Sociology: Understanding Culture and Its Components

To acquire the skills, knowledge, and accepted ways of behaving in the society

The collection of ideas and habits which are learned, shared and transmitted from generation to generation

Confusion and disorder

<p>It determines how they feel and think, directs their actions, and defines their outlook on life</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To satisfy basic needs such as hunger</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because he has no instinct</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides shared guidelines and understanding, facilitating communication and co-operation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A design for living</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The elements in the culture tend to form a consistent and integrated system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Symbols are things or behaviour to which people give meaning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values provide a general conception of what is desirable and worthwhile, which in turn influence the content of norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Its norms would make provision for mass schooling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms ensure that to some extent behaviour is standardized, predictable, and orderly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms can be seen as specific expressions of values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Its norms would not permit people to marry more than one partner at a time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Without culture, we would not know how to act, and would not know how to live.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Subcultures want to coexist peacefully with the dominant culture, whereas countercultures do not wish to coexist with the larger culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Change in one dimension of a culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Value contradictions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural diffusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Americans adopting Japanese sushi bars, while the Japanese adopted baseball from the Americans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Problems can occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Several reasons, including value contradictions and cultural diffusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values in society change due to several reasons, including value contradictions and cultural diffusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The signs that we are oriented to in daily life include when to shake hands and what to say in greeting people, when and how to give tips, and how to give orders. These cues are acquired in the course of growing up and are unconsciously learned.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When one enters a strange culture, familiar cues are removed, causing frustration and anxiety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The first phase of culture shock is rejection, where people reject the environment that causes the discomfort and often think that 'the ways of the host country are bad because they make us feel bad.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The second phase of culture shock is regression, where people irrationally glorify their home environment and forget the difficulties and problems they had back home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency to view one's own culture as the norm and assume that it is superior to others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A particular culture does not represent universal truth, and it is difficult to accept that one's culture is only one of many.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Yes, a little ethnocentrism is beneficial because of its bonding effect, but it is important to recognize that one's culture is not superior to others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The outcome is frustration and anxiety, which can lead to ethnocentrism and the assumption that one's own culture is superior to others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The culture of a specific segment of people within a society, differing from the dominant culture in some significant respects, such as norms and values or in language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A set of distinctive characteristics, behaviours, practical and symbolic objects, and vocabulary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By providing members with meanings and answers to life's problems that the larger culture may not be able to provide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Church, ethnic group, or professional organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An occupational subculture includes groups whose jobs unite them in a special lifestyle and set them apart from the larger society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Health care system, with its own rules, customs, and language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because the system has its own rules, customs, and language that nurses need to understand and navigate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It highlights the need for nurses to understand the unique norms, language, and customs of the healthcare system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture provides standards for distinguishing between things that are right and wrong (norms).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture enables us to communicate with others through language and anticipate how others in our society are likely to respond to our actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture provides methods for training children to behave in certain ways generally considered appropriate in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture is relative to time and place, meaning that the same act can be considered normal and acceptable in one culture, but highly undesirable or reprehensible in another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture provides the knowledge and skills necessary for meeting sustenance needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Material culture refers to the physical or technological aspects of our daily lives, while nonmaterial culture refers to the intangible components of our ways of life, such as languages, norms, ideas, values, and beliefs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture gives us standards for distinguishing between things that are beautiful and unpleasant (values).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture gives us standards for distinguishing between what is reasonable and unreasonable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms ensure standardized, predictable, and orderly behavior, and they are specific expressions of values. Values influence the content of norms, and all norms can be traced to a basic social value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Symbols contribute to cultural integration by providing a shared understanding of meaning, and an example of a symbol is a national flag, which represents a nation's identity and values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values are socially shared ideas about what is good, right, and desirable, and norms are specific expressions of these values. Values influence the content of norms, and all norms can be traced to a basic social value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural integration refers to the tendency of cultural elements to form a consistent and integrated system. This manifests in a society through shared values, norms, and symbols that provide a sense of unity and coherence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values influence individual behavior by providing a sense of what is desirable and worthwhile. For example, if a society values education highly, individuals are more likely to pursue educational opportunities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms shape individual behavior by providing rules and expectations for social action. They are the shared rules and expectations that govern behavior, and they influence individual behavior by defining what is proper, right, and customary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural symbols contribute to the creation of social meaning by providing a shared understanding of meaning. For example, a national flag is a symbol that represents a nation's identity and values, and it creates a sense of shared meaning and identity among citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural ideals are the group habits that are considered ideal, and they shape individual behavior by providing a sense of what is desirable and worthwhile. Ideals are closely related to values, as they are often seen as the ideal expression of a society's values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mores are rules of conduct that carry moral authority, and violating them directly challenges society's values. People react to their violation with horror, anger, and revulsion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Folkways are informal, socially defined norms that guide daily behavior, and they determine an individual's style of clothing, diet, and manners.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values justify norms, and norms are related to values in that they derive from the values placed on individual freedom, for example, the value of freedom of speech leads to the norm of tolerance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Taboos are norms that are so strongly ingrained that even the thought of them is greeted with revulsion. They differ from mores in that they are more extreme and evoke a stronger negative reaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms, including mores and folkways, guide an individual's behavior and decision-making by providing a set of rules and expectations that shape their actions and choices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Not sharing a belief in all of society's norms can lead to conflict and tension between individuals and groups, as they may challenge or reject certain norms that are valued by others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Laws are formal norms that are enforced by the state, and they relate to norms, including mores and folkways, in that they provide a formal framework for guiding behavior and maintaining social order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the different types of norms, including mores, folkways, and taboos, is significant in grasping how societal norms are established and maintained, and how they impact individual behavior and decision-making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They reject the environment that causes the discomfort, viewing the host country's ways as bad because they make them feel bad.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ethnocentrism allows individuals to bond with their culture, and a moderate level of it can have a positive effect on group cohesion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A particular culture does not represent universal truth, and one's cultural values are not necessarily superior to others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The second phase of culture shock is regression, characterized by an irrationally glorified view of one's home environment and a tendency to forget difficulties and problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural cues are signs that guide human behavior in daily life, and they are acquired through unconscious learning during the process of growing up.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It causes frustration and anxiety, leading to culture shock and potential regression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural values are central to an individual's sense of identity, making it difficult to accept the possibility that one's culture represents only one of many.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural norms guide human behavior by providing a set of rules and expectations, and they are closely tied to an individual's cultural identity and sense of self.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary distinction between adopting cultural relativism and ethnocentrism is that cultural relativism involves understanding and appreciating other cultures on their own terms, whereas ethnocentrism involves expecting others to become like us and viewing our own culture as superior. This distinction impacts our understanding of other cultures by allowing us to develop a deeper and more nuanced appreciation of cultural differences, rather than simply judging them based on our own cultural norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of cultural relativism challenges our natural tendency towards ethnocentrism by requiring us to consider the perspectives and values of other cultures, rather than simply assuming that our own culture is superior. The benefits of adopting this approach include a deeper understanding of cultural differences, increased tolerance, and a more nuanced appreciation of the complexities of human culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding subcultures and countercultures within a society is significant because it highlights the diversity and complexity of human culture. These unique segments of society contribute to the diversity of human culture by maintaining distinctive values, norms, lifestyles, and languages that differ from the dominant culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of cultural relativism requires us to re-examine our own cultural values and norms by recognizing that they are not universal or absolute, but rather subjective and relative to our own culture. This self-reflection has the implication of promoting tolerance, understanding, and a more nuanced appreciation of cultural differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of cultural relativism relates to the idea of 'standing in the other person's shoes' by requiring us to understand other cultures from their own perspective, rather than simply judging them based on our own cultural norms. The benefits of adopting this perspective include a deeper understanding of cultural differences, increased empathy, and a more nuanced appreciation of the complexities of human culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The implications of adopting a cultural relativist approach to understanding human culture include recognizing that cultural norms and values are subjective and relative to each culture, rather than universal or absolute. This approach challenges our understanding of cultural norms and values by promoting tolerance, understanding, and a more nuanced appreciation of cultural differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of cultural relativism relates to the idea of understanding and appreciating cultural differences by recognizing that each culture has its own unique values, norms, and lifestyles. The benefits of adopting this approach include a deeper understanding of cultural differences, increased tolerance, and a more nuanced appreciation of the complexities of human culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The implications of failing to adopt a cultural relativist approach to understanding human culture include judging other cultures based on our own cultural norms, leading to misunderstandings, stereotyping, and a lack of appreciation for cultural differences. This failure impacts our understanding of cultural differences by promoting intolerance, misunderstanding, and a lack of appreciation for the complexities of human culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Integrative</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Providing a general conception of what is desirable and worthwhile</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms are specific expressions of values</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They give meaning to things or behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Its norms would make provision for mass schooling</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ensuring standardized, predictable, and orderly behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They influence the content of norms and dictate what is considered proper and desirable</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Behavior is standardized, predictable, and orderly</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Subcultures provide members with meanings and answers to life's problems that the larger culture may not be able to provide, and they differ from the dominant culture in some significant respects, such as norms and values or language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of occupational subculture is relevant to the health care system, as it has its own rules, customs, and language, and recognizing it as a subculture is important for nurses to understand the system's unique norms and values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Subcultures have a set of distinctive characteristics, behaviors, practical and symbolic objects, and vocabulary that distinguish them from the larger society, and they contribute to the diversity of human culture by providing alternative values and norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The health care system as a subculture influences the behavior of its members through its unique norms, values, and language, and the implications of this influence are that members may adopt behaviors and attitudes that are specific to the system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the concept of occupational subculture in the health care system is significant because it recognizes the unique cultural norms and values that shape the behavior of health care professionals, and it relates to the provision of care by influencing the way care is delivered and received.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The concept of subculture relates to the idea of identity by providing a sense of belonging and identification with a specific group, and the implications of subcultural identity are that individuals may adopt norms and values that are specific to the subculture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The cultural variations that distinguish a subculture from the larger society include distinctive characteristics, behaviors, practical and symbolic objects, and vocabulary, and they contribute to the diversity of human culture by providing alternative values and norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The recognition of the health care system as a subculture impacts the understanding of its unique norms and values by acknowledging the system's cultural nuances, and the implications of this recognition are that it can improve patient care and health outcomes by recognizing the cultural context of care delivery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms are related to values, which justify norms. If we value freedom of speech, we allow people to speak their minds even if we do not agree with them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mores are more important norms that carry moral authority, whereas folkways are informal, socially defined norms that guide daily behavior. Mores include prohibition regarding murder, incest, cannibalism, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Taboos are norms that are so strongly ingrained that even the thought of them is greeted with revulsion. The societal reaction to their violation is horror, anger, and revulsion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms, including mores and folkways, play a crucial role in maintaining social order. Laws are related to norms as they are formal, written norms that enforce social behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Folkways influence an individual's daily behavior by guiding them in everyday life, determining their style of cloth, diet, manners, and other aspects of daily life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the different types of norms, including mores, folkways, and taboos, is crucial in comprehending how a society regulates behavior and maintains social order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Norms are related to values, which justify norms. If a society values a particular aspect of life, it will create norms that support and promote that value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary function of mores is to regulate behavior that is dangerous to society. People react to their violation with horror, anger, and revulsion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary mechanism is interculturation, and the resulting outcome is the emergence of new culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Innovation refers to the process of introducing new ideas or objects, while invention refers to the creation of new cultural elements. Examples of inventions include the telephone, airplane, and computer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Globalization allows international economic and political systems to dominate local cultures, leading to the institutionalization of standards and perspectives, and cultures becoming more or less stable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Perspectives on culture are limited and filter what we see, allowing us to see life from a certain angle only. They are not absolute truth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Culture exists to fulfill human needs, ensuring that everyday life continues to exist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The result is acculturation, also called cultural assimilation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An individual's culture influences their understanding of the world, and cultural stability results from the institutionalization of standards and perspectives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Innovation has had a tremendous impact on our way of life, and discovery involves recognizing and better understanding something already in existence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary difference is that subcultures want to coexist peacefully with the dominant culture, whereas countercultures do not wish to coexist with the larger culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values in society change due to value contradictions, cultural diffusion, and other factors. These changes can spark changes in other dimensions of a culture, leading to a shift in the culture's overall values and norms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural characteristics from one group to another, or the spread of cultural traits from one society to another. This can lead to positive consequences, such as cultural exchange and diversity, but also negative consequences, such as the adoption of problematic cultural practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Changes in one dimension of a culture can spark changes in others because each dimension is interconnected and interdependent. This process can lead to a ripple effect, where changes in one area of the culture influence changes in other areas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Values are vital to a society's survival and success, as they provide the foundation for the culture's norms, practices, and beliefs. Values guide individual behavior and decision-making, and shape the culture's overall identity and direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Value contradictions, such as racism and democracy, can create tension and conflict within a society, making it difficult for all members to experience equality and justice. These contradictions can spark social change, as individuals and groups work to resolve the contradictions and create a more just and equitable society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural change and the adoption of new values are closely intertwined, as changes in values can drive cultural change, and cultural change can lead to the adoption of new values. This process can lead to a shift in the culture's overall values and norms, and can impact the culture's development and direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cultural diffusion and value contradictions contribute to the complexity and diversity of cultural systems by introducing new cultural elements and creating tensions between competing values. This complexity has implications for our understanding of human culture, highlighting the dynamic and ever-changing nature of cultural systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers