SOCIOL 1Z03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Cultural Relativism, Culture Shock, Language Death

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCIOL 1Z03
• Professor: Dr. Lina Samuel

Document Summary

French civilization:- focused on the struggles of tradition and superstitions. It is learned -> no one is born with culture. Rather, as we grow up we are constantly immersed in the cultural traditions of our parents, siblings, and peers. It is shared -> culture develops as people interact and share experiences and meanings with each other. It is transmitted -> cultural beliefs and traditions must be passed from generation to generation if they are to survive. It is cumulative -> as members of each generation refine and modify their cultural beliefs to meet their changing needs, they build on the cultural foundation of their ancestors. Folkways:- informal norms that suggest the customary ways of behaving. Laws:- norms that are formally defined and enacted in legislation. Sanction:- a penalty for norm violation (page 121-122) Ethnocentrism:- the tendency to view one"s own culture as superior to others.