Sociology Unit 3

Material culture

The physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.

Non-material culture

The nonphysical ideas that people have about their culture, including beliefs, values, rules, norms, morals, language, organizations, and institutions.

Symbols

Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture.

Norms

Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members.

Values

Culturally defined standards of desirability, goodness, and beauty that serves as broad guidelines for living.

Artifacts

Material object that constitute a society’s material culture.

Language

A system of symbols that allows members of a society to communicate with one another.

Folkways

a society’s customs for routine, casual interactions.

Mores

a society’s standards of proper moral conduct.

Law

Law that is formally inscribed at the state or federal level. Mores can become laws

Taboo

Strong negative norm. Violating it results in extreme disgust

Social control

means by which members of a society encourage conformity to norms.

Sanctions

reactions that are used to encourage or discourage someone else’s behaviors in accordance with social norms and values.