Culture, Norms, and Symbolic Communication – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering culture, norms, ethnocentrism, symbolic culture, and related concepts from the lecture notes.

Culture

The shared beliefs, practices, values, norms, languages, and symbols that characterize a group and shape behavior.

Norms

Social rules that guide behavior and attitudes; formal or informal, reflecting a society's values.

Folkways

Everyday norms with mild social consequences if violated.

Mores

Strong, morally significant norms whose violation typically results in strong social sanctions.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture, often leading to biased value judgments.

Cultural relativism

Evaluating a culture by its own standards and context rather than by one’s own.

Dominant culture

The prevailing culture that shapes the norms, values, and practices of the majority.

Subculture

A cultural subgroup within a larger society with distinct norms and values.

Symbolic culture

The nonmaterial aspects of culture, including ideas, beliefs, values, and the signs and symbols used to communicate.

Signs

Elements of symbolic culture that convey direct meaning or information.

Symbols

Representations with culturally learned meanings that carry abstract significance.

Gestures

Body movements with culturally understood meanings used in communication.

Language (symbolic culture)

A system of vocal, written, or gestural symbols used to communicate; shapes thought and is central to culture.

Linguistic relativity (Sapir-Whorf hypothesis)

The idea that language influences how people perceive and think about the world.

Enculturation

The process of learning one’s own culture, typically starting in childhood.

Micro vs. macro culture

Micro: small-scale socialization; macro: large-scale social structures and institutions shaped by culture.

Context-specific norms

Norms that vary by culture, time, and place.

Law

A formalized norm codified and enforced by the state.

Informal norms

Unwritten rules maintained by social expectation rather than by law.

Cultural change and variation

Norms and practices change over time and vary across cultures; ethnocentrism can hinder understanding.