Globalization, Culture & Society – Review Vocabulary

50 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from globalization, culture, sociology, anthropology, social institutions, identity, and theoretical perspectives.

Globalization

Growing interdependence among world cultures, ideologies, economies, and political systems.

Cultural Diffusion

Spread of cultural trends from one group or area to another.

Cultural Heritage

Legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes inherited from past generations.

Tangible Cultural Heritage

Physical objects or places such as artifacts and monuments.

Movable Heritage

Transportable tangible items like jewelry or artworks.

Immovable Heritage

Fixed tangible items like buildings or statues.

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Non-physical cultural elements such as language, customs, and performing arts.

Cultural Relativism

Evaluating a culture by its own standards rather than by outside standards.

Absolute Cultural Relativism

Position that cultural practices should not be questioned by outsiders.

Critical Cultural Relativism

Respecting a culture while challenging elements that violate human rights.

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Xenocentrism

Preference for and belief in the superiority of foreign cultures.

Cultural Imperialism

Imposition of a dominant culture’s values and practices on others.

Cultural Assimilation

Gradual adoption of traits from another culture without complete merging.

Cultural Competency

Ability to understand, respect, and interact effectively with different cultures.

Cultural Knowledge

Learning about a culture’s history, values, and norms.

Cultural Awareness

Recognizing the existence of cultural differences.

Cultural Sensitivity

Respecting both similarities and differences among cultures.

Cultural Competence (component)

Actively accepting and promoting cultural diversity.

Socioeconomic Class

Social ranking based on education, income, and occupation.

Poverty

Lack of financial resources necessary for a minimum standard of living.

Relative Poverty

Condition of being poor in comparison to societal living standards.

Structural Functionalism

Theory that society consists of interdependent parts working together for stability.

Manifest Function

Intended and recognized consequence of a social structure.

Latent Function

Unintended or hidden effect of a social structure.

Dysfunction

Social process that disrupts stability or decreases social order.

Social Institution

Established pattern of relationships organized to meet basic societal needs.

Family (institution)

Institution that provides care, affection, and primary socialization.

Education (institution)

Institution that transmits skills and knowledge.

Government (institution)

Institution that creates and enforces laws and maintains order.

Market (institution)

System that produces and distributes goods and services.

Religion (institution)

Institution that offers moral guidance and shared beliefs.

Sociology

Study of social relationships and behavior in contemporary societies.

Anthropology

Study of human evolution, cultures, and societies across time.

Cultural Anthropology

Subfield examining cultural development and variation among humans.

Physical Anthropology

Subfield focused on human biological adaptations to environments.

Linguistic Anthropology

Subfield studying the evolution and function of language.

Archaeology

Subfield analyzing artifacts and material culture of past societies.

Society

Group of interacting individuals sharing territory, interests, and traditions.

Culture

Shared beliefs, traditions, and lifestyle of a group.

Politics

Processes involving power, leadership, decision-making, rules, and laws.

Nationality

Legal membership in a nation, based on birthplace or parentage.

Citizenship

Legal status granting specific rights and responsibilities within a state.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural origin, traditions, and regional affiliation.

Sex

Biological characteristics distinguishing males and females.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and identities associated with sex.

Conflict Theory

Perspective that social life is shaped by ongoing conflict over limited resources.

Bourgeoisie

Capitalist class that owns the means of production.

Proletariat

Working class that sells its labor to the bourgeoisie.

Symbolic Interactionism

Perspective focusing on daily interactions and the meanings people assign to symbols.