Sociology: Culture

Culture in popular view, refers to a state of refinement Edward Taylor definition: Culture as a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by people as members of the society It is a persons social heritage or the customary ways in which groups organize their ways of behaving, thinking and feeling Transmitted through language Represents designs or recipes for living Encompasses modes of thinking, acting, and feeling found in the society Tells one what to do, what not to do and how to do things

Animals vs Humans What distinguishes humans from lower animals is the possession of culture Lower animals which mostly act on instinct and can learn tricks or imitate certain activities they cannot transmit what they have learned to their young and so they cannot accumulate things that have been learned while humans have to develop and learn their own ways of coping with their environment and with fellow human beings the ability to use symbols is uniquely human Culture is unique to humans but varies from society to society 1. As real phenomena things that are visible are part of culture 2. an abstraction observed in activities of people, in what they do and say Symbolic language factor responsible for the existence and development of culture Symbol anything that stands or represents something else; AN IDEA; Language systematized usage of speech and hearing to convey communicate or express feelings and ideas - An integral part of culture and human culture cannot exist without it - All human societies have languages - Those that cannot read & write have spoken language instead - We have learned to identify or experience things through language - These are shared and transmitted through SOCIALIZATION - Enables people to transcend time and space. Through it, we can talk of what happened in the past & the forthcoming 3. As a mode of adaptation enables people to adjust their physical as well as social environment No culture is static, and changes represent adjustments to the environment; acceptance to change depends on exposure of the members of society and opportunity to accept ideas thru DIFFUSION ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: 1. Knowledge total range of what has been learned/ perceived as true (mans perception of what is true) - Accumulated thru experience, study or investigation - May change! - People act on the basis of what they assumed to be true a. Natural knowledge accumulated facts about the natural world both biological and physical aspects b. Technological Knowledge knowledge of nature which are useful in dealing with practical problems c. Supernatural Knowledge perceptions about the actions of gods, goddesses, demons, angels or spirits who are held to possess supernatural powers (etc!) d. Magical Knowledge perceptions about methods of influencing supernatural events by manipulating certain laws of nature 2. Social norms prescriptions or standards of behavior specifying what membersof the group should do, ought to do or are expected to do under certain circumstances

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Followed by some punishment or sanction In the form of rules, standards, prescriptions and socially shared expectations EX. Honesty, norms for occupations/jobs Define the proper ways of behaving It is unimportant whether norms are followed, such as folkways Mores important to be followed Although conformity to this is not total, expectations become regulative and make behavior in society predictable. a. Ideal and tolerable behavior = Normal b. Distinct from the range of deviant = Abnormal behavior NORMS ARE FOLLOWED AUTOMATICALLY although may be questioned from time to time Influences emotion and perceptions of individuals

Among social norms are: a. Folkways commonly known as customs, traditions and conventions of a society General rules, customary and habitual ways and patterns of expected behavior within the society without much thought given to the matter Habits and customs which arise from efforts to satisfy needs Intertwined with goblinism and demonism and primitive notions of luck so they win TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY Accumulated and become repetitive patterns of behavior which tend to be self perpetuating Evolve out of a slow but continuous process of trial and experimentation Sometimes guide peoples sentiments and attitudes toward given issues or topics Include rules of eating drinking smoking dressing sleeping dancing etc (Sumner) As a great mass of usages of all degrees of importance b. Mores special folkways which are important to the welfare of the people and their cherished values Based on ethical and moral values Associated with strong feelings about what is right and true Having strong moral sanctions MUST AND SHOULD of a society Expected behavior current in a society which individuals follow to satisfy their needs and desires COERCIVE IN NATURE; important to societal welfare OBSERVENCE IS COMPULSIVE They embody the code of ethics and standards of morality Most mores are formulated into laws EX: 10 commandments, marriage family relations, religion attitude toward authority c. Laws are formalized norms, enacted by the people who are vested with governmental power and enforced by political and legal authorities designated by the government Have strong support of public opinion and tend to reinforce folkways and mores EX: antismoking, traffic enforcement The need for increasing formalization of law = when there is increasing social change and with migration of the people Society enforces laws and maintains regulatory agencies on a continued basis so that it can cope with threats to its welfare

Collective Form of Behavior

Shortlived social norms are and are forces of social change a. Fashions b. Fads c. Crazes d. Other passing fancies Demand compliance at the time they operate

Fashion or vogue = powerful regulators of behavior in urban areas

Sanctions system of reward and punishment a. Rewards - positive sanctions for those who behave properly o in the form of promotions, salary increases, merit award, citations or medals of honor b. Punishment are negative sanctions

a. Informal sanction are gossip, unfavorable and favorable public opinion, giving or withdrawing affective love or friendship b. Formal sanction - used for violations of norms in organizations or associations

Values are abstract (only felt) concepts of what is important and worthwhile basis of our judgment OF WHAT IS WRONG AND BAD standards by which persons define their goal, select alternatives and judge others as good or bad indicate social conscience internalized and integrated depict how society changes Beliefs embody peoples perception of reality include the primitive ideas of the universe as well as the scientists empirical view of the worls Some are not scientifically proven but considered facts by those who held them

Technology techniques and know how in utilizing raw materials Artifacts material objects that are products of technology

THE ORGANIZATION OF CULTURE: Culture traits small units or elements; cannot be broken down; product of social interaction Material traits concrete Nonmaterial abstract Culture complex formed from cluster or combination of traits 1. Culture universals are culture traits,complexes and patterns shared among all members of a given population; common to members; - Necessary for the existence of a given society - EX: language, norms, laws, 2. Specialties behavior expectations confined to a certain subgroups - Requires unusual skill or training - Not shared by total population 3. Alternatives behavior expectations which permit a certain range of choice in human behavior and specify the tolerable variations - Shared by some individuals Strong support for culture universals makes the culture more resistant to change Predominanace of specialties may divide the culture into many competing or conflicting subcultures

Subculture o Still contain the dominant values and norms of the broader society o small culture within the culture

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Arise to obtain assurance and security from others for an inability to cope with the dominant culture contra-culture or counterculture contradict those of the dominant culture; EMPHASIZES A CONFLICT where their behavior is called deviant

Ethnocentrism regard ones culture as the best and better than those of others Others are scaled and rated with reference to it Function: To increase ones appreciation and commitment to ones cultural group Strengthens group morale Enhances group solidarity and individual pride and esteem o Extreme ethnocentrism blocks ones understanding of other cultures and leads to intolerance and prejudice Xenocentrism what is foreign is best Centered on a product, idea or a lifestyle Culture Shock - Brought by unfamiliarity, lack of understanding and inability to communicate with the society Cultural Relativism - judging within its cultural context Source: Schaefer Society largest form of human group; consist of people who share a common heritage and culture Cultural Universals many are adaptations to meet essential human needs Innovation process of introducing a new idea or object to a culture 2 forms: a. Discovery making known or sharing the existence of an aspect of reality b. Invention existing cultural items are combined into a form that did not exist before Globalization worldwide integration Diffusion process by which a cultural item spreads from group to group Technology information about how to use the material resources to satisfy human wants and needs Norms enforcing appropriate behavior and punishing improper behavior - These are established standards of behavior maintained by a society a. Formal Norms written down and specify strict punishments for violators Example: Law is governmental social control (by state) b. Informal Norms generally understood but are not precisely recorded no specific sanction

Norms classified into a. Mores deemed highly necessary to the welfare of the society, because they embody the most cherished principles of a people - Child abuse, treason, murder b. Folkways norms governing everyday behavior - Shaping daily behavior CULTURAL VARIATION Subcultures segment of a society that shares a distinctive pattern of norms and values that differs from the pattern of the larger society Existence is a characteristic of a complex society

Argot specialized language that distinguishes it from the wider society