SOC101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Ann Swidler, Benjamin Lee Whorf, Edward Sapir
Don't automatically know how to behave --> Must learn about culture through
interaction, observation, and imitation in order to participate as members of the group
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Rules about civility and tolerance towards others
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Sociological imagination
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Biological and genetic makeup
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Nature
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Social and genetic makeup
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Nurture
▪
Unlearned, biologically determined behaviour pattern
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Behaviour is instinctive
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Unlearned, biologically determined involuntary response to a physical stimulus
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Ex: sneezing
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Reflex
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Unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a specifies
that satisfied needs
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Ex: sleep, food
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Drive
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Behaviour v. reflex --> sneezing into a tissue (learned)
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Culture is a "tool kit of symbols, stories, rituals, and world views"
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Tools we choose to use depend on our culture and personality
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Ann Swidler
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Physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use and share
Ex: Trees into books
knowledge, techniques, and tools that make it possible to transform
resources into usable forms as well as knowledge required to do this
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Both concrete and abstract
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Technology:
Is a buffer against our environment --> clothing we use to say something about
ourselves
Material
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Abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people's
behaviour
Ex: language, beliefs, values, political systems
Mental acceptance that certain things are true / real
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May be based on tradition, faith, experience etc.
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Ex: smoking causes cancer
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Beliefs
Nonmaterial
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Material and Nonmaterial Culture
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Customs and practices that occur across all societies
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Ex: activities (sports), social institutions (family), appearance (hairstyle),
customary practices (cooking).
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All of society must meet human needs (food)
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Cultural universals may have been imposed by one group on another
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Similar practices do not necessarily mean it is a cultural universal --> may
be an indication that one imperialistic nation conquered others and imposed
itself
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Cultural universals
George Murdock
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Cultural Universals
▪
Culture and Society in a Changing World
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Something that meaningfully represents something else
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Communicates ideas: love, patriotism
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Expresses abstract concepts with visible items
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Interpretation of symbols varies in different cultures and contexts
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Ex: flag stands for patriotism, nationalism, school spirit, religious beliefs etc.
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Symbols
▪
Components of Culture
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Vol 1 Culture 65-98
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Lecture 1.4: Reading - Culture
October 2, 2016
1:12 PM
READINGS Page 97
Ex: flag stands for patriotism, nationalism, school spirit, religious beliefs etc.
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Similar to type of meaning words can bring
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Affect meaning of class: car someone drives, clothing
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System of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate
with one another
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Used to share experiences, feelings and knowledge with others
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Also used by animals in a different form
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Does language create or communicate reality?
Language not only expresses our thoughts and perceptions but also
influences our perception of reality
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Language shapes speakers' view of reality
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Language precedes thoughts
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Some parts of the world are ignored because they cannot be communicated
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Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf
Other sociologists believe that language may influence our behaviour and
interpretation of social reality, but does not
determine
it.
Language and social reality
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English language is not inclusive of both genders
Titles such as chairman, etc. using male version
Difference in names or titles: women tend to be inferior (ex: doll, broad)
Pronouns place expectations of what gender may be in what role
Language and Gender
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Superiority of one category of people over another
Negative terms such as 'blackhearted' place bad connotation on black people
Derogatory racial / ethnic terms 'nigger'
Reinforcements about groups (ex: Aboriginals 'savage')
Language, race, and Ethnicity
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Inability to speak French and English
Loss of Aboriginal languages
Shared language is essential to common culture; language is a stabilizing force in
society and an important means of cultural transmission --> children learn about
heritage
Language is reflection of feelings and values
Language Diversity in Canada
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Language
▪
A collective idea about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or
undesirable
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Do not dictate behaviour
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Criteria for evaluating decisions
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Ex: brave or cowardly
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Ex: morality conflicts with individual achievement and success
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Values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive
Value Contradictions
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Values and standards of behaviour that people in a society profess to hold
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Ideal
Values and standards of behaviour people actually follow
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Real
Ex: drive over speed limit, but think as "good citizens"
Ideal Versus Real Culture
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Values
▪
Established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct
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What behaviour is appropriate or acceptable
Ex: paying taxes
Prescriptive norms
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What behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable
Ex: Driving over speed limit
Proscriptive norms
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Written down and involve specific punishments for violators
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Ex: laws
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Sanctions are rewards/punishment for in/appropriate behaviour
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Formal
Unwritten standards of behaviour that are understood
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Informal
Formal and Informal Norms
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Norms
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