Cultural Anthropology - Lecture 2: Culture

four primary characteristics of culture

One learned and transmitted between generations to symbolic three adaptive four changeable

Three processes of learning culture

enculturation, acculturation, assimilation

enculturation

The process of being socialized to a particular culture

example growing up in American household means encultated to the American culture

acculturation

The process of learning a new culture due to migration or a mass shift in cultural attributes within the original culture

example migration being born somewhere else then later in your life. moving another place but almost like two cultures

assimilation

same process as acculturation but in this case, the original culture is replaced by the new one

example forced assimilation of native Americans by Europeans

symbolic

second characteristic of culture

symbols are defined as anything that stands for something meaningful meaningful to the user example engagement ring size and cost representation of different meanings

adaptive

third characteristic of culture

cultures by definition an adaptive mechanism. if a behavior belief does not confer an advantage, it is quickly eliminated for the culture

changeable

changeable is the fourth characteristic of culture

cultures flexible because it exists to ensure survival. it must be amendable to change as the environment is modified

values

cultures is based on shared values, values defined. what is considered good or bad moral or immoral, copper or improper

norms

The specific rules of behavior are known as norms

an American culture, shaking hands and eye contact is considered…

norms

primary characteristic of norms

1 unwritten, 2 conditional

unwritten norms

learn norms through education and observation

example holding the door for somebody, covering your mouth when you cough

conditional norms

The appropriate behavior may change according to conditions

no I'm sorry subdivided into three categories

folkway, more, and law

folkway

how people ought to behave

example saying thank you

norms - More

how people must behave

breaking more is known as a crime against society

0

norms - law

specific and formal behavior subject to sanctions these are known as crimes against humanity

example theft fraud

different levels of culture

mainstream culture, subculture, and counterculture

mainstream culture

cultural beliefs, values and behavior shared by the majority of the population

subculture

A group who shares beliefs, values and behaviors that may not be common in mainstream culture examples Goths emos hip hop culture bikers these groups share distinct value styles behaviors at different from mainstream culture

counter culture

A group that expresses antagonism towards the existing social and political order and proposes alternative ways of organization

example hippies KKK