Sociology 5: Material & Non-material Culture

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Questions and Answers

What is culture?

A type of food

A form of government

The total way of life for a group of people (correct)

Only the physical objects in a society

What does culture include?

Material culture and non-material culture

How do sociologists approach culture?

They mainly focus on culture closer to home.

What is material culture?

Concrete, physical objects that make up a culture. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of material culture?

Helps to shape and define its members' behaviors and perceptions. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of material culture.

Clothing. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the meaning of a cow?

Dairy, bull fighting, or a sacred animal. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the meaning of an apple?

Food, school, Adam & Eve, iPhone/Apple products. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the meaning of guns?

Freedom, war, violence, Wild West, boys' toys, masculinity, sports, police brutality. Signup and view all the answers

What does non-material culture include?

Rituals, customs, signs, symbols, language, gestures, values, norms, beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What are signs or symbols?

Visual images used to meaningfully represent something else. Signup and view all the answers

What does color symbolism refer to?

Association with gender. Signup and view all the answers

What is language?

A system of symbols that allows people to communicate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?

The idea that language structures thought. Signup and view all the answers

What are gestures?

Signs made with our body, like hand gestures and facial expressions. Signup and view all the answers

What is body language?

Subtle or unconscious gestures, often unintentional. Signup and view all the answers

What are values?

Culturally defined standards for beauty, desirability, goodness, and importance. Signup and view all the answers

What are American values?

Tolerance, fairness, individualism, competitiveness, material wealth. Signup and view all the answers

What are norms?

Rules specifying appropriate or inappropriate behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What are formal norms?

Laws or rules for a game. Signup and view all the answers

What are informal norms?

Unwritten norms understood through socialization. Signup and view all the answers

What is a folkway?

Loosely enforced norms involving customs. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of an American folkway.

Wearing formal attire to a wedding. Signup and view all the answers

What are mores?

Norms with greater moral significance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a taboo?

A norm that evokes strong feelings of disgust or horror. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a taboo.

Incest or cannibalism. Signup and view all the answers

What are sanctions?

Reactions to how norms are followed or disobeyed. Signup and view all the answers

What are beliefs?

Statements about how the world operates. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a belief.

Boys are naturally loud and active. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Culture

Represents the complete way of life for a group, encompassing learned behaviors and shared knowledge.
Essential for knowledge transfer across generations.

Components of Culture

Material Culture: Physical objects like clothing and technology that carry symbolic meanings.
Non-material Culture: Includes rituals, customs, language, beliefs, and social norms.

Sociological Approach

Emphasis on studying familiar cultures, often from within the same societal framework.

Material Culture

Comprises physical items holding symbolic significance, influencing behaviors and societal perceptions.

Purpose and Examples of Material Culture

Clothing exemplifies material culture by serving everyday needs and specific rituals (e.g., weddings).
Cultural meanings of objects can vary significantly (e.g., cows as food, sacred animals, or for bull fighting).

Non-material Culture

Encompasses beliefs, values, norms, and various forms of communication, including gestures and language.

Symbols and Language

Signs or symbols visually represent concepts; color symbolism often relates to gender (e.g., pink for girls).
Language acts as a communication system that shapes our perceptions of reality and influences thought processes (Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis).

Gestures and Body Language

Gestures involve intentional movements like hand signs, whereas body language consists of subtle, often unintentional cues.

Values and Norms

Values lay out cultural ideals regarding beauty, success, and behavior, dictating how individuals should conduct themselves.
American values often prioritize individualism, material wealth, and competitiveness.

Types of Norms

Formal Norms: Written rules or laws governing behavior.
Informal Norms: Unspoken, socially understood guidelines learned through socialization.
Folkways: Loosely enforced customs ensuring smooth societal interactions (e.g., appropriate attire at weddings).
Mores: Strongly significant norms with serious consequences for violations, often linked to core values.
Taboos: Profoundly ingrained norms causing revulsion if violated (e.g., incest, cannibalism).

Sanctions and Beliefs

Sanctions are reactions to adherence or violation of norms, promoting social control through rewards or punishments.
Beliefs reflect cultural viewpoints about societal functioning, often tied to the group's values and norms.

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Description

Test your knowledge of material and non-material culture in sociology. This quiz explores various aspects of culture, including definitions and elements that make it significant in different societies. Enhance your understanding of how culture shapes behaviors and beliefs.