Amsco headings notes

Culture

The learned beliefs, behaviors, customs, traditions, and material objects that characterize a particular group of people.

Visible Culture

Tangible elements of culture, such as food, clothing, buildings, tools, and land use.

Invisible Culture

Beliefs, values, and practices that influence behavior, such as religious faith and social norms.

Cultural Trait

A single aspect of culture, like shaking hands as a form of greeting.

Cultural Complex

A combination of related cultural traits that define a culture, such as automobiles symbolizing independence in U.S. culture.

Culture Hearth

The place where a cultural trait originates, such as Ancient Greece for democracy.

Diffusion

The spread of cultural traits from the hearth to other areas.

Taboo

A prohibited behavior in a culture, like eating pork in Islam and Judaism.

Folk Culture

Culture practiced by small, rural, and isolated communities that resists change, exemplified by Amish communities.

Indigenous Culture

Culture practiced by native ethnic groups connected to a specific place, like Navajo and Inuit cultures.

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity on the environment, including elements like buildings and roads.

Placelessness

The loss of uniqueness in the cultural landscape, often due to homogeneous architecture.

Ethnic Enclave

Areas where people of a specific ethnicity cluster to maintain cultural identity, such as Chinatown.

Relocation Diffusion

Cultural diffusion that occurs when people migrate and bring their culture with them.

Expansion Diffusion

Cultural traits that spread outward without physical movement.

Contagious Diffusion

A rapid spread of cultural traits, such as viral TikTok trends.

Stimulus Diffusion

Modified adoption of cultural traits, like McDonald's serving veggie burgers in India.

Social Media

A major driver of cultural diffusion in the modern world.

Acculturation

The process of cultural change that occurs when individuals from one culture adopt traits of another culture.

Cultural Assimilation

The process by which a minority group gradually adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.

Multiculturalism

The coexistence of diverse cultures in a society, promoting diversity and inclusion.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of understanding different cultures on their own terms without judgment.

Globalization

The interconnectedness of cultures and economies across the world, often influencing cultural practices.

Subculture

A group within a larger culture that has distinct values, norms, and practices.

Counterculture

A cultural group whose values and norms challenge or reject those of the dominant culture.

Cultural Syncretism

The blending of two or more cultures into a new cultural system.

Language as Culture

Language plays a crucial role in shaping culture by embodying and transmitting cultural beliefs, values, and practices.

Cultural Identity

The identity of a group or culture, influenced by factors such as language, ethnicity, and shared traditions.

Cultural Diversity

The existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society.

Cultural Imperialism

The dominance of one culture over another, often through media, economy, and communication.

Tradition

A long-established custom or belief that has been passed down through generations.

Cultural Preservation

Efforts to maintain and protect the unique cultural identity of different groups.

Cultural Exchange

The reciprocal process of sharing ideas, traditions, and customs between cultures.