Overview
This lecture introduces key concepts and terms related to society and culture, including types of culture, norms, language, symbols, cultural variation, and current cultural processes.
Society and Culture: Definitions and Relationship
- Society: A large, self-sustaining group of people united by social relationships and territory.
- Culture: Socially learned and shared ideas, behaviors, and material components of society.
- Society and culture are interdependent; one cannot exist without the other.
Types of Culture
- Material culture: Physical artifacts created by humans (e.g., phones, clothes).
- Non-material culture: Intangible ideas and symbols (e.g., language, beliefs).
Norms and Their Categories
- Norms: Culturally specific guidelines for behavior.
- Folkways: Informal, everyday norms with minor consequences if violated.
- Mores: Norms based on morals/ethics, more strictly enforced.
- Laws: Formal, legal norms enforced by the state.
- Taboos: Norms whose violation causes revulsion and severe social sanction (e.g., incest, cannibalism).
Other Aspects of Non-Material Culture
- Values: Collective ideas about what is desirable/undesirable in society.
- Roles: Sets of norms tied to positions in society (e.g., teacher, parent).
- Language: Words and symbols used for communication, key to human progress.
- Symbols: Objects or ideas with shared meaning, enabling abstract thought and communication.
- Symbolic Interaction: Human interactions are based on interpreted meanings, not just actions.
Cultural Variation
- High Culture: Practices associated with society's elite (e.g., art, luxury).
- Popular Culture: Widely adopted by the masses (e.g., movies, mainstream fashion).
- Fashion: Long-lasting widespread styles or behaviors.
- Fads: Temporary, enthusiastically adopted behaviors or items.
- Subcultures: Distinct groups with unique cultural traits within a larger society (e.g., Amish).
- Countercultures: Subcultures in opposition to the dominant society (e.g., KKK, hippies).
Cultural Processes
- Culture Shock: Disorientation from encountering radically different cultures.
- Cultural Relativism: Understanding a culture by its own standards.
- Ethnocentrism: Judging another culture by one's own standards.
- Cultural Lag: Material culture changes faster than non-material culture.
- Cultural Diffusion: Spread of culture traits from one society to another.
- Cultural Leveling: Different cultures become more similar due to globalization.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Society — Large group united by shared culture and social institutions.
- Culture — Socially learned and shared ideas, behaviors, and artifacts.
- Material Culture — Tangible, physical creations of society.
- Non-Material Culture — Intangible ideas, beliefs, and symbols.
- Norms — Expectations for appropriate behavior.
- Folkways — Informal norms for routine life.
- Mores — Moral/ethical norms.
- Laws — Formal, state-enforced norms.
- Taboos — Strongly prohibited actions.
- Values — Shared beliefs about desirability.
- Roles — Norms for positions in society.
- Language — System of symbols for communication.
- Symbol — Object or idea with collective meaning.
- Symbolic Interaction — Meaning-based social interaction.
- High Culture — Elite cultural practices.
- Popular Culture — Widespread, mass culture.
- Fashion — Persistent, valued style or behavior.
- Fad — Short-lived, highly popular behavior.
- Subculture — Distinct group within society.
- Counterculture — Subculture opposing society’s norms.
- Culture shock — Disorientation in a new culture.
- Cultural relativism — Understanding cultures by their own standards.
- Ethnocentrism — Judging cultures by one’s standards.
- Cultural lag — Technology outpacing cultural norms.
- Cultural diffusion — Cultural traits spreading between societies.
- Cultural leveling — Cultures becoming more alike.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch assigned videos and reflect on your reactions (cultural relativism vs. ethnocentrism).
- Complete chapter 3 study guide and readings in Sociological U.
- Save your chapter certificates.
- Finish engagement package requirements.
- Attend class check-in session on Thursday.