Culture

These flashcards highlight key terms and definitions related to the concept of culture based on the provided lecture notes.

What is culture?

Culture is the combination of material and non-material items that form a meaningful way of life.

Material Culture

All the physical objects that people create and use.

Nonmaterial Culture

All the symbols, ideas, and behaviors that are commonly understood in a society.

Values

Broad standards used to decide what is good and bad.

Beliefs

Specific ideas people hold about the world.

Symbols

Objects, gestures, or words that convey meaning in a culture.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

The principle that language influences thought and perception.

Hygge

A Danish term for finding warmth, coziness, and contentment in simple things.

Taboos

Norms that are considered unacceptable and are never openly discussed.

Folkways

Informal rules or customs that govern everyday behavior.

Mores

Officially stated rules or norms that are critical to the functioning of a group.

Cultural Norms

Standards of behavior that are accepted within a culture.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture is superior to all others.

Real vs. Ideal Culture

Ideal culture represents what a society aspires to be while real culture reflects actual behavior.