Sociology Chapter 4 Flashcards

Culture

• Defined as a system of shared ideas, values, beliefs, knowledge, norms, customs, and technology within a society.

Ethnocentrism

• The belief in the superiority of one's own culture over others.
• Certain demographics may be more ethnocentric, though specifics are not provided.

Cultural Relativism

• The perspective that cultures should be evaluated based on their own standards, not by those of another culture.
• Researchers maintain their critical stance without necessarily adopting foreign cultural values.

Xenocentrism

• A belief that other cultures are superior to one's own, in contrast to ethnocentrism.

Temporocentrism

• The belief that the present time period is of greater significance than past or future eras.
• Common among individuals lacking historical perspective.

Key Elements of Culture

• Six essential components are symbols, language, values, norms, technology, and material culture.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

• Suggests that the language structure influences a speaker's perception and categorization of experiences.

Values

• Shared societal beliefs regarding what is deemed important and worthwhile; they vary between cultures.

Norms

• Rules of conduct or social expectations that dictate behavior within a society.

Technology

• Involves the application of scientific knowledge that impacts various cultural aspects.

Cultural Lag

• A phenomenon where technological advances outpace changes in non-material culture, leading to an adjustment period.

Subcultures

• Groups within a larger society that retain distinct cultural elements, including norms, values, and symbols while sharing some broader cultural traits.

Dominant Culture vs. Subculture

• Conflicts may arise between dominant cultures and subcultures due to differing beliefs and practices.

Countercultures

• Subcultures that actively reject and oppose prevailing cultural norms and values.

Ideal vs. Real Culture

• Ideal culture reflects professed norms and values, while real culture denotes actual behavioral practices; discrepancies often exist, as seen in attitudes towards adultery in the U.S.

Multiculturalism

• An approach that recognizes and values the contributions of diverse cultures instead of pushing for standard assimilation.

Idiocultures

• Unique cultural systems that develop within small groups, marked by shared experiences and memories, such as those in sports teams.