Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes (AP Human Geo)

artifacts

the visible objects and technologies that a culture creates (ex. clothing, furniture, architecture)

sociofacts

structures and organizations that influence social behavior (ex. raising your hand in class)

mentifacts

the central, enduring elements of a culture that reflect its shared ideas, values, knowledge, and beliefs (ex. beliefs, myths, and ideologies)

Ethnocentrism

the tendency of ethnic groups to evaluate other groups according to preconceived ideas originating from their own culture (ex. the belief that one’s culture is superior to others)

Cultural relativism

the evaluation of a culture solely by its unique standards (ex. cultural relativism may lead to accepting extreme cultural practices, such
as human rights violations, as long as the cultural context behind such practices is understood.)

Sequent occupance

the notion that societies leave behind them cultural imprint, which shapes the cultural landscape (ex. like building upon foundations left by pervious societies & each new culture adds or alters the physical and cultural features)

Ethnicity

the state of belonging to a group of
people who share common cultural characteristics

Toponyms

also known as place names, help define what is unique about a place

Safe spaces

spaces of acceptance for people such as members of the
LGBTQIA+ community

Gentrification

driven up the demand for housing and the cost of living in LGBTQIA+ neighborhoods

third place

a communal space that is not from home (first place) or work (second place)

adherents

the people who are loyal to a belief, religion, or organization

denomination

a specific subgroup within a larger religion (ex. Catholicism being a subgroup within Christianity

sect

a small group that has separated from an established denomination (ex. so small group breaking away due to disagreements over beliefs)

centripetal force

A force that unites a group of people

centrifugal force

A force that divides groups of people

Diffusion

process by which a cultural trait
spreads from one place to another over time

cultural hearth

where a cultural trait originates

Relocation diffusion

the spread of cultural traits or ideas through the movement or relocation of people

Expansion diffusion

the spread of cultural traits or ideas by means other than people moving (ex. like spread of religion or viral trend) (3 types: contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus)

contagious diffusion

idea or cultural trait spreads adjacently (ex. the ice bucket challenge)

Hierarchical diffusion

spread of a trait from a person or
place of power or authority to
other people or places (ex. charli damelio wearing gucci and now everybody want to wear gucci)

stimulus diffusion

the fundamental idea behind a cultural trait stimulates an innovation or cultural trait (ex. McDonald’s adapting its menu to local taste like offering the guava and cheese pie to adapt to Cuban/Miami tastes)

lingua franca

a common language used among speakers of different languages (ex. like German and French people having to use English as a common language to do business)

Cultural convergence

As cultures interact, they become more similar, sharing and adopting one another’s ideas, innovations, and other cultural traits

Cultural divergence

Conflicting beliefs or other barriers cause two cultures to become less similar

Acculturation

process in which people within one culture adopt some of the traits of another while still retaining their own
distinct culture (reminder: they keep their own distinct culture)

Assimilation

a category of acculturation in which one culture adopts almost all the customs, traditions, language, and other cultural traits of the other (reminder: adopt almost all customs)

Syncretism

traits from two or more cultures blend to form a new custom, idea, value, or practice (ex. how Catholicism blended with pagan winter traditions and created Christmas)

Multiculturalism

Diverse cultures coexist within a shared space (ex. how Miami has so many different kinds of hispanics)

Collectivist cultures

expect members to conform to collective responsibility within the family

Cultural appropriation

the act of adopting elements of another culture (ex. adopts things like customs, fashion, & traditions)

Language family

a large group of related languages that all evolved from a single and ancient common ancestor language

isolate

a language that is not assigned to a language family

Universalizing religions

attempt to appeal to a wide variety of people and are open to membership by all, regardless of a person’s location, language, or ethnicity

ethnic religion

closely tied with a particular ethnic

group generally in a particular region