unit 1

What is Culture?

Culture is defined as the shared beliefs, values, practices, and objects of a society.

Example of Material Culture

Smartphones, buildings, and clothing styles.

What is Nonmaterial Culture?

Ideas, beliefs, norms, and values that are part of a culture.

Example of a Value

Environmental conservation is valued in Scandinavian countries.

What are Norms?

Rules guiding behavior that can be formal or informal.

Example of a Formal Norm

Speed limits and employee handbook rules are considered formal norms.

What are Mores?

Moral norms that have serious consequences; for example, murder is prohibited in all societies.

Example of Folkways

Covering your mouth when sneezing.

What are Cultural Universals?

Elements such as family, language, music, and rituals found in all cultures.

Define Ethnocentrism

The practice of judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.

What is Cultural Relativism?

Assessing a culture based on its own standards.

Example of Culture Shock

Moving from the U.S. to Japan and struggling with local etiquette.

What is High Culture?

Cultural products that are often associated with the elite, like opera and classical art.

Define Subcultures

Groups that share specific interests or characteristics within a larger culture, like gamers.

What is Resocialization?

The process of learning new roles in total institutions, such as basic training in the military.

What is Cooley’s Looking-Glass Self?

The concept that an individual’s self-perception is shaped by others’ perceptions.

Define Moral Development according to Kohlberg

Stages of moral reasoning: Preconventional, Conventional, and Postconventional.

What is Symbolic Interactionism?

A sociological perspective that focuses on society built through interactions.

What is the difference between Mechanical and Organic Solidarity?

Mechanical solidarity relies on shared norms, while organic solidarity is based on specialized roles.

What does Conflict Theory emphasize?

The perspective that society is characterized by power struggles and inequality.