2nd lect culture

7/29/2019 2nd Lect Culture

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The term culture refers to the totality of way of life of

people


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Promotes uniformity in Behavior: Both consciouslyor unconsciously same patterns of learned behaviorare seen among all the members of the society

Patterns the Behavior: Ones behavior is nothaphazardly arranged but is interrelated andinterconnected. Like behavior of children depends ontheir parents, wifes depends on husband

Culture is Transmitted: Generation to generationfrom forefathers. Transmission continues with slightmodifications as progress counts for a past history


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Culture is not Static: It keeps on changingwith the passage of time through newinnovations , inventions and new ideas.(Comparative studies strengthen thisphenomenon)

People try to get accustomed of newinnovations to survive within the society. Forexample use of computers, electronic mailsystems etc.


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Material Culture: Refers to the physical objects,including homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools,churches, temples, mosques, offices, factories

and plants, tools, means of production, goodsand products, stores, and so forth. Technology isa vital example of material culture.

Non material Culture: Refers to the nonphysicalideas including beliefs, values, rules, norms,morals, language etc. ( Religion set of ideasabout God)


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Cultural object: Refers to any aspect of the culturewhich a person perceives external to himself and not apart of his personality( a custom, an idea , values )

Cultural theme: Refers to the major pattern of valuesthat become the basis of belief system and standardsof human behavior

Cultural Determinism: Refers to the fact that humanpersonality and behavior are determined by culturalfactors. They keep on existing after the life of theindividual.


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Cultural Pluralism: Refers to cultural heterogeneity inwhich ethnic and other minority groups maintain theircultural identity within a society. They live in harmony

without getting into conflict with the majority cultureof the society.

Cultural Monism: It is the opposite of culturalpluralism and it advocates the assimilation of ethnicminorities into the dominant culture of the society topromote integration and eliminate possibility ofinternal conflict between ethnic groups.


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VARIABILITY IN MARRIAGE INSTITUTION: Monogamy: One legal mate at a time. Remarriage

can be done after death or divorce. Trend found in

Christians , Hindus Polygamy: Male allowed to have multiple wives at a

time. Trend found in Muslims Polyandry: A woman with multiple husbands. Group Marriages: A group of men married to a group

of women. Rare in occurrence.

But patterns of choosing mate may differ across theworld like arrange marriage system in Pakistan


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VARIABILITY IN THE FAMILY INSTITUTION : Patriarchal Structure: Male is the head of the family

the decision maker enjoys all powers Matriarchal Structure : Female is the main authority

in family Patrilocal Structure : Wife moves to husbands or in-

laws home after getting married Matrilocal Structure : Husband moves to wifes place

after marriage Patrilineal Structure : Line of origin traced frommales parents and grand parents

Matrilineal Structure : Line of origin traced fromfemales parents and grand parents


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Variability in Geography: With the change ingeographical situations eating habits differ,Eskimos eat raw fish remains, also fashion also

changes due to changes in climatic conditionsthough heaters and air conditioners are used tocontrol them, similarly use of cow differs withboundary

Variability in Economic Organization: Involvescapitalism, communism systems and way oftrades like barter system


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Variability among Political system:Government systems like presidential ,parliamentary, dictatorship, kingship all differacross societies

Variability among Religion: Ways of worshipand beliefs differ

Variability among Languages: Medium ofcommunication both spoken and writtendiffers from society to society. A given societycan be multilingual


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Distinctions of roles: Regarding gender andage like there is similarity in roles of children

among all societies, men being bread earners Religious beliefs: Almost every society

believes in any supernatural being to beworshipped

Economic system: Every society has someeconomic mechanism of production anddistribution of goods


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Family and marriage system: Family andmarriage exists as a universal system though

differ in form Language: Basic medium of communication Art: Every society has some literature,

dances, paintings, songs etc Recreational activities: Trend of relaxation

and amusement found among all societies.


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Hence, common institutions exist in almostall cultures of various societies, but there can

be variability within these institutions makingone society different from the other

2nd lect culture

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