Culture•Values

•Norms

•Assignment 3 details

“From my own experience, there is no question that the speed with which you are able to achieve your goals is directly related to how clearly and how often you visualize them.” –Charles Givens (best-selling author of financial literacy books)

Have you been outside the U.S.?

As you enter, write the names of any countries you have visited or lived in on the board.

Use a tally mark if someone has already written it.

CultureTotal way of life shared by members of a community

5 Characteristics of Culture• Is learned• Is taken for granted (“the last thing a

fish would notice is water”)• Is symbolic • Is constantly changing• Effects how we perceive and

evaluate the world around us

Culture exists on 3 levels  Symbolic Behavioral Concrete

Our beliefs and values

What we do (how we behave)

Artifacts, music, food, and artistic works

Non-material culture Material culture

What culture is NOTThink of a typical “multicultural day”

• Just artifacts or material used by a people • Biological traits such as race

Values: shared beliefs about what is important

• General guidelines for behavior

• Ex: respect for elders• Ideas of what people should

give importance to

What do you we value in the United States?

Values in the U.S.

• Achievement and success• Individualism• Activity/Work• Efficiency and practicality• Science and technology• Material comfort• Love• Education• Freedom

Sociologist Robin Williams identified the following as core values in the U.S. in 1965

Do we have the same values now?

Value contradictions: two different values that can contradict each other

Example: material comfort can contradict concern for the environment

• Achievement and success• Individualism• Activity/Work• Efficiency and practicality• Science and technology• Material comfort• Love• Education• Religion

Value Contradictions. Do some of these values contradict each other? How so?

• Healthy Lifestyles• Concern for the

Environment• Freedom• Self-fulfillment• Progress• Humanitarianism• Equality• Safety

Example: Material comfort and concern for the environment

Ideal Culture vs Real Culture: one value that a society feels is important but may not really value

Example: education (free public education for K-12, but also lots of budget cuts)

Ideal Culture vs Real Culture: one value that a society feels is important but may not really value

Example: safety for children

LoveFreedomEqualityWork/productivity

Do we really value what we like to say we value?

Discuss in groups of 1-4

1. Pick one value.

2. What are 2 ways we do value this?

3. What are 2 ways we do not?

Ideal culture vs. Real culture

Healthy lifestylesEnvironmental concernReligionHumanitarianism (helping others)

4 mins

Value contradictions: two different values that can contradict each other

Ideal Culture vs Real Culture: one value that a society feels is important but may not really value

Culture shockDisorientation that occurs when entering an unfamiliar culture

Enter with suspicion or fear

Feeling confusion, tension, embarrassment, frustration

Criticize, judge, withdraw, focus on why your way is better

Alienation, isolation

Enter with openness or desire to learn

Feeling confusion, tension, embarrassment, frustration

Observe, listen, ask questions

Understanding

Culture Shock

Disorientation that occurs when entering an unfamiliar culture

Have you had experiences with culture shock?

Ethnocentrism• Using your own group’s ways of doing things as a measure

of what is normal

National Geographic-Roper Survey of Geographic LiteracyAsked Americans ages 18-24 which is the world’s most spoken language?MandarinRussianEnglishArabic

Ethnocentrism• Has positive and negative aspects

+ Positive - Negative

• Creates in group loyalties• Unites

• Judging •Discrimination• Offensive remarks/actions, particularly when traveling

Norms: shared rules of conduct• Outline what is acceptable,

appropriate• Guide behavior• Based on values

Value: respect for eldersNorm: give up your seat on the

bus if there is someone elderly standing

How do we learn norms?• reinforced by positive and negative sanctions • Sanctions: reactions people get for breaking or following

norms

Positive Sanctions Negative Sanctions

Express approval for following a norm

Reflect disapproval for breaking a norm

Ex: holding an elevator-smile or thank you

Ex: stand too closely to someone-step back or weird look

3 Types of Norms: Folkways, Mores (more-ays), Taboo

Folkways Mores Taboo

Norms that are not strictly enforced

Norms that we take seriously and are part of core values

Norms that are very strongly ingrained in us and almost unimaginable to violate

Folkways Mores Taboo

Norms that are not strictly enforced

Norms that we take seriously and are part of core values

Norms that are very strongly ingrained in us and almost unimaginable to violate

Husband and wife live in the same home

Being faithful to husband/ wife

-Open marriages-Multiple wives/husbands

3 Types of Norms: Folkways, Mores (more-ays), Taboo

Folkways Mores TabooNorms that are not strictly enforced

Bringing a gift to a birthday party

Norms that we take seriously and are part of core values (often reflect laws)

Caring for your pets

Norms that are very strongly ingrained in us and almost unimaginable to violate (often reflect laws)Exchanging your daughter’s hand in marriage for monetary compensation

3 types of normsMark didn’t bring a gift to his friend’s birthday party. Mark violated a ___________________________

Mark exchanged his daughter’s hand in marriage for money. In the United States this is _______________________________.

Mark was hitting his dog badly at the park . Mark has violated a _______

folkway

taboomos

Subcultures• Culture within larger culture• Have own values, customs etc, • Shares many values of the larger

cultureEx: Youth culture, DJ’s, surfers, doctors

Counter cultures

Holds values that stand in opposition to those of the dominant culture

Ex: Swingers, gangs, mafia

Culture of society as a whole

subculture

Counter culture

Freeganism and dumpster diving

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More details

Quick Write: 1. Do you think Freeganism is a subculture or counter culture? 2. Why?

3. What are their values? 4. What types of norms might they follow?

Subculture:• Culture within larger culture• Has some own values, customs etc, • Shares many values of the parent culture

Counter culture:• Holds values that stand in opposition to those of the dominant culture

Cultural Assignment #3

Due next class: Read Ch 2: p 33-44. A#3: Bring in a cultural artifact (any item that has meaning to you, not just ethnic culture) prepare to share what it means *Cannot be a picture*Cannot be car keys or cell phone*Must be in class for points

Race/ethnicity/nationality LanguageGenderSocio-economic statusAge

SportsReligionPolitical ideologyInterests/hobbiesExperiences

Folkways Mores TabooNorms that are not strictly enforced

Norms that we take seriously and are part of core values

Norms that are very strongly ingrained in us and almost unimaginable to violate

Mom and Dad sleep in one room, children in another

Parents provide children with a safe place to sleep

Dad and teenage daughter sleeping in the same bed

3 Types of Norms: Folkways, Mores (more-ays), Taboo

Cultural relativismExamining cultures without judging its elements as superior or

inferior to ones own way of life

Is cultural relativism a good thing?

Can it be a bad thing?