Introduction to Culture and Society

Basic Terminology
A culture is a societys social heritage, the system of values, systems, beliefs, knowledge, norms, customs, and technology shared by almost everyone in a particular society. A society is a group of people who share a common culture. Some of the most significant elements of a culture are symbols, language, values, norms, and technology.

Symbols and Culture

A symbol is something used to represent something else, and their meanings can be transient and even different in different contexts e.g. the hand gesture V e.g. the A-Okay hand gesture Video clip

Language and Culture

The most important set of symbols is language, the systematic usage of speech and hearing to convey or express feelings and ideas. Cultures develop not only a verbal and written language, but also a nonverbal language of gestures, expressions, mannerisms, and even the use of space. More crucially, language also influences peoples thoughts, perceptions of the world and experiences. This is often referred to as the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (research topic 1).

Values and Culture

Values are ideas shared by the people in a society, regarding what is important and worthwhile (e.g. freedom, rights, patriotism, being frugal). Most of our basic values are learned early in life from parents, families, friends as well as the mass media. Because values are learned cultural products, they differ from one society to another: e.g. American individualism vs Japanese group harmony e.g. North Americans perception of being dominant over nature vs the Navajo living in harmony with nature

Norms and Culture

Social norms are rules of conduct or social expectations for behaviour. They are both prescriptive (they tell people what they should do) and proscriptive (they tell people what they should not do). e.g. honesty is a value, while the expectation that students will not cheat in a test is a norm.

Certain norms that a society feels strongly about may become laws.
The process of violating norms beyond the range of group acceptability is called deviance (research topic 2), while the process of applying sanctions to obtain social conformity is known as social control (research topic 3).

Interpreting Culture: our own and others

Ethnocentrism is the attitude that our own culture is superior to others e.g. religious groups believe that they know the truth and are more moral than others. Some are even missionary in nature. e.g. Americans believe that capitalism is far superior to communism. e.g. Singaporeans believe that our food is tastier than our neighbours to the North (the feeling is mutual) Ethnocentrism is functional for a groups existence as it promotes group loyalty, cohesiveness and unity. But Ethnocentrism can also be destructive, as evidenced by the Nazis.

Interpreting Culture: our own and others

Xenocentrism, the belief that what is foreign is best, is the opposite of ethnocentrism Xenocentrism may focus on a product, an idea, or a lifestyle e.g. food produced in the USA e.g. continental cars e.g. Swiss standard of living e.g. studying abroad

Interpreting Culture: our own and others

The belief that cultures must be judged on their own terms rather than by the standards of another culture is cultural relativism. Judging other societies on the basis of cultural relativism makes us less likely to ridicule or scorn the beliefs and habits of people from other cultures.

Question for Group Discussion

Using the concepts of ethnocentrism, xenocentrism and cultural relativism, discuss the impact that a bilingual education might have on understanding other cultures.

Social Groups
An in-group is a social category to which persons feel they belong and in which the members have a shared consciousness. e.g. members of an alumni group, members of the same religion. Conversely, an out-group is one to which people feel they do not belong, and with whom they may be indifferent or even hostile towards.

Social Groups
In-group members tend to stereotype out-group members, and perceived threats (imaginary or real) from the out-group heightens in-group solidarity.

Social Groups
Reference groups are the groups we identify with psychologically. They serve as sources of selfevaluation and influence how we think and act. e.g. what might an aspiring executive do if he notices that other successful executives play golf, wear suits and read The Economist?

Socialisation
Socialisation is the process of incorporating new members into the group by teaching them about the society. Agencies of Socialisation: The family, the schools, peer groups, the mass media.

The Family as Agency of Socialisation

The family is considered the primary agency of socialisation, as it is within the family that the first socialising influence is encountered by most children, and this influence affects them for the rest of their lives. The family gives children their geographical location, their social class, their race, religious background, their language, their values. Each of these factors has a profound influence on children.

Question for Group Discussion

What are some factors that have strengthened or compromised the family as an agency of socialisation in your society?

The School as Agency of Socialisation

Schools teach students to develop themselves, to test their achievements through competition, to discipline themselves, to cooperate with others, and to obey rules, all of which are necessary if a youngster is to achieve success in a society dominated by large organisations.

Citizenship and character education are also important socialisation stages of a childs growingup years.

The Mass Media as Agency of Socialisation

The mass media play major roles in: -Teaching people to consume goods -Teaching values and needs -Teaching what idealised life is like Socialisation of gender roles in the mass media (research topic 4)

Question for Group Discussion

Think about the television shows that you watch. Discuss how they present idealised lifestyles and may possibly subject audiences to discontent in reality.

Question for Group Discussion

Think about the television shows that you watch. Discuss how they present idealised lifestyles and may possibly subject audiences to discontent in reality. -The Beauty Ideal -Dysfunctional families -Even reality tv is not realistic

Social Stratification and Inequality

Inequality the unequal distribution of scarce goods or resources is found in most, if not all, societies. The ranking of people according to their wealth or prestige is known as social stratification.

Social Stratification and Inequality

There are 2 basic types of stratification in the world today: caste and class. In a caste system, caste is ascribed at birth. It is very rigid: a closed system. In a class system, social level is defined in terms of wealth and income. It is very fluid: an open system.

Questions for Discussion

What are some dimensions of stratification that HCI students experience? Discuss how inequality is present and combated in the following domains in Singapore or your home country: 1)Education 2)Occupations 3)Housing 4)Medical Care

Group Interaction & Multiculturalism

Segregation is the physical and social separation of groups or categories of people. It results in ethnic enclaves such as black ghettos, chinatowns, japantowns, koreatowns, little indias. Integration or assimiliation occurs when ethnicity becomes insignificant and everyone can freely and fully participate in the social, economic and political mainstream. 2 types: Melting Pot: A + B + C = D Anglo conformity: A + B + C = A

Group Interaction & Multiculturalism

Cultural Pluralism can be defined as a situation in which the various racial, ethnic, or other minority groups in a society maintain their distinctive cultural patterns, subsystems, and institutions. A+B+C=A+B+C Where then does Multiculturalism (research topic 5) fit in? Policy Debate: Affirmative Action / Positive Discrimination (research topic 6)

Gender Inequality
Gender differentiation and inequality (research topic 7) can be felt: - At the workplace comparative median income as well as limited upward mobility (invisible glass ceiling), sexual harassment - At home family violence - Both when attempting to balance work and family

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: -The greying of Singapore

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: - Life expectancy (85 and 80 for women and men respectively)

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: - Social characteristics (housing, marriage, income)

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: - Social characteristics (housing, marriage, income)

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: - Social characteristics (housing, marriage, income)

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Demographic aspects of aging: - Social characteristics (housing, marriage, income)

Statistics
Y.M Wong, Z.W. Teo (2011). The Elderly in Singapore in Singapore Statistics Newsletter. Retrieved from: http://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/publicati ons_and_papers/population_and_population_str ucture/ssnsep11-pg1-9.pdf (Last accessed: 10 Mar 2014)

Age Differentiation and the Aged

Abuse of the elderly - The severity of the mistreatment of older people ranges from neglect to severe emotional and physical abuse. - Most common form of abuse is passive neglect when an elderly is left alone without essential medical care, food or clothing - Active neglect occurs when needed goods or services are intentionally withheld - Physical abuse

Question for Group Discussion

Compare government-supported programmes designed to alleviate child abuse, spousal abuse, and elderly abuse in Singapore. Use the concepts of passive neglect, active neglect, and physical abuse. What are some conclusions that you can draw based on this comparison?

Research Topics at a Glance

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Explanation of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (present their research and case studies). Explain linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity. (Riley Yap) Research on the sociology of deviance and present 2 case studies of deviant cultures (one in Singapore, one abroad). Lim Xuan Ting Research on the sociology of social control and present 2 case studies of social control policies (one in Singapore, one abroad). ( wei yang) Research on the socialisation of gender roles in the mass media, with the primary focus on how gender roles are portrayed in the media.(Reagan) Research on gender inequality at the workplace and at home. Present both a historical and sociological perspective. Low Ming Lim Lead a class discussion on Issues in Multiculturalism, with Amartya Sens The Uses and Abuses of Multiculturalism as a trigger. Teo Xin Hui Present the policy debate of Affirmative Action in the USA and related policies in our region. (Lim Shengyuan) Research on the use of euthanasia around the world and discuss the arguments for and against it. Analyse case studies, both local and foreign.Mak Wei Zheng

Project Deliverables
A minimally 15-min presentation. This should include a video clip not exceeding 5 mins in length. A minimally 15-min student-led Q&A session. Presenting groups will raise questions for group discussion, gather opinions, and offer their views. An A3-sized poster (digitally-designed). All powerpoint slides must be sent to me immediately after the presentation.