SOC 101 Chapter 2 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is culture?

Culture is essential for survival and communication with other people, learned through interaction, observation, and imitation, and is fundamental for the survival of societies.

Which of the following are considered cultural universals? (Select all that apply)

Government systems

Appearance (bodily adornment, hairstyles) (correct)

Social institutions (family, law, religion) (correct)

Activities (sports, dancing, games, joking) (correct)

What are symbols?

Anything that meaningfully represents something else.

What is language?

Symbols that express ideas and enable people to communicate. Signup and view all the answers

What are values in the context of culture?

Collective ideas about what is right or wrong and good or bad. Signup and view all the answers

What are norms?

Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct. Signup and view all the answers

What are formal norms?

Formal norms are written down and involve specific punishments for violators. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes informal norms?

Informal norms are unwritten standards of behavior understood by people who share a common identity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples are considered folkways? (Select all that apply)

Brushing our teeth Signup and view all the answers

What are mores?

Strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may not be violated without serious consequences. Signup and view all the answers

Define cultural lag.

A gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions. Signup and view all the answers

What is counter culture?

A group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks alternative lifestyles. Signup and view all the answers

What does culture shock refer to?

The anxiety people experience when they encounter cultures radically different from their own. Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnocentrism?

The assumption that one's own culture is superior to others. Signup and view all the answers

What is cultural relativism?

The practice of viewing and analyzing another culture in terms of that culture's own values and standards. Signup and view all the answers

What is material culture?

The physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share. Signup and view all the answers

Define non-material culture.

A component of culture that consists of abstract or intangible human creations, such as attitudes, beliefs and values. Signup and view all the answers

What are taboos?

Behaviors that bring the most serious sanctions. Signup and view all the answers

What is subculture?

The values and related behaviors of a group that distinguish its members from the larger culture. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Culture

essential for survival and communication among individuals
learned through interaction, observation, and imitation
fundamental to societal existence and the essence of human social interaction

Cultural Universals

include appearance (bodily adornment, hairstyles)
cover activities like sports, dancing, games, and joking
consist of social institutions such as family, law, and religion
involve practices including cooking, folklore, and gift-giving

Symbols

represent something else and hold significant meaning

Language

a set of symbols used to express ideas and facilitate communication

Values

collective beliefs about right, wrong, good, and bad

Norms

established rules and standards of behavior
prescriptive norms indicate acceptable behavior
proscriptive norms identify unacceptable behavior

Formal Norms

documented rules with specific punishments for violations, often represented as laws

Informal Norms

unwritten standards understood by individuals within a shared identity
violations may lead to informal social sanctions

Folkways

everyday customs that can be violated without severe consequences
examples include personal hygiene practices and appropriate attire for occasions

strongly held norms with moral implications, violations may have serious repercussions
include taboos, like the incest taboo, which is widely recognized as offensive

Laws

formal norms codified by legislation and backed by sanctions
distinguish between civil law (disputes among individuals/groups) and criminal law (public safety issues)

Cultural Lag

the disparity between a society's technological advancements and its moral/legal institutions

Counter Culture

groups that reject mainstream societal values and seek alternative lifestyles
historical examples include beatniks, flower children, KKK, and skinheads

Culture Shock

the anxiety experienced when encountering vastly different cultures

Ethnocentrism

the belief in the superiority of one's own culture compared to others

Cultural Relativism

understanding and analyzing another culture based on its own values and standards

Material Culture

encompasses the physical objects and tangible creations made, used, and shared within a society

Non-Material Culture

involves abstract or intangible aspects of culture, such as beliefs, attitudes, and values influencing behavior

Subculture

groups with distinct values and behaviors that set them apart from the larger culture, creating a "world within a world"

Taboos

behaviors that incur the most severe sanctions within a society

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Description

Test your knowledge of key concepts in SOC 101 Chapter 2 with these flashcards. This chapter focuses on important definitions related to culture and cultural universals. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the societal structures that influence human interactions.