Week 2 Defining Culture and Society PDF

Week 2 Learning Outcomes Articulate observations on human cultural variation, social differences, social change, and political identities Demonstrate curiosity and an openness to explore the origins and dynamics of culture and society, and political identities. Everything made, learned, or...

Week 2 Learning Outcomes Articulate observations on human cultural variation, social differences, social change, and political identities Demonstrate curiosity and an openness to explore the origins and dynamics of culture and society, and political identities. Everything made, learned, or shared by the members of a society, including values, beliefs, behaviors, and material objects. PARTS OF CULTURE Material Culture Non-Material Culture Material World Material Culture Visible parts of culture, such as food, clothing, cars, weapons, buildings, that members of society make, use, and share Raw Materials → Technology → Stuff Material World Non-Material Culture Abstract/intangible aspects of culture that influence people’s behavior such as language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, political systems. 5 Components of Culture People of a culture share a broad set of material and nonmaterial elements 5 components of Culture: Technology Symbols Language Values Norms  5 Components of Culture 1. Technology Manmade products (material culture) that make life easier Rules of acceptable behavior when using material culture  Components of Culture 2. Symbols Cultural representations of reality Give meanings to things and events Examples: gestures, images, sounds, physical objects, events, etc. Components of Culture 3. Language Most powerful of all human symbols Expresses meaning of symbols Allows members of society to communicate with one another Conveys the beliefs and values of culture  Components of Culture 4. Values Ideas Determines character of people Standards by which people assess desirability, goodness and beauty Components of Culture 5. Norms Rules that guide human behavior Give concrete terms on how we should behave – what we should do or what we should not do. Kinds of Norms Mores – distinguish between right and wrong Folkways – distinguish between right and rude Laws Established punishments for violating norms to protect the social well being Written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government Mores laws: child abuse, rape, carnapping, etc. Folkway laws: jaywalking, counterflowing etc. What’s the Difference? Society - the people who interact to share a common culture Culture - consists of beliefs, behaviors, objects and other characteristics common to a particular group or society  Roots of culture: Biological or Societal? (Nature vs. nurture) Nature Nurture What’s in it? Nature refers to an individual’s Nurture refers to personal innate qualities (nativism) experiences ( ex. Empiricism or behaviorism) Example Nature is your genes. The Nurture refers to your physical and personality traits childhood, or how you were determined by your genes stay brought up. Someone could be the same irrespective of born with genes to give them a where you were born or normal height, but be raised. malnourished in stunted growth and a failure to develop as expected. Factors Biological and family factors Social and environmental factors  Basic Features of Culture Culture is learned. We learn culture from families, peers, institutions, and media. No one is born equipped with a particular language, or knowledge of religious beliefs  Features of Culture Culture is shared. We share culture with other members of our group Features of Culture Culture is based on symbols. These symbols only have meaning when people in a culture agree on their use. Features of Culture Culture is integrated. All aspects of a culture are related to one another and to truly understand a culture, one must learn about all of its parts, not only a few. Features of Culture Culture is dynamic. Cultures interact and change These changes may be in the form of discoveries, inventions, or cultural borrowings. Cultural diversity the presence of multiple cultures and cultural differences within a society Subcultures Smaller cultural groups that exist within but differ in some way Examples of some subcultures include “heavy metal” music devotees, body‐piercing and tattoo enthusiasts, motorcycle gang members, and Nazi skinheads  Countercultures In opposition to the norms and values of the dominant culture. Members of countercultures—such as hippies and protest groups—are generally teenagers and young adults, because youth is often a time of identity crisis and experimentation. Assimilation and multiculturalism Assimilation is when dominant culture absorbs subcultural or countercultural groups. Multiculturalism respects cultural variations rather than requiring that the dominant culture assimilate the various cultures  Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures against the standards of one's own culture Cultural Relativism is the perspective that a culture should be sociologically evaluated according to its own standards, and not those of any other culture.  Toward a Global Culture Cultural diffusion - the spreading of standards across cultures through travel, trade, conquests, etc. Social Groups and Organization CLASSIFICATION OF PEOPLE Group Aggregates Categories GROUP A group consists of two or more people who are distinct in the following ways: Interact over time. Have a sense of identity or belonging. Have norms that non-members don’t have. AGGREGATE a collection of people who happen to be at the same place at the same time but who have no other connection to one another CATEGORY Collection of people who share a particular characteristic. They do not necessarily interact with one another and have nothing else in common  CHARACTERISTIC OF A GROUP Group members interact on a fairly regular basis through communication SOCIAL GROUP families, companies, circles of friends, clubs, local chapters of fraternities and sororities, and local religious congregations SOCIAL GROUP NATURE OF SOCIAL GROUP  The group provides specific form as to the nature of interaction in the society.  Members should develop a structure where each member assumes a specific status and adopts a particular role.  Certain orderly procedures and values are agreed upon.  The members of the group feel a sense of identity. SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO SOCIAL TIES PRIMARY GROUP It is the most fundamental unit of human society. A long-lasting group Characterized by strong ties of love and affection. Do’s and Don’ts of behavior are learned here. Examples: Families, Gangs, Cliques, Play Groups, Friendship Groups SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO SOCIAL TIES SECONDARY GROUP Group with which the individual comes in contact later in life. Characterized by impersonal, business-like, contractual, formal and casual relationship. Usually Large in size, not very enduring and limited relationships. People needed other people for the satisfaction of their complex needs. Examples: Industrial Workers; business associates, Faculty Staff, Company Employees SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO FORM OF ORGANIZATION INFORMAL GROUP Arises spontaneously out of the interactions of two or more persons It is unplanned Has no explicit rules for membership and does not have specific objectives to be attained members are bound by emotion and sentiments SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO FORM OF ORGANIZATION FORMAL GROUP Social organization Deliberately formed and their purpose and objectives are explicitly defined. Their goals are clearly stated and the division of labor is based on member’s ability or merit SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO SELF IDENTIFICATION IN-GROUP A social unit in which individuals feel at home and with which they identify themselves SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO SELF IDENTIFICATION OUT-GROUP A social unit to which individuals do not belong due to differences in social categories and with which they do not identify SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO PURPOSE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP Groups which are organized to meet the special interest of the members SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO PURPOSE TASK GROUP Groups assigned to accomplish jobs which cannot be done by one person SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP Gemeinschaft A social system in which most relationships are personal or traditional. It is a community of intimate, private and exclusive living and familism. Culture is homogeneous and tradition-bound SOCIAL GROUP ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP Gesselschaft A social system in which most relationships are impersonal, formal, contractual or bargain-like. Relationship is individualistic, business-like, secondary and rationalized Culture is heterogeneous and more advanced. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION Type of collectivity established for the pursuit of specific aims or goals Characterized by a formal structure of rules, authority relations, a division of labor and limited membership or admission SOCIAL ORGANIZATION ► Organization is an orderly relationship or arrangement of parts. ► Thus family, church, college, factory, a play group, a political party, a community; all are examples of a social organization. ► Social organization is used to refer the interdependence and inter-relation of parts in groups. ► Social organization is the organization of society, it is a system of relationship in groups. ► Social organization refers to ‘the way people relate themselves to one another’. TYPES OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION Political organization: State (Government) Economic organization: Factory Religious organization: Church Financial organization: Bank Educational organization: school and colleges All these organizations are called social organization, that is, organization of society. Social organization is used in wider sense to include any organization of society. TYPES OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION A Goal: The member of an organization are inter-related to each other for the pursuit of a common goal. Preparedness to accept one’s role and status: Organization is an arrangement of persons and parts. Arrangement meant that every member of the organization has an assigned role, a position and status. TYPES OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION Norms and Mores: Every organization has its norms and mores which control its members. An organization can function smoothly if its members follow the organization norms. Sanctions: If a member does not follow the norms he is compelled to follow them through sanctions (conditions) which may range from warning to physical punishment. e.g. expelled, dismissed.  IMPORTANCE OF GROUP A group is a major source of solidarity and cohesion. Thank you!