Introduction to Culture

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the introduction to culture, including definitions of terms and essential concepts.

Culture

The core elements that define a society, including daily practices, tools, beliefs, and behaviors shared across its members.

Traditions

Long-established customs or practices passed down through generations, reflecting the shared history and identity of a group.

Customs

Day-to-day behaviors or habits that define social life, such as greetings, eating habits, and social interactions.

Beliefs

Shared views and ideas, including religious or spiritual beliefs, myths, and legends that shape how people understand their world.

Values

Fundamental principles or standards that guide actions, such as respect, honesty, community, and loyalty.

Practices

Regular activities or rituals, including religious ceremonies, festivals, holidays, and rites of passage.

Language

Spoken and written forms of communication unique to the group, including specific dialects, expressions, slang, and non-verbal cues.

Cultural traits

Specific elements that characterize a society's way of life, including food preferences, architectural styles, and patterns of land use.

Cultural relativism

The perspective that a person's beliefs and activities should be understood based on that person's own culture.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, often resulting in the evaluation of other cultures from one's own cultural viewpoint.