culture/norms/values

Q: What are Norms?

A: HOW — Expected patterns of behaviour based on values. Unwritten rules. E.g., punctuality, personal space.

Q: What are Values?

A: WHY — Beliefs about right/wrong. E.g., Equality → norm: treat all students equally.

Q: What is Relativity of Norms?

A: Norms change over time + across cultures. E.g., divorce, cohabitation.

Q: What is Social Stigma?

A: Disapproval/discrimination based on perceivable social characteristics.

Q: What is Identity?

A: Your idea of who you are — in relation to others.

Q: What is Ascribed Status?

A: Status assigned at birth, no effort/choice.

Q: What is Achieved Status?

A: Status gained through effort/accomplishment.

Q: What is Culture?

A: All behaviour learnt through socialisation (not biology). Made of norms, values, language.

Q: What is Subculture?

A: Culture within mainstream culture. E.g., Goths, Hippies, Mods

Q: What is High Culture?

A: Highest intellectual/aesthetic creativity. E.g., Opera, Ballet. Bourdieu: gives rich "Cultural Capital."

Q: What is Popular Culture?

A: Mass culture enjoyed by ordinary people. Often seen as superficial. E.g., pop music, Marvel, streetwear. Marcuse: keeps people passive.

Q: What is Consumer Culture?

A: Excessive consumption + debt. Status shown by buying expensive brands.

Q: What is Global Culture?

A: Cultures no longer distinct due to global communication. Global brands dominate.

Q: What is Mass Culture?

A: Large-scale production → people share more cultural ideas

Q: What is Cultural Hybridity?

A: Cross between 2+ cultures. E.g., Thai Fusion, Afro-beats.

Q: What is Xenophobia?

A: Hostility towards outsiders who don't share your culture

Q: What is Chauvinism?

A: Irrational view that your culture is better than others.

Q: Key Culture theorists?

A: Raymond Williams (1976): "Culture" is complicated. Zygmunt Bauman: Culture is artificial; we follow cultural codes