Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 413 views

    Society and Culture in A Changing World

    Uploaded by

    levi'c
    Culture refers to the values, beliefs, behaviors, and objects that form a society's way of life. It serves several important functions for people, such as meeting basic needs, protecting from the environment, and passing down traditions. There are two main categories of culture - material culture consisting of physical objects, and nonmaterial culture consisting of symbolic elements like language, beliefs, and behaviors. Key components of culture include symbols, gestures, language, values, norms, mores, folkways, laws, and sanctions. Symbols form the basis of culture and allow people to communicate meanings. Language is also important for communication. Values are shared standards of right and wrong, while norms are more specific rules about behavior. Mores are strong

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Society and Culture in A Changing World

    Uploaded by

    levi'c
    413 views2 pages
    Culture refers to the values, beliefs, behaviors, and objects that form a society's way of life. It serves several important functions for people, such as meeting basic needs, protecting from the environment, and passing down traditions. There are two main categories of culture - material culture consisting of physical objects, and nonmaterial culture consisting of symbolic elements like language, beliefs, and behaviors. Key components of culture include symbols, gestures, language, values, norms, mores, folkways, laws, and sanctions. Symbols form the basis of culture and allow people to communicate meanings. Language is also important for communication. Values are shared standards of right and wrong, while norms are more specific rules about behavior. Mores are strong

    Original Description:

    Society and Culture in a Changing World

    Original Title

    Society and Culture in a Changing World

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Culture refers to the values, beliefs, behaviors, and objects that form a society's way of life. It serves several important functions for people, such as meeting basic needs, protecting from the environment, and passing down traditions. There are two main categories of culture - material culture consisting of physical objects, and nonmaterial culture consisting of symbolic elements like language, beliefs, and behaviors. Key components of culture include symbols, gestures, language, values, norms, mores, folkways, laws, and sanctions. Symbols form the basis of culture and allow people to communicate meanings. Language is also important for communication. Values are shared standards of right and wrong, while norms are more specific rules about behavior. Mores are strong

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    413 views2 pages

    Society and Culture in A Changing World

    Uploaded by

    levi'c
    Culture refers to the values, beliefs, behaviors, and objects that form a society's way of life. It serves several important functions for people, such as meeting basic needs, protecting from the environment, and passing down traditions. There are two main categories of culture - material culture consisting of physical objects, and nonmaterial culture consisting of symbolic elements like language, beliefs, and behaviors. Key components of culture include symbols, gestures, language, values, norms, mores, folkways, laws, and sanctions. Symbols form the basis of culture and allow people to communicate meanings. Language is also important for communication. Values are shared standards of right and wrong, while norms are more specific rules about behavior. Mores are strong

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    You are on page 1of 2

    SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN A CHANGING WORLD

    Culture
    Refers to the values, beliefs, behavior and material objects that together form
    a peoples way of life.
    Conklin (1987), culture serves several functions:
    Offer ways to meet general biological needs or drives such as
    hunger and sex.
    Protects people from the weather.
    People dont have to figure out how to meet basic needs,
    accomplish tasks, or interpret the world for they can rely on
    tradition of their ancestors.
    Two general categories:
    Material Culture
    physical creations that members of the society make,
    use, and share (Kendall, 2003). Examples are vintas, stone
    clubs, jet airplanes, bridges, artworks, and skyscrapers.
    Nonmaterial Culture
    the abstract or intangible human creations of society
    that influences peoples behavior, things that have no physical
    existence such as language, beliefs, ideas, knowledge, and
    behaviors.
    - Sociologists sometimes refer as symbolic culture
    because a central component is the symbol that people use.
    Components of Culture
    Symbol are the basis of culture which people attach meaning and then use to
    communicate.
    Gestures using ones body to communicate with others without using words.
    Its meaning may change from one culture to another.
    Language the storehouse of culture It is the primary way in which people
    communicate. Its a system of symbols that can be put together in an infinite
    number of ways for the purpose of communicating abstract thought.
    Values are broad, abstract, shared standards of what are right, desirable, and
    worthy of respect. Values are the standards by which people define good and
    bad, beautiful and ugly.
    Norms are more specific rules and expectations about how a particular
    person should behave, think, or feel. Formal norms specify strict rules for
    punishment of violations and are often formalized into laws. Informal norms
    are generally understood but not precisely recorded such as standards of
    proper dressing.
    Mores (mor-ays) are strong norms regarded as morally significant and
    violations of them are considered serious matter for they embody the most
    cherished principles of people. Some violations are made by a taboo, a
    powerful social belief that some specific act is utterly loathsome. Example: A

    man who walks down the street wearing nothing on the lower half of his body.
    This violates one of the most important mores, the requirement that people
    cover their genitals and buttocks in public.
    Folkways are ordinary usages and conventions of a particular community or
    group of people. Example: A man who walks down the street wearing nothing
    on the upper half of his body.
    Laws are rules that have been formally enacted by a political authority and is
    backed by the power of the state.
    Sanctions refer to the rewards for appropriate behavior or penalties for
    inappropriate behavior. Its either positive or negative. Positive sanctions are
    expressions of approval. They can be material such as money, reward, a
    prize, or a trophy. In everyday life, they usually consist of hugs, smiles, a pat
    on the back, soothing words, or even handshakes. Negative sanctions are
    expressions of disapproval. Example: payment of a fine, gestures such as;
    frowns, stares, harsh words, or raised fists.
    Development of Culture Around the World
    Cultural Universals are customs and practices that occur in all cultures. Most
    are adaptations to meet essential human needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing.
    It also includes cooking, gift giving, funeral ceremonies, medicine, marriage and
    sexual restrictions.

    You might also like