APHG Unit 3 Culture Cheat Sheet

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts regarding cultural patterns, diffusion, and processes as introduced in the lecture notes.

Culture

Body of materials, customary beliefs, and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group or people.

Material Culture

The material manifestation of culture, including tools, housing, systems of land use, clothing, etc.

Nonmaterial Culture

Beliefs, traditions, celebrations, thoughts, values, and ideas of a group, such as religion, morals, and attitudes.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of judging a culture based on its own standards, not by those of another culture.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures based on the rules and standards of one's own culture.

Taboo

Something that is forbidden by a culture or a religion, often not discussed.

Cultural Landscape

Forms imposed on the physical environment by human activities, such as street lights, rice fields, etc.

Ethnic Neighborhood

A neighborhood or district that retains some cultural distinction from the larger surrounding area.

Indigenous People

Cultural groups that are the original inhabitants of a territory, distinct from the dominant national culture.

Sense of Place

A strong feeling of identity associated with a specific location.

Language

A set of mutually intelligible sounds and symbols used for communication.

Gender

Cultural differences in how men are treated differently than women.

Relocation Diffusion

A form of diffusion where ideas are transmitted by carriers as they migrate to new areas.

Expansion Diffusion

The spread of an idea through a population where the number influenced continuously grows.

Contagious Diffusion

Transmission of a phenomenon through close contact with nearby places.

Hierarchical Diffusion

An idea spreads by passing among the most connected individuals before spreading to others.

Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion

Diffusion that moves from smaller places to larger cities.

Stimulus Diffusion

A form of diffusion where a cultural adaptation is created as a result of the introduction of a cultural trait from another place.

Creole Language

A language that began as a combination of two or more languages and is spoken as a primary language.

Lingua Franca

A mutually understood language commonly used by people who have different native languages.

Colonialism

An effort by one country to establish settlement in a territory and impose its principles.

Imperialism

The policy of extending a country’s influence through political or military force.

Globalization

World interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments, driven by trade and investment.

Media

The exposure to western television and movies worldwide.

Technological Changes

The impact of innovations such as cell phones and the internet on global culture.

Politics

The spread of democratic ideals that encourage political equality.

Economics

Global trade that alters cultures by bringing outside influences.

Social Relationships

The push for equal rights for women resulting from globalization.

Language Family

A collection of languages that all descend from an original, proto-language.

Pilgrimage

A journey for religious purposes to a sacred place.

Cultural Convergence

The process where different cultures acquire common traits, becoming more similar.

Cultural Divergence

When different parts of a cultural region are exposed to varying influences and become dissimilar.

Indigenous Language

A language native to a region and spoken by indigenous people.

Language Extinction

A language that is no longer spoken by anyone as their native language.

Dialect

Different forms of the same language used by groups with some different vocabulary and pronunciations.

Nomadic Warrior Theory

Language diffusion through nomadic movement or conquest.

Sedentary Farmer Theory

Language diffusion through the relocation of farmers.

Ethnic Religion

A religion focused on a single ethnic group, not attempting to appeal to all.

Universalizing Religion

A religion that attempts to appeal to all people and has a worldwide focus.

Acculturation

The adoption of cultural traits by one group under the influence of another.

Assimilation

The process of losing distinct cultural traits in favor of the predominant culture.

Multiculturalism

The coexistence of various ethnic groups without the sacrifice of their identities.

Syncretism

The blending of traits from two different cultures to form a new cultural trait.