Understanding the Self: Culture, Anthropology, and Sociology — Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of 50 vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms related to culture, anthropology, sociology, and the self.

Culture

The learned, shared, and symbolic system of beliefs, values, norms, and material products that a group uses to interpret and respond to the world; culture is dynamic and integrated.

Material Culture

The tangible objects and belongings produced, used, or valued by a group.

Nonmaterial Culture

The ideas, attitudes, beliefs, values, and symbols that shape behavior, not physical objects.

Norms

Culturally prescribed rules for behavior that guide everyday actions; they organize social life.

Folkways

Casual norms for everyday interactions; violations are usually not serious.

Mores

Norms with moral significance; violations are considered wrong.

Laws

Formal norms enacted and enforced by the state.

Symbols

Signs and objects that carry shared meanings within a culture.

Paralanguage

The suprasegmental vocal features such as tone, pitch, pace, and volume that accompany speech.

Language

A system of symbols used for communication and meaning-making; central to culture.

Values

Shared standards of desirability that guide conduct and judgment.

Beliefs

Ideas that a group accepts as true; can be primitive/superstitious or scientific.

Cognitive Component

The beliefs and values that comprise the mental side of culture.

Normative Component

The aspects of culture that deal with norms, including folkways, mores, and laws.

Pattern of Culture

The typology of cultural forms, such as high culture and popular culture.

High Culture

Cultural forms associated with elite classes and refined tastes.

Popular Culture

Mass-produced, widely accessible culture enjoyed by the general public.

Cultural Change

The process by which cultures alter in response to internal developments and external influences.

Cultural Lag

The delay between changes in material culture and changes in nonmaterial culture.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.

Xenocentrism

Preference for or admiration of other cultures over one's own.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, norms, and social skills needed to function.

Agents of Socialization

Groups and institutions that transmit culture: family, peer groups, school, religion, and mass media.

Family

A primary social group instrumental in early socialization and value transmission.

Peer Groups

Social groups of equals that influence behavior and norms during adolescence and beyond.

School

An institutional agent that transmits knowledge, norms, and social expectations.

Religion

A social institution that transmits shared beliefs, values, and norms within a community.

Mass Media

Channels that disseminate cultural content and shape public perception and norms.

Self

The person as constructed through cultural context; a product of culture.

Looking Glass Self

The self is formed by internalizing how others perceive us.

I and Me

Me is the internalized, objective part; I is the spontaneous, creative self.

Generalized Other

Mead's concept of adopting the role and expectations of the community; perspective-taking.

Imitation

First stage in Mead's theory; children imitate others without understanding roles.

Play Stage

Second stage where children role-play, beginning to understand roles but not the whole structure.

Game Stage

Stage where children understand multiple roles and the perspectives of others.

Clifford Geertz

Anthropologist who viewed culture as a set of symbolic systems and as control mechanisms shaping behavior.

Culture as Control Mechanisms

Geertz's idea that culture directs behavior through encoded rules and patterns.

Dramaturgical Theory

Goffman's view of social life as a theater where people perform roles.

Impression Management

Controlling how others perceive us through our presentations and actions.

Self in Western Thought

Western conceptions emphasize individuality, autonomy, and the pursuit of self-perfection (arete).

Self in Eastern Thought

Eastern traditions emphasize communal identity and interdependence within a social network.

Hinduism

A tradition where atman is unchanging and identical to Brahman; realization through surrender to Brahman.

Buddhism

Belief that there is no permanent self; the self is a transformation of inner consciousness.

Confucianism

Emphasizes society over the individual; junzi, Li, and Ren guide the self.

Taoism

Philosophy of following the Tao; self is part of the Tao and dissolves into the cosmos.

Islam

Religion that emphasizes community, oneness of God, and universality of the faith.

Arete

Greek concept of virtue, excellence, and the realization of one's full potential.

Individualism

Cultural orientation where individuals are autonomous and prioritize personal goals.

Collectivism

Cultural orientation where group goals and loyalty to the group take precedence.