The Significance of Studying Culture, Society, and Politics – Key Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts from the lecture on culture, society, and politics.

Culture

A complex whole—including knowledge, beliefs, art, law, morals, customs, and habits—acquired by people as members of society.

Edward Tylor’s Definition of Culture (1871)

Viewed culture as a complex whole of capabilities and habits learned by humans as part of society.

Material Culture

The physical, tangible objects created and used by members of a society (e.g., tools, clothing, buildings).

Non-Material Culture

The intangible ideas, values, beliefs, and norms that shape a society’s behavior and thinking.

Cultural Transmission

The passing of culture from one generation to the next, primarily through language.

Values

Culturally defined standards of what is good, desirable, and beautiful that guide social living.

Norms

Rules and expectations that guide behaviors within a society.

Formal Norms

Explicit, written standards of behavior backed by official sanctions (e.g., laws, policies).

Informal Norms

Unwritten standards of behavior learned through socialization; include folkways and mores.

Folkways

Everyday customs with mild social pressure for conformity; coined by William Graham Sumner in 1906.

Mores

Strongly held moral norms that carry serious social or religious significance.

Laws

Codified norms enacted to protect society from harmful behaviors and outdated mores.

Taboos

Behaviors deemed absolutely forbidden and heavily sanctioned (e.g., incest, cannibalism).

Sanctions

Reactions that encourage conformity to norms—positive (rewards) or negative (punishments).

Symbols

Objects, gestures, or images that carry particular meanings recognized by people who share a culture.

Language

The most important system of symbols; enables communication and the transmission of culture.

Beliefs

Specific ideas or statements that people accept as true (e.g., superstitions).

Society

A group of people living in a definable community who share the same culture and institutions.

Human Interconnectedness

The social bonds and relationships that form the basis of society.

Politics

The activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live; the art or science of government.

Conflict Resolution (Political Core)

Process of reconciling rival views or competing interests within a political system.

Citizenship Education

Political science aim of preparing individuals to understand duties, rights, and participate in governance (Lazo, 2009).

Creativity & Resourcefulness (Cultural Function)

Culture enables humans to adapt and innovate to survive in diverse environments.

Protocols & Good Manners

Culture-defined outlines of acceptable social behavior established by folkways, mores, and laws.

Communication (Verbal & Non-Verbal)

Culture conveys meaning through spoken language, gestures, and other symbolic forms.

Technological Advancements

Tangible products of culture such as tools, equipment, and infrastructure.

Political Structure

Distinctive arrangement of institutions and processes through which authority is exercised in a society.

“Who Gets What, When, and How”

Phrase summarizing politics as the allocation of resources and power within society.

Economic Interdependence

Mutual reliance of members or regions within a society for goods, services, and resources.

Cultural Identity

The shared sense of belonging and distinctiveness among members of a community.