.

Diffusion is the spread of cultural elements from one place to another.
Relocation diffusion involves the movement of people who carry their cultural traits with them.
Contagious diffusion spreads rapidly and widely from person to person, similar to the spread of a disease.
Hierarchical diffusion involves the spread of cultural elements from powerful centers to other places.
Stimulus diffusion occurs when an idea or innovation stimulates the creation of a similar but new innovation in another place.

Acculturation is the process of adapting to the cultural traits of another group, often through contact.
Assimilation is the process of adopting the cultural traits of another group to such a degree that one’s own cultural identity is lost.
Syncretism is the blending of cultural elements to form a new, unique cultural trait.
Multiculturalism is the existence of multiple cultures within a society, often with the goal of respecting and celebrating diversity.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.
Cultural relativism is the belief that all cultures are equally valid and should be respected on their own terms.

Centripetal forces unify a society, like shared language, religion, or a common history.
Centrifugal forces divide a society, like ethnic differences, economic disparities, or political conflicts.
Commodification is the process of turning something non-material, like a cultural tradition, into a commodity that can be bought and sold.

Local culture: A distinctive and unique cultural group that may stand in contrast to popular culture.
Ethnic neighborhoods are areas where people of a shared ethnicity reside and often maintain their traditional culture.
Identity is a sense of self that is shaped by cultural influences, beliefs, and experiences.
Distance decay: the diminishing strength of cultural traits over time, as the distance from the hearth or origin increases.
Time-space compression: the idea that technology and transportation have shrunk the world, making it easier for cultures to interact and diffuse.
Uniform landscape (placelessness): the homogenization of the landscape, with fewer distinctive cultural elements and a loss of local character.
Taboo: a behavior or cultural practice that is forbidden or prohibited within a society.
Habit: a repetitive act performed by an individual.
Custom: a traditional practice or behavior that is widely accepted in a society.