Components of Culture

The basic components of all cultures that vary from society to society.

1. Technology• Physical objects (tools) and the rules for

using them• Includes skills/procedures necessary to make

& use tools– Emerging technologies a.k.a. “new technologies”– Ex. printing press & computer– Sets framework for nonmaterial culture…

influencing the way people think & how they relate to one another

• Cultural Lag: – occurs when not all parts of culture change @

same pace• Material culture changes faster than nonmaterial

culture. • WHY???

• Cultural Diffusion:– Transmission of cultural characteristics– More likely to occur with material culture– Occurs more rapidly today as a result of:

• Technology• Transportation• Communication

• Cultural Leveling:– Occurs when cultures become similar to one another– Ex. Japan has adopted the Western culture in many ways

2. Symbols• Anything that represents something else• Through symbols we create culture (attach

meaning) and communicate it to group members

• Examples of symbols:– Words -Objects– Gestures -Events– Images– Sounds

3. Language• Organization of written or spoken symbols

into a standardized system– Primary means of communication between people

• Allows for cumulative history of people• Allows for social (shared) past & future• Allows for exchange of perspectives (complex, shared,

goal-directed behavior)

• Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: when we learn words, we learn a way of thinking and perceiving; our language determines our consciousness

4. Values• Shared beliefs about what is good/bad,

right/wrong, desirable/undesirable, beautiful/ugly– Determine character of people & the material and

non-material culture they create – Every group develops values & expectations

regarding the right way to reflect them

5. Norms• Expectations (rules of behavior) that develop

out of a group’s values– Can vary in enforcement– Can be applied differently or selectively to

different groups

Norms vary in their importance to a culture

– Folkways: describe socially acceptable behavior, that do not have great moral significance• Not strictly enforced• Can vary by groups

– Mores: norms believed to be essential to core values and that have great moral significance• Require conformity• Violation of mores threatens society’s well-being and stability• Laws are formally defined mores enacted and enforced by the

government

– Taboo: norms so strongly ingrained that even the thought of them is greeting with revulsion

Sanctions: enforcement of norms

Positive Sanctions• Expressions of approval

– Money– Prize– Smile– Handshake– Sticker– Applause

Negative Sanctions• Denote disapproval for

breaking a norm– Fine– Frown– Harsh words– Ridicule– Ticket

In addition to positive/negative, sanctions can also be formal or informal .

• Moral Holiday: specified times when people are allowed to break norms and not worry about sanctions– Mardi Gras– Spring Break