unit 1

Study Guide: The Fabric of Self and Society (with Examples)

I. Culture: Shared Foundations of Society

Definition:

Culture = shared beliefs, values, practices, and objects of a society.
Example: Japanese tea ceremony reflects both material (teapots) and nonmaterial culture (rituals, etiquette).

Types of Culture:

Material Culture: Tangible objects.
Example: Smartphones, buildings, clothing styles.
Nonmaterial Culture: Ideas, beliefs, norms, values.
Example: Belief in equality, importance of education, table manners.

Key Elements of Nonmaterial Culture:

Values: Standards of good/bad or beautiful/ugly.
Example: Environmental conservation is valued in Scandinavian countries.
Beliefs: Convictions held true.
Example: Belief in karma in Hindu culture.
Norms: Rules guiding behavior.
- Formal Norms: Written rules/laws.
  Example: Speed limits, employee handbook rules.
- Informal Norms: Unwritten rules.
  Example: Waiting in line, shaking hands.
- Mores: Moral norms with serious consequences.
  Example: Murder is prohibited in all societies.
- Folkways: Everyday norms, minor consequences.
  Example: Covering mouth when sneezing.
Symbols: Gestures, objects, or words conveying meaning.
Example: Red heart = love, peace sign = peace.
Language: System of symbols transmitting culture.
Example: Spanish speakers use “hola” to greet, shaping social interaction.

Cultural Perspectives:

Cultural Universals: Family, language, music, rituals.
Example: Weddings in all cultures, though rituals differ.
Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by your norms.
Example: Thinking eating insects is “gross” because your culture avoids it.
Cultural Relativism: Assessing a culture on its own terms.
Example: Understanding insect-eating as protein source in some societies.
Xenocentrism: Believing another culture is superior.
Example: Preferring French fashion over your local styles.
Culture Shock: Stress from unfamiliar norms.
Example: Moving from the U.S. to Japan and struggling with bowing etiquette.

Cultural Variation:

Cultural Change:

Innovation:
- Discovery: Antibiotics existed in nature but were unknown.
- Invention: Smartphone = new device using existing tech.
Diffusion: Yoga spreading from India to the U.S.
Globalization: McDonald’s in multiple countries adapting menus.

II. Socialization: Shaping Individuals and Society

Definition:

Importance:

For Individuals: Develops self.
Example: Children learn to share toys and follow rules at school.
For Society: Cultural continuity.
Example: Schools teach citizenship and respect for law.

The Developing Self:

Cooley’s Looking-Glass Self: Self shaped by others’ perceptions.
Example: Feeling proud if classmates compliment your project.
Mead’s Stages of Self:
1. Preparatory Stage: Imitation of parents.
  Example: Child mimicking brushing teeth.
2. Play Stage: Taking another role.
  Example: Playing “doctor” with friends.
3. Game Stage: Understanding multiple roles.
  Example: Playing soccer while considering teammates’ positions.
4. Generalized Other: Awareness of society’s expectations.
  Example: Dressing professionally for a job interview.

Moral Development:

Kohlberg: Preconventional → Conventional → Postconventional.
Example: Obeying rules to avoid punishment → helping friends → acting on ethical principles.
Gilligan: Boys (justice) vs. girls (care).
Example: Boys focus on rules in a classroom debate; girls emphasize fairness and empathy.

Agents of Socialization:

Family: Teaches basic behaviors.
Example: Using utensils, saying “please/thank you.”
Peers: Identity formation.
Example: Teens adopting slang or fashion from friends.
School: Manifest + latent functions.
Example: Learning math + teamwork skills.
Workplace: Learning professional behavior.
Example: Using email etiquette.
Religion: Moral guidance.
Example: Charity as a religious duty.
Government: Socializing into age norms.
Example: Voting at 18.
Mass Media: Shaping norms and values.
Example: Disney movies promoting “princess culture.”

Socialization Across Lifespan:

Anticipatory Socialization: Practicing future roles.
Example: Reading parenting books before having a baby.
Resocialization: Learning new roles in total institutions.
Example: Basic training in the military.

III. Sociological Theories: Understanding Society

1. Functionalism (Durkheim)

Society = system of interrelated parts.
Example: Schools teach knowledge + socialize students; police maintain order.
Mechanical Solidarity: Preindustrial; shared norms.
Example: Small farming villages.
Organic Solidarity: Industrial; specialized roles.
Example: Modern cities with diverse jobs.

2. Conflict Theory (Marx)

Society = unequal, power struggles.
Example: Workers demanding higher wages vs. owners maximizing profit.
Alienation: Feeling disconnected.
Example: Factory worker performing repetitive tasks without pride.
False Consciousness: Adopting dominant ideology.
Example: Believing low wages are “normal” for your class.

3. Symbolic Interactionism (Weber, Mead, Goffman, Cooley)

Society = built through interaction.
Example: Shaking hands conveys respect.
Dramaturgy (Goffman): Life as theater.
Example: Dressing differently for job interview vs. party.
Roles & Status:
Example: Teacher (status) teaches + disciplines (role).
Role Conflict:
Example: Parent and employee obligations clash.

IV. Societal Development and Technology

Lenski’s Classification:

Preindustrial: Small, rural.
- Hunter-Gatherer: Indigenous Australian tribes.
- Pastoral: Maasai herding.
- Horticultural: Early Middle East settlements.
- Agricultural: Ancient Egypt.
- Feudal: Medieval Europe.
Industrial: Mechanized labor; urbanization.
Example: 19th-century England.
Postindustrial (Information): Knowledge-based.
Example: Silicon Valley tech companies.