SOCA01H3 Study Guide - Promiscuity, Symbolic Culture, The Postmodern Condition
Document Summary
Is defined by sociologists as the sum of practices, languages, symbols, beliefs, values, ideologies, and material objects that people create to deal with real-life problems: it enables people to adapt and thrive in their environments. High culture: is cultured consumed mostly by the upper class, distinguishes it from popular/mass culture. Mass/popular culture: is culture consumed by all classes. Shared culture is socially transmitted: society is composed of people who share culture. E. g. families members cooperate to to raise children, and in the process, they develop and apply norms and value about which child rearing practices are appropriate and desirable. In medicine, theoretical ideas about the way our bodies work are evaluated using norms about how to test theories experimentally. Religious folklore and customs can give rise to material culture that includes churches, their associated art and architecture, and so forth. People are rewarded/punished when they follow cultural guidelines/not. Sanctions: rewards (positive sanctions) and punishments (negative sanctions) aimed at ensuring conformity.
