Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics - Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on culture, society, and politics.

Anthropology

The study, analysis, and description of humanity, past and present, including biological and cultural diversity and language.

Holism

An approach that studies all aspects of culture and their interconnections rather than isolating a single part.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture from its own viewpoint without judging it by the standards of another culture.

Cultural Universals

Traits that are found in all known cultures (e.g., body adornment, courtship, dancing, education, funeral rites).

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others, often leading to bias or judgment.

Culture

The learned, shared, and transmitted ways of life of a group, including material and nonmaterial aspects.

Material Culture

The physical objects and artifacts produced by a culture (e.g., dress, tools, food).

Non-material Culture

Intangible aspects of culture such as beliefs, values, norms, and language.

Four Fields of Anthropology

Archaeology; Biological/Physical Anthropology; Linguistic Anthropology; Cultural (Social) Anthropology.

Archaeology

Study of past human societies through material remains.

Biological/Physical Anthropology

Study of human biology and evolution.

Linguistic Anthropology

Study of language in its social and cultural contexts.

Cultural (Social) Anthropology

Study of cultural variation and social practices across human groups.

Auguste Comte

Father of Sociology; coined the term sociology in 1839 and advocated the study of society as a system.

Émile Durkheim

Key founder of sociology who emphasized empirical study of social facts and institutions.

Sociology

The scientific study of human society, social behavior, and social institutions.

Social Science

Academic disciplines that study society and human behavior (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology).

Society

A dynamic system of people who share a culture and live in a defined territory; a process, not a static product.

Cooperation and Conflict in Society

Society involves cooperation but also conflict; a view summarized as 'society is cooperation crossed by conflict.'

Sociological Perspective

A way of looking at society that emphasizes social context, institutions, and relationships.

Sociological Imagination

The ability to see the link between private troubles and public issues.

Culture Shock

Disorientation experienced when encountering a culture very different from one’s own.

Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and behaviors of their group.

Enculturation

The process of learning one's own culture and transmitting it to the next generation.

Primary Socialization

Early life socialization primarily from family and close friends, teaching basic norms.

Secondary Socialization

Socialization occurring in smaller groups or institutions (clubs, school, workplace).

Anticipatory Socialization

Learning about and preparing for future roles in society during adolescence.

Professional/Developmental Socialization

Socialization that develops skills and attitudes for future adult roles.

Re-socialization

Learning new values and norms when joining a new group.

Status

A position in the social structure; can be achieved or ascribed.

Achieved Status

A status earned through personal effort and abilities.

Ascribed Status

A status assigned at birth or due to characteristics beyond one's control.

Context of Socialization

Culture, language, social structures, and individual rank that shape social learning.

Content and Process (Socialization)

Content = what is taught; Process = how norms and values are taught.

Results and Outcomes (Socialization)

What happens to an individual after exposure to a particular content and process.

Symbols

Objects, signs, or actions that stand for something else and are culturally defined.

Symbolism

Assigning abstract meanings and relationships to symbols within a narrative.

Functions of Symbols

Transfer and preserve culture and beliefs; symbols carry face value and hidden values.

Cultural Symbols

Manifestations that signify the ideology of a culture within that culture.

Social Symbols

Symbols related to social organization, classes, and social issues.

Political Symbols

Symbols representing political ideologies or movements (e.g., flags, banners).