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Questions and Answers
What is ethnocentrism?
What does cultural relativism promote?
What is material culture?
Parts of culture that involve material objects.
What is non-material culture?
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What is culture shock?
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What does symbolic culture refer to?
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What is a symbol in the context of culture?
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What are gestures?
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What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
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What is a positive sanction?
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What is a negative sanction?
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What is ideal culture?
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What is real culture?
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Match the qualities of language with their descriptions:
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What defines a subculture?
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What is counterculture?
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What are values in the context of culture?
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Which of the following describes folkways?
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What is cultural lag?
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What is cultural diffusion?
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How do Americans and other first world countries view ethnocentrism?
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Study Notes
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
- Ethnocentrism: Evaluating other cultures based on one's cultural standards, often leading to negative perceptions.
- Example: Snobby tourists or the Pilgrims viewing native cultures as inferior.
- Cultural Relativism: Understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment, promoting respect and comprehension.
- Example: Organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the Peace Corps exemplify this concept.
Material and Non-Material Culture
- Material Culture: Involves tangible objects that are part of a culture.
- Examples: Clothing, art, food, and jewelry.
- Non-Material Culture: Comprises intangible aspects of culture.
- Examples: Religion, language, values, and symbols.
Culture Shock
- Culture Shock: A feeling of disorientation experienced when encountering a vastly different culture.
- Example: Realizing personal privilege when witnessing poverty in countries like Thailand or India.
Symbolic Culture and Symbols
- Symbolic Culture: Another term for non-material culture; involves aspects that cannot be physically touched.
- Examples: Religion, language, values, and symbols.
- Symbol: An object or concept that holds meaning for communication.
- Example: Language serves as a primary symbol for interaction.
Communication through Gestures and Language
- Gestures: Body movements used to convey information.
- Examples: Hand signals or specific gestures like the middle finger.
- Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Suggests that language influences thought and perception; comprehension requires knowledge of language.
Sanctions and Cultural Norms
- Positive Sanction: Rewards given for conforming to social norms.
- Example: Monetary reward for dressing appropriately.
- Negative Sanction: Penalties for violating norms.
- Example: Timeout for inappropriate behavior.
Ideal Culture vs. Real Culture
- Ideal Culture: Represents the aspirational values and norms of a society.
- Example: Concept of a perfect paradise like heaven.
- Real Culture: The actual behaviors and beliefs practiced in daily life.
- Example: Everyday societal norms.
The Importance of Language
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Qualities of Language:
- Facilitates communication.
- Enables memory retention.
- Supports planning.
- Shares collective ideas (e.g., religion).
- Achieves common goals.
Subcultures and Countercultures
- Subculture: A group with distinct values and behaviors that differ from the mainstream, but not in opposition.
- Example: Work subcultures with unique characteristics (e.g., outdoorsy people).
- Counterculture: A group that actively opposes the dominant culture.
- Example: The KKK represents a counterculture opposing societal norms.
Values and Norms
- Values: Standards that define what is considered attractive or desirable.
- Folkways: Mildly enforced norms; societal expectations that are more relaxed.
- Example: Dress conventions (e.g., men having short hair).
- Mores: Norms that are strictly enforced by society.
- Example: Expectation for gender-appropriate clothing.
- Taboo: Extremely strict norms that, when broken, result in severe societal condemnation.
- Examples: Acts like cannibalism or incest.
Cultural Dynamics
- Cultural Lag: Concept describing the delay in societal adaptation to new technological advancements.
- Example: The Amish lifestyle maintaining traditional practices despite modern technologies.
- Cultural Diffusion: The process through which cultural characteristics spread from one culture to another.
- Example: Adoption of a language across different countries.
Perspectives on Ethnocentrism
- Ethnocentrism is prevalent among Americans and other first-world nations, contributing to negative stereotypes and views of other cultures as inferior.
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Description
Explore the essential concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, and understand how these perspectives influence our view of different cultures. Delve into the distinctions between material and non-material culture, as well as the challenges of culture shock. This quiz will help you reflect on the importance of respecting diverse cultural practices.