Understanding Culture: Key Concepts

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[Blank] asserts that culture originates from one or more culture centers, which are results of borrowed elements of the new culture.

Cultural Diffusionism

[Blank] explains how human groups came to exist, grow, and develop.

Evolutionism

[Blank] views society as an organized network of cooperating groups operating orderly to generally accepted norms.

Functionalism

Father and Son; Husband and Wife is an example of ______

<p>Anthropological Structuralism</p> Signup and view all the answers

The idea that culture is influenced by technology and economic values is aligned with ______

<p>Cultural Materialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] believes that each group of people has its own unique culture influenced by its history, geography, and environment.

<p>Historical Particularism</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] states that new cultural forms emerge from the past that pass through similar stages of development.

<p>Unilineal Evolutionism</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] deals with patterns of behavior in large units of society such as organizations and communities.

<p>Symbolic Interactionism</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] is a complex whole which encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that a person learns and shares as a member of society.

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

The term societas, from which the word ______ is derived, means 'companion' or 'associate'.

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

From an anthropological perspective, ______ is seen as a group of people sharing a common culture within a territory.

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

According to Robertson, ______ is defined as a population that occupies the same territory which is subject to the same political authority and participates in a common culture.

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

[Blank] is viewed, in sociological perspective, as the imprint made by people.

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

A key aspect of culture is that it is both shared and ______ through time, meaning cultural norms and values can evolve and be subject to conflicting interpretations.

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

One characteristic of culture is that it is learned through socialization or ______, where individuals acquire the norms and values of their society.

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

Unlike individual preferences, culture involves ______ social interactions, which create patterns of behavior within a society.

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

Culture is a people’s way of ______.

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

E.B. Taylor describes culture as a complex whole that includes beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything a person learns as a member of ______.

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

In the context of culture, 'The What' refers to the ______ of culture, encompassing the specific elements that constitute a culture.

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

'The How' in the anatomy of culture pertains to the processes that ensure the _______ of cultural contents.

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

'The Why' of culture involves understanding the reasons for compliance and the mechanisms that facilitate ______, exploring why individuals adhere to cultural norms and practices.

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

Through socialization and enculturation, individuals are exposed to lessons derived from everyday ______, which helps them learn and internalize cultural norms.

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

Language is the primary means through which individuals are able to ______ and connect with one another, playing a crucial role in cultural transmission.

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

Conformity is achieved when the actions of individuals are routinized and ________ in various social contexts.

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

[Blank] are objects made by human beings, either hand-made or mass produced, and provide insights into a culture's material life and technology.

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

[Blank] encompass arts, music, drama, literature, games, sports, and the use of leisure time, reflecting a culture's creative expression and social interactions.

<p>Arts and Recreation</p> Signup and view all the answers

The types of ______ people wear in a community reflect its climate, economy, and cultural values, often varying by region, social status, and occasion.

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

[Blank] represent the established ways of thinking and acting in a society, passed down through generations and shaping behavior and social interactions.

<p>Customs and Traditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] is the staple diet that the people in the community often eat, reflecting the agricultural practices, environmental conditions, and culinary traditions of the region.

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

The role of ______ is to implement rules, maintain peace and order, and resolve disputes within a community, ensuring social stability and collective decision-making.

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

[Blank] influences everything from technological advancements to philosophical beliefs. It shows how culture collectively perceives, learns, and reasons about the world.

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

The use of ______ can be considered a mental faculty or power of vocal communication, it allows for expression, transmission of knowledge, and cultural preservation within a society.

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

[Blank] refers to the gradual acquisition of the characteristics and norms of a culture or group by a person, another culture, etc.

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

[Blank] is the feeling of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety that people experience when visiting, doing business in, or living in a society that is different from their own.

<p>Culture Shock</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] culture refers to similarities in words and actions which can be directly observed.

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

[Blank] culture exists in abstract forms that are not quite obvious.

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

The study of society is incomplete without a proper understanding of the ______ of that society because culture and society go together.

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

[Blank], or its absence thereof, is meted out through the system of giving rewards and imposing punishments.

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

[Blank] refers to the tendency of each society to place its cultural patterns at the center of all things.

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

[Blank] defines attitudes, values, and goals within a society.

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

Flashcards

Unilineal Evolutionism

Cultures evolve through similar stages.

Cultural Diffusionism

Culture spreads from one or more central points.

Historical Particularism

Each culture is unique, shaped by its history and environment.

Anthropological Functionalism

Cultural elements are interconnected and serve a purpose.

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Cultural Materialism

Culture is influenced by technology and resource use.

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Functionalism

Society is a network of cooperating groups with accepted norms.

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Conflict Perspective

Society is in constant struggle and competition.

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Symbolic Interactionism

Behavior patterns in organizations and communities explained by symbolic meaning.

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Society

From the Latin word 'societas,' it refers to a community of interdependent individuals in a specific place, following a certain way of life.

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Society (Kornblum definition)

A population organized cooperatively to fulfill life's major functions: reproduction, sustenance, shelter, and defense.

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Society (Robertson definition)

A population in a territory under the same political authority, sharing a common culture.

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Society (Anthropological view)

A group of people sharing a common culture within a territory.

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Society (Sociological view)

An association organized by people within a territory.

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Culture

A complex whole encompassing beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything learned and shared in society.

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Enculturation

Acquiring norms of a culture gradually.

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Culture Shock

Uncertainty when in an unfamiliar culture.

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Explicit Culture

Similarities in words and actions directly observed.

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Implicit Culture

Abstract cultural elements not immediately obvious.

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Culture is Social

Culture is a shared product of social behavior.

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Culture is Transmitted

Culture is passed down through generations.

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Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures as inferior to one's own.

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The 'What' of Culture (Anthropology)

Deals with the contents of culture (e.g., beliefs, values, artifacts).

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The 'How' of Culture (Sociology)

Refers to the processes that ensure the transmission of culture's contents (e.g., socialization).

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The 'Why' of Culture

Refers to the reasons for adhering to cultural norms and the mechanisms that facilitate performance.

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Socialization/Enculturation

The process through which individuals are exposed to cultural lessons during everyday interactions.

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Shared Understanding

Culture is common among members of a group/society

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Artifacts

Objects made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced.

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Arts and Recreation

The forms of expression such as arts, music, drama, literature, games, sports and recreational activities.

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Clothes

Garments and attire commonly worn by people within a specific community.

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Customs and Traditions

Established and accepted ways of behaving or patterns of action common to a community.

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Food

The food commonly consumed by the people in a community.

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Government

The structures and individuals responsible for implementing rules, maintaining order, and resolving conflicts within the community.

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Knowledge

The psychological result of perception, learning, and reasoning.

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Study Notes

  • Culture is a people's way of life

The Complexity of Culture

  • Culture encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything a person learns as a member of society

The Anatomy of Culture and Society

  • Anthropology refers to the contents of culture
  • Sociology refers to the reasons for compliance and mechanisms facilitating performance
  • Enculturation happens through learned socialization where individuals experience everyday interactions
  • Conformity happens through actions of individuals being routinized and institutionalized in contexts like family, church, schools, and government
  • Social control happens through conformity, or the absence thereof, which is meted out through the giving of rewards and imposing of punishments

Enculturation and Culture Shock

  • Enculturation is the gradual acquisition of the characteristics and norms of a culture or group by a person, another culture, etc.
  • Culture shock is the feeling of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety when experiencing a society greatly different from your own
  • Culture shock can arise from unfamiliarity with local customs, language, and acceptable behavior

Aspects of Culture

  • E.B. Taylor coined the term culture in the 18th century
  • Studying a society is incomplete without understanding its culture
  • Explicit culture refers to observed similarities in words and actions
  • Implicit culture exists in abstract forms that are not obvious

Characteristics of Culture

  • Culture is social and a product of behavior
  • Culture varies from society to society
  • Culture is shared, learned, and transmitted among members of society
  • Culture is continuous, cumulative, gratifying, and idealistic

Functions of Culture

  • Culture defines the situation and attitudes, values, and goals
  • Culture defines myths, legends, and the supernatural and provides behavior patterns

Orientations to Culture

  • Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own cultural patterns as central and superior, the term was coined by William Graham Summer
  • Cultural relativism dictates that norms, beliefs, and values depend on their cultural context, promoting greater appreciation
  • Xenocentrism is a preference for the foreign, believing one's own products, styles, or ideas are inferior
  • Xenophobia is the fear of what is perceived as foreign or strange and may include fear of losing identity or aggression

Anthropological Perspectives

  • Unilineal Evolutionism states cultures evolve through similar stages from past to present, from Animism to Monotheism, Roman Catholic or Islam
  • Cultural Diffusionism states culture originates from one or more culture centers, as seen in how Filipino culture is influenced by Western civilization through colonization
  • Historical Particularism says each group has a unique culture influenced by history, geography, and environment such as with Filipino superstitious beliefs
  • Anthropological Functionalism explains cultural elements and practices are interrelated and exist for a purpose such as with Filipinos' actions which are influenced by religion
  • Anthropological Structuralism conveys that cultural phenomena have relationships, humans organize based on experience
  • Cultural Materialism considers culture as influenced by technology, resources, economic values, and the utilization of things, prohibiting pork in the Muslim diet

Sociological Perspectives

  • Functionalism views society as an organized network operating orderly to accepted norms
  • Conflict Perspective views the social environment in a continuous struggle such as rich versus poor
  • Symbolic Interactionism deals with behavior patterns in large units of society
  • Evolutionism explains how groups came to exist, grow, and develop

Society

  • Derived from the Latin word 'societas', meaning companion or associate
  • Society refers to interdependent individuals living in a particular place, following a certain mode of life
  • Society is a population organized to carry out life functions
  • Society is a population occupying the same territory, subject to political authority, and participating in a common culture

Culture

  • The term refers to the individual's taste and interest in the fine arts and also refers to being civilized
  • Culture is a complex whole encompassing beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything a person learns and shares as a member of society

Aspects of Culture

  • Culture is dynamic, flexible, adaptive, shared, learned, patterned, integrated, and sometimes unstable
  • Artifacts are objects made by human beings
  • Arts and Recreation includes arts, music, drama, literature, games, sports, and use of leisure time
  • Aspects of Culture also include clothes, customs, traditions, and food

Orientations in Viewing Other Cultures

  • Cultural relativism dictates culture only has meaning when taken into context
  • Ethnocentrism: Perceiving one's own culture as superior
  • Xenocentrism: Perceiving one's culture as inferior compared to others

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