Culture, Norms, and Symbolic Communication – Vocabulary Flashcards

Culture, Norms, and Symbolic Culture – Study Notes

Culture and Norms: An Overview

• Culture is the shared patterns of thinking, behaving, and valuing that define a group; it shapes our actions and expectations without our explicit awareness.
• The course frames culture through micro and macro environments:
  • Micro influences: immediate social interactions, family, peers, school, neighborhood
  • Macro influences: broad societal structures, institutions, media, economy, politics
  • There is a reciprocal relationship: micro influences macro, and macro influences micro.
• Everyday life reflects culture in both obvious and subtle ways, from dress and manners to language and humor.
• The instructor emphasizes that culture is often invisible to us, like looking through a pane of glass and occasionally catching our own reflection, which prompts reflection on assumptions.
• You are at the intersection of your biology, personal history, and the culture you grew up in; culture helps shape your thinking and actions.

Norms, Mores, and Folkways (Scale of Social Norms)

• Norms are guides to behavior and attitude within a culture.
• They exist on a scale from relatively mild to very strict:
  • Folkways: everyday conventions and polite behavior; violations are usually mild (social awkwardness, jokes, minor judgments).
  • Mores: stronger norms tied to core values; violations elicit stronger sanctions (ostracism, dating restrictions, cutting ties).
• Examples from the transcript:
  • Walking on the right side of the sidewalk in the United States is a normative expectation (norm/folkway).
  • Walking against the flow of pedestrian traffic is a mores-level violation, prompting stronger social reactions (disapproval, avoidance, or gossip).
  • Violations like shattering into a sidewalk crowd or other severe breaches can lead to more intense social exclusion.
• The transcript uses vivid, humorous comparisons to illustrate how people categorize behavior by severity (e.g., “that’s cute” vs. “that’s completely unacceptable”).
• Real-time examples discussed:
  • People wearing masks or not wearing masks and how that behavior is viewed differently across contexts and times.
  • Opening doors for others, standing to greet someone, or other dating/etiquette norms that might unsettled people if done differently.
  • Dress codes for travel in the past vs. today: people used to dress up; now comfort is prioritized.
• An exercise prompt in class asks students to describe a norm that used to be a serious norm but has softened over time, and to discuss how the loosened norm was “decided” to be less serious. This invites critical thinking about social change and calibration of norms over time.
• The concept of “norms that change” is used to illustrate how culture is dynamic and influenced by experience, environment, and social experimentation (e.g., dating norms, technology-mediated interaction).

Culture is Learned: How We Grow into Culture

• Culture is primarily learned, especially in childhood, which makes language acquisition and cultural assimilation easier when young.
• Language and religion are cited as examples of cultural components learned early; people often retain cultural practices through life due to early exposure.
• The student discussion notes that children absorb much information quickly; adults may find it harder to assimilate new cultural norms.
• The discussion contrasts childhood learning with adult acculturation, highlighting ongoing challenges for people moving between cultures.
• Macro-level elements (religion, politics, education) are connected to culture, and we will address these topics later in the semester.
• The interplay between local customs and cross-cultural differences is emphasized: culture both shapes and is shaped by daily life and broader social structures.
• A key metaphor: culture is like a pane of glass through which we examine ourselves; occasionally, reflection reveals our taken-for-granted practices.
• Examples of how culture manifests in everyday routines:
  • Suburban culture and family schedules (e.g., how theater commitments shape weekday routines for multiple children).
  • Work and school routines influence who does what in a family, reinforcing learned cultural patterns.
  • How social spaces (grocery stores, airports) reflect dominant cultural expectations (e.g., dress, timing, behavior).

Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism

• Ethnocentrism: evaluating other cultures using one’s own cultural standards; this can lead to value judgments like “weird” or “gross.”
• Cultural relativism (scientific/neutral approach): understanding a culture on its own terms without imposing external judgments; aims for objectivity.
• The transcript warns that ethnocentrism can lead to colonialism or imperialism by assuming one’s own culture is the standard for all.
• Practical takeaway: to study culture rigorously, we should describe other cultures in their own terms and acknowledge our own biases as observers.
• Exercise prompts prompt students to discuss problems that arise from ethnocentrism and to consider examples beyond what is presented.

Symbolic Culture: Signs, Symbols, Gestures, and Language

• Symbolic culture includes everything that stands for ideas and communicates meaning: symbols, signs, gestures, language, customs, rituals.
• Distinctions:
  • Signs: indicators that carry a direct, commonly understood meaning (e.g., a thumbs-up sign generally means “okay” or “approval,” though meanings can vary by culture).
  • Symbols: culturally specific items with agreed-upon meanings (e.g., flags, logos, brand emblems).
  • Gestures: body movements with culturally understood meanings (e.g., hand signals; thumbing signals are not universal).
  • Language: a primary form of symbolic culture; it structures thinking and shapes perception; it is both verbal and nonverbal (tone, rhythm, signs).
• Language and thought are interdependent: language not only expresses thought but also frames how we think about the world.
• The “language shapes thought” idea is explained as a cycle: language structures thought, and our worldview is embedded in language; to understand the world, we need the words to describe it.
• Color perception example: different language communities classify color differently, leading to variations in how many distinct color categories are recognized; the idea is that lack of a word for a shade can influence perception and attention to color.
• Examples used:
  • Mean Girls cafeteria map and the way language clusters people into groups; vocabulary around social groups shapes perception.
  • The “superior word hypothesis” illustrating how the words we use influence how we see objects (e.g., whether something is described as “rose” or “weed” changes perception of value and meaning).
• The transcript includes other symbolic ideas: trash vs. treasure framing from The Little Mermaid soundtrack, illustrating how language frames value and worth.
• Symbolic culture enables communication through signs, symbols, and gestures across cultures, but meanings are not universal; they vary by culture and context.

Values, Norms, and Laws: The Structure of Social Rules

• Values: shared beliefs about what is good, right, or desirable (e.g., civic ideals like “We the People,” constitutional rights, or other cultural ideals).
• Norms: formal and informal rules that guide behavior within a culture; norms reflect and reinforce values.
• Laws: codified norms; formalized rules enforced by authorities.
• The relationship between these concepts:
  • Values give rise to norms, which can be informal (social expectations) or formal (laws).
  • Laws codify norms into enforceable social rules; not all norms become laws, and some laws seem frivolous or overly strict.
• The transcript points out that laws can be silly or outdated (e.g., a humorous example about a car let-into-lane norms or a “Silly String” law with specific time restrictions) to illustrate how formal rules can lag behind social reality or be arbitrarily crafted.
• Informal norms and social sanctions:
  • Social consequences (e.g., gossip, social exclusion, etc.) can be as powerful as formal laws in enforcing norms.
  • “Tailgating and yelling you’re number one” or other informal pressures illustrate how communities police behavior without legal intervention.
• Examples from daily life:
  • Dress codes in public and professional settings reflect cultural norms about modesty, professionalism, and appropriateness.
  • The conversation about opening car doors or standing when someone is seated shows how simple acts signal respect and social order.
  • The discussion on how people behave in public spaces (e.g., airline attire in the past vs. today) demonstrates shifting norms around comfort, appearance, and formality.
• The class acknowledges that norms are context-specific; what is considered acceptable varies by culture and time period. Ethnocentrism can hinder cross-cultural understanding if we assume all norms are universal.
• The role of education and media in shaping norms and values is implied, with cross-cultural variability highlighted (e.g., cross-country differences in dress, greetings, or public behavior).

Real-World Examples and Class Discussion Prompts

• Dominant culture and everyday life:
  • Shopping at the supermarket on a Sunday and the subtle ways norms shape behavior (e.g., timing, alcohol consumption norms at certain hours).
  • The idea that people might misinterpret or reinterpret actions (e.g., alcohol consumption at 9:30 AM) within the dominant culture’s frame.
• Marketing and culture:
  • Black Rifle Coffee Company as an example of marketing being tied to a particular cultural identity (coffee as a vehicle for culture and political identity). The question arises: does coffee literally taste different when advertised as “served to people who love America”? What does this say about branding and culture?
• Language and perception examples:
  • Color naming and the impact on perception; the “scarlet” vs. generic red distinction is used to illustrate how language constrains perception.
  • The Mean Girls example demonstrates how language categorizes social groups and informs social behavior.
• Everyday etiquette and dating:
  • Modern dating practices and online introductions versus traditional approaches; the transcript notes how cultural contexts shape trust, safety concerns, and social risk.
• Ethnocentrism in real-world scenarios:
  • The exercise asks students to discuss problems arising from ethnocentrism and to explore examples beyond the ones presented, highlighting the relevance for cross-cultural understanding in politics, education, and religion.
• The value of objectivity in cultural study:
  • The class emphasizes moving from personal biases to cultural relativism to better understand diverse practices and beliefs without immediate judgment.

Metaphors, Analogies, and Thought-Experiments Used

• Culture as a pane of glass: we can see our culture clearly when we reflect on it; reflection reveals assumptions we take for granted.
• The cycle of language and thought: language shapes how we think about the world, while the world we describe with language in turn shapes our future language and perception.
• The color perception analogy: different linguistic categories lead to different color classifications; there isn't a single universal color name across all languages.
• The symbolic culture map: signs, symbols, gestures, and language enable communication but carry culture-specific meanings; misinterpretations can occur across contexts.

Cross-Cutting Implications and Takeaways

• Ethnocentrism can lead to biased judgments and historical consequences like colonialism; cultural relativism offers a more objective lens for analysis.
• Culture is dynamic; norms and even some morality shift over time due to technology, social experimentation, and evolving values.
• Language and symbols are powerful shapers of thought and behavior; understanding them helps reveal how people perceive reality.
• When studying culture, treat norms as context-dependent rather than universal; recognize the diversity of practices across cultures and time.
• Everyday life provides rich data for understanding culture: etiquette, dress, humor, media consumption, and consumer branding reveal underlying values and social norms.

Key Terms and Concepts to Remember

• Culture
• Micro vs. Macro environment
• Norms: folkways vs. mores
• Ethnocentrism
• Cultural relativism
• Symbolic culture: signs, symbols, gestures, language
• Language and thought
• Values vs. norms vs. laws
• Dominant culture
• Objectivity in cultural analysis
• Silliness and humor in laws: informal vs. formal sanctions

Quick Self-Check Prompts

• Describe a norm that used to be serious but has softened. How would you determine if it’s still a norm or if it’s a mores shift?
• Give an example of an action that could be interpreted differently in another culture due to language or gesture. What is the potential for miscommunication?
• Explain how ethnocentrism could contribute to conflict or misunderstanding in cross-cultural settings. How does cultural relativism mitigate this?
• Identify an example from daily life where language appears to shape thought (e.g., color naming, categorization of people or objects).

Connections to Broader Themes

• Politics, education, religion, and globalization will be discussed later in the semester, building on the ideas of cultural learning, ethnocentrism, and symbolic culture.
• The material ties into foundational sociological concepts about how culture shapes identity, social interaction, social order, and change over time.