Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics - SA#2

Cultural Heritage

It is an expression of lifestyles developed by a community and is generationally transmitted

Tangible Cultural Heritage

A type of cultural heritage that can be touched or seen

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Its examples include traditions such as singing, festivals, and weaving

The Four Orientations in Viewing Cultures

1. Ethnocentrism

2. Xenocentrism

3. Cultural Relativism

4. Multiculturalism

Ethnocentrism

• Coined by William G. Sumner

• Believing your culture is superior to another

• Evaluation of other cultures based on one’s cultural norms

Xenocentrism

• Believing your culture is inferior to another

• The desire to engage with another culture other than your own

• Sparks cultural diffusion

Cultural Relativism

The practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than inferring from one’s own cultural standards

Multiculturalism

The practice of recognizing and including all cultures to uphold cultural diversity and equity (same progression, equity for all)

Sociocultural Evolution

• Proposed by Gerhard Lenski

• Lenski’s approach views technological progress as the most fundamental factor in evolution

• Technology is the driving force for societal change

Gerhard Lenski

The sociologist who viewed technological progress as the driving force for societal evolution

The Five Stages of Sociocultural Evolution

1. Hunter-Gatherer Societies

2. Pastoral Societies

3. Horticultural Societies

4. Agricultural Societies

5. Industrial Societies

Hunter-Gatherer Society

• A society that is composed of small, nomadic groups

• Little to no socioeconomic inequality among members

• Utilized basic hunting tools

• Subsistence Economy - an economy directed toward basic needs

• No material surplus (no excess goods produced)

Pastoral Society

• Domesticating animals as a resource for survival

• Retains the nomadic lifestyle to locate places where domesticated animals can thrive

• Utilized simple tools

Horticultural Society

• The first human settlements were built

• These human settlements were semi-permanent (Kaingin System)

• Formed in areas where rainfall or other conditions were present to sustain crop growth

• Utilized simple farming tools

Kaingin System

1. Move to a mountain and perform deforestation to create a small plot of farmland.

2. Once all resources are harvested, relocate.

Agricultural Society

• Utilized more sophisticated tools built from metal

• Fully permanent settlements were built to accommodate for the bigger population size

• Introduced specialization to support the needs of society in turn for profit

• Introduced social institutions (e.g. school, church, government)

• Introduced material surplus

Material Surplus

This is referred to as the unnecessary overproduction of resources

This is also the basis for social inequality

Specialization

The process of taking on a job in society (e.g. farmer, baker, tailor)

Industrial Society

• Marked the shift from human and animal power to machine power

• As the production of goods became more efficient due to machines, material surplus increased. Increased production = increased material surplus

• Utilized automation and steam power to efficiently perform human tasks

• Adam Smith proposed that businesses must be independent from the government, introducing the idea of Capitalism

• Karl Marx proposed the idea of Communism, in which all properties are publicly owned, in opposition to Capitalism

• Knowledge = Power

Socialization

A lifelong process of social interaction by which we learn the rules and patterns of behavior affected by culture

Enculturation

• A process by which we learn our culture through the transmission between generations

• Acquisition of one’s own culture

• Essential for survival

• The first level of socialization

Acculturation

• The process of acquiring a culture other than your own

• Amalgamation of two cultures

• Not essential for survival

• The second level of socialization

Cultural Diffusion

• The spread of cultural norms, beliefs, and traditions from one group to another

• The mixing of cultures from different cultural groups

• Face-to-face interaction may not occur as the influence may be transmitted through media (e.g. K-pop, Hip Hop)

Primary Socialization

• The socialization that occurs inside the home

• Refers to a person’s first experiences with language, values, beliefs, and norms

• Includes Gender Socialization, Race Socialization, & Class Socialization

Gender Socialization

• A type of primary socialization

• The process of learning the behaviors, values, and norms associated with a person’s sex

Race Socialization

• A type of primary socialization

• The process of learning the behaviors, values, and norms associated with racial groups

Class Socialization

• A type of primary socialization

• The process of learning the behaviors, values, and norms associated with socioeconomic status

Anticipatory Socialization

The process by which people learn to take on the values and standards of groups they plan to join

Resocialization

• A process of socialization that transforms one’s behaviors, values, beliefs, and norms

• Carefully controlled

Reverse Socialization

A process of socialization in which elder generations learn from younger generations

Secondary Socialization

• The socialization that occurs outside the home

• This often starts with school

Total Institutions

• Setting in which people are isolated from the outside world and subject to the control of officials of varied marks

• e.g. military camps, boarding school

Cultural Capital

The accumulation of knowledge, behaviors, and skills that one can possess to demonstrate one’s own cultural competence

Pierre Bourdieu

🇫🇷 French sociologist who introduced “Cultural Capital”

The Five Agents of Socialization

1. Family

2. Religion

3. School

4. Peers

5. Mass Media / Social Media

Bias

The human tendency to make errors in judgment or choice-making based on personal ideas or preconceived notions

Stereotypes

• A popular belief about specific social groups

• Standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on assumptions

Prejudice

• Prejudgment/assumption made about someone before receiving adequate and accurate information

• Prejudgments may be based on a person’s characteristics

Discrimination

• The prejudicial treatment of a person or persons based on their background

• Actual behavior towards members of another group

? + ? = Prejudice

Bias + Stereotypes

? + ? = Discrimination

Prejudice + Societal Support / Lack of Prohibition