SOC101 Chapter Notes -Relativism, Linguistic Determinism, Symbolic Interactionism
30 Jan 2013
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Culture: a complex collection of values, beliefs behaviours and material objects shared by a group and passed on from one generation to the next. Why cannot determine the start" of culture: little material evidence, much of culture is non-material, development interconnected with culture. Social life: hominid ancestors far back as 4. 4 million years ago. Parental care: larger brains, evolution of earlier birth (before more time in womb) Pair bonding: male/female 2. 4 to 1. 9 million years ago. Culture is learned: language, attitudes, values, world views learned. Culture is shared: as people interact they share. Culture is transmitted: passed from generation to generation. Culture is cumulative: as members refine beliefs the build on cultural foundations. Culture is human: animals are social but not cultural. Material culture: tangible artifacts and physical objects found in a given culture. Non-material culture: intangible abstract components of a society including values and norms. Values: beliefs about ideal goals and behaviours that serve as standards for social life.
