Chapter 7

Cultural Antipathy

Cultural Antipathy ( - )

Deep dislike for people of another culture

Takes on the form of negative beliefs or attitudes; usually no major action taken

How do these beliefs begin? Spread?

Ethnocentrism ( - )

You believe that your culture is the best and all others are wrong/bad/stupid

The culture we live in becomes the lens through which we see the rest of the world

Also can be called cultural exclusion

What is the difference between this and patriotism?

Ethnocentrism ( - )

In - group The groups with which

you identify The groups we are born

into and the ones we join as we get older

Supply our basic needs; we them as correct in their ways

Out - group The groups to which we

do not belong Members are seen as

strange / inferior Avoidance Blame them for our

troubles They are incorrect in their

ways

Functions of Ethnocentrism

Maintain the integrity of the in-group

May take on extreme behaviorschauvinism: excess prejudice or loyalty

to one’s own group (we often hear it as male chauvinism but can be others)

Cultural Relativity ( + )

Viewing cultures without being judgmental; an attitude that recognizes and accepts the idea that everyone does things differently

How can you best reach cultural relativity?

Stereotyping ( - )

We, as humans, have a predisposition to categorize things in order to process them better but this goes to too far and oversimplifies people / things and puts them into very general categories

Stereotype – very rigid positive or negative beliefs about a group resulting in generalized images

Stereotyping

How do we distort reality to develop stereotypes?

1. Accentuate the differences (us vs them)

2. Underestimate the differences (1 example)

3. Selective perceptions (we only see a small portion or see what we want to see)

Stereotype Transmission

Verbally (stories, passing down through generations)

Nonverbally (through observation of others)

What are some examples of nonverbal tranmission?