Sociology: Understanding Norms and Values

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Questions and Answers

What defines formal norms in a society?

  • They have been written down and specify punishments. (correct)
  • They are universally accepted by all cultures.
  • They are informally understood.
  • They are only taught through social interaction.

Which of the following is an example of nonmaterial culture?

  • A smartphone
  • Religious beliefs (correct)
  • A factory
  • A community kitchen

What is the main characteristic of laws within a society?

  • They are always universally accepted.
  • They are informal rules that everyone understands.
  • Their breach leads to designated punishments enforced by officials. (correct)
  • They evolve solely from personal values.

What does the term 'culture lag' refer to?

<p>The adaptation of nonmaterial culture to new material conditions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes diffusion in cultural terms?

<p>The spread of cultural items from one society to another. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the definition of material culture?

<p>Technological aspects like buildings and tools. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does innovation primarily focus on in sociological studies?

<p>The introduction of new ideas or objects. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the concept of values in culture?

<p>They reflect what a culture considers good or desirable. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes discovery from invention in the context of culture?

<p>Discovery shares knowledge, whereas invention combines cultural items. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the belief system that maintains powerful interests within a culture?

<p>Dominant ideology (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Norms

Socially defined rules and expectations regarding human behavior. These are often enforced through sanctions (rewards or punishments).

Formal Norms

Formal norms are written down and have specific punishments for violators. Examples include laws and company policies.

Informal Norms

Less explicit rules that are generally understood but not written down. These norms are often learned through socialization.

Laws

Norms that have been written down by a political authority. These norms are enforced by designated officials like police and judges.

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Values

Collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper (or bad, undesirable, and improper) within a culture.

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Innovation

The process of introducing a new idea or object to a culture.

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Discovery (Innovation)

Making known or sharing the existence of an aspect of reality. It's about discovering something that was already there.

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Invention (Innovation)

Combining existing cultural items to create something new. It's about inventing a new product or process.

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Diffusion (Cultural)

The spread of a cultural item from one group or society to another.

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Culture Lag

A period of adjustment when the nonmaterial culture struggles to adapt to new material conditions. For example, the acceptance of new technology.

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Study Notes

Norms

  • Norms are socially defined rules and expectations about human behavior.
  • Norms are generally enforced through sanctions (rewards or punishments).

Types of Norms

  • Formal norms are written down and state specific punishments for violators.
  • Informal norms are generally understood but not precisely recorded.

Laws

  • Laws are norms that are written down by a political authority.
  • Breaking laws leads to designated punishments.
  • Laws govern community members' affairs.

Values

  • Values are what people cherish and consider important.
  • Values represent a good, desirable, or proper way to act or think.
  • Values can differ between cultures. Some are universal, others unique to cultures.

Dominant Ideology

  • Dominant ideology includes beliefs and practices in a culture to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests.

Development of Culture

  • Innovation is the introduction of new ideas or objects into a culture.
  • Innovations interest sociologists because of their impact on society.
  • Two types of innovation are discovery and invention.
    • Discovery involves making known the existence of something.
    • Invention combines existing elements to create something new.

Diffusion

  • Diffusion is the spreading of cultural items from one group or society to another.

Material and Nonmaterial Culture

  • Material culture refers to physical things like technology or food.
  • Nonmaterial culture includes customs, beliefs, and how we use material objects.
  • Culture lag happens when nonmaterial culture takes time to adjust to changed material circumstances.

Cultural Variation

Subcultures

  • Subcultures are smaller sets of beliefs and practices within a larger culture that distinguish its members.
  • Members of subcultures generally agree with most aspects of the greater culture but share unique identities.

Countercultures

  • Countercultures have norms, values, and beliefs that consciously oppose the larger culture.
  • When many people embrace countercultures, it can spark social movements.
  • Goals of countercultures differ from the larger existing culture.

Culture Shock

  • Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation when encountering different cultural practices.

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