Chapter 5 - What is Culture?Study Guide Review

Pages 66-79

20 Terms to Know:

1. Culture → is a reflection of who and what we

are. It refers to everything connected

with the way humans live in groups.

2. Anthropologists → social scientists who study

human cultural characteristics.

3. Cultural Diversity → variety and differences

among cultures.

4. Physical Needs → human needs for items

and conditions that sustain life; such as water,

clothing and shelter.

5. Emotional Needs → human needs for

conditions such as friendship, love and a sense

of belonging.

6. Values → ideas, beliefs and ways of behaving

that are valuable/important to the people of a

certain culture.

7. Material Culture → the physical object that

are produced/used by a society.

8. Non-Material Culture → elements of culture that are not physical, including spoken language, religious beliefs and values.

9. Traditions → customs, beliefs, stories that are passed down from one generation to the next.

10. Popular Culture → Culture shared by many groups in Western society and around the world, examples include: Brand-name clothing and popular music.

11. Traditional Culture → culture passed down from one generation to the next.

12. Rites → ceremonies that are part of a traditional culture.

13. Bannock → Scottish oatcakes/sausage

(page 71 – Celtic Culture in Cape Breton)

14. Microcosm → a miniature model (p. 76)

15. Socialization → the process of learning behavior that is suitable in your culture.

16. Institutions → organizations with social, educational and religious purposes.

17. Formal Groups → organized groups that contribute to a culture. (ex. Hockey team)

18. Informal Groups → groups of people who meet casually for a common purpose.

19. Contributing Culture → cultures of groups within a society that are distinct from the mainstream but contribute to and enrich the mainstream.

20. Mainstream Culture → The general culture of the majority of the people.

20 Questions – Study Guide

1. Name the 5 aspects of every culture. (p.67)

A. Physical Environment

B. History

C. Social Life

D. Economic Life

E. Political Life

2. What does Culture include? (p. 67) Culture includes all the ways people respond to their

physical environment, economic life, social life and their political life. Culture also includes arts and entertainment as well as behaviors, beliefs and various organizations.

3. Is there a difference between cultural acquisitions and inherited traits? (p. 68)

Although culture is transmitted from one generation to the next, it is separate from the genetic transmitting of traits. For instance, you may have inherited the fact that you are tall, but this is not a cultural characteristic. However, the style of clothes you wear would be largely influenced by your culture.

4. Who was George Murdock? (p.68)

George Murdock was an American anthropologist that compiled a list of common characteristics that he found in every culture all over the world. (Ex: Art, Education, Sports)

5. What are two types of needs? (p. 70)

Two types of needs are, your physical needs, (such as food, clothing, shelter) and your emotional needs (such as the need for friendship, love and belonging).

6. Explain the difference between material and non-material culture. Give 5 examples of each.

Material culture is the physical object that are produced/used by a society. Examples include, money, books, clothes, homes and food. Non-Material culture are elements of culture that are not physical, including spoken language, religious beliefs and values.

7. How can our visual material culture lead to stereotyping?

Visual material culture can lead us to stereotype people because we may decide to judge/form opinions about a person based on the style of clothing they wear, the type of music they listen to or other visible material they may use/have.

8. What is North America’s oldest continuing sport?

The St. John’s Royal Newfoundland Regatta is Newfoundland’s oldest continuing sport.

9. Give four examples of popular culture. (p. 73)

Four examples of popular culture would be:

a) brand-name clothing (Guess, Nike)b) popular television shows (reality shows)c) sports stars (David Beckham)d) popular music (Brittany Spears/Madonna)

10. How is popular culture spread? (p.73)

(Know 3 ways)

Popular culture is spread mainly through the use of technology. It spreads through the mass media – including T.V. radio, internet, fax machines and by phone.

It can also be spread by newspaper, books and movies.

11. Where does most of the popular culture shared by people all over the world come from? (p. 72-73)

Most of the popular culture that is spread around the world originates from groups in Western world.

12. What cultural elements has Canada exported to the USA and the rest of the world? (p. 73)

Canada and the USA have exported things such as:

• Most of the television shows people

watch,

• Music people listen to,

• Magazines people read.

13a) MacDonald’s Restaurant is an example of what type of culture?

b) How many countries have McDonald Restaurants? (p. 73)

MacDonald’s Restaurants are an example of Popular culture.

There are over 100 countries that have MacDonald Restaurants.

14. Figure 5.10 – How does popular culture depend on each of the factors listed? (p. 73)

If an item is considered to be in demand by the public (example: Pico-Pico cola) then the Mass production will need to produce many cans of this cola, there will need to be many delivery drivers (mass distribution) along with many advertisements (T.V. radio, billboard) and more and more people will buy the product (mass consumption).

15. How do we learn the behavior suitable to our culture?

We learn the behavior suitable to our culture through a process called socialization. Socialization is the interaction of people together in groups.

There are 8 agents of socialization.

16. Name the agents of socialization at work in our lives?

There are eight agents of socialization, they include: 1. Family 2. Schools 3. Peer groups 4. Clubs/Teams 5. Community 6. Government 7. Religious Groups 8. Mass Media

Figure 5-12. Why are sports figures powerful agents of socialization?

Sports figures are powerful agents of socialization because they are often role models for young people. Teens may value their team efforts/behaviors and incorporate these behaviors/values into their own lives when they socialize within their own peer groups.

18. Identify the factors that can contribute to your school culture. (Remember we have learned 8 agents of socialization).

Factors that can contribute to our school culture may include both formal and informal group activity. Formal groups may include hockey teams, cheerleading teams, student leadership group and various clubs such as the breakfast club.

Informal groups may involve a group of students meeting up after school to play a game of basketball, skateboard etc.

19. What are three methods for resolving conflicts? (p. 77)

Three ways to resolve conflicts are: A. Dialogue → discussion of ideas. B. Problem Solving → identifying a possible

solution. C. Mediation → settling a dispute two other

parties in a friendly manner.

Can a person have more than one culture at a time? If so, what are they and how do they define our lives? (p. 78)

You can have more than one culture at a time. For instance, you can be an Irish Catholic urban Newfoundlander. This can define our lives because it gives us a sense of who we are by identifying our personal history and our values and beliefs.