Chapter 3 Chapter 3 CultureCulture

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives Explain how culture and heredity affect Explain how culture and heredity affect social behavior.social behavior.

Describe how language and culture are Describe how language and culture are related.related.

Name the essential components of Name the essential components of culture.culture.

Discuss how cultural diversity is Discuss how cultural diversity is promoted within a society. promoted within a society.

Understand the role of a ethnocentrism Understand the role of a ethnocentrism in society.in society.

Identify similarities in cultures around Identify similarities in cultures around the world. the world.

Section 1: The Basis of Section 1: The Basis of CultureCulture

Culture and SocietyCulture and Society What is culture?What is culture? Culture is the knowledge, language, Culture is the knowledge, language,

values, customs, and physical objects values, customs, and physical objects that are passed from generation to that are passed from generation to generation among members of a group. generation among members of a group.

Culture is a “total way of life”. Culture is a “total way of life”. What does culture help to explain?What does culture help to explain?

Culture and SocietyCulture and Society

Culture helps to Culture helps to explain human explain human social behavior.social behavior.

Examples:Examples: What you like and What you like and dislike.dislike.

What you believe.What you believe. What you value.What you value.

How has our culture How has our culture shaped you?shaped you?

Society- is a Society- is a group of people group of people who live in a who live in a territory territory inhabited by inhabited by people who share people who share a common a common culture.culture.

How do we How do we acquire Culture?acquire Culture?

Culture and HeredityCulture and Heredity Instincts- are unlearned or innate Instincts- are unlearned or innate patterns of behavior.patterns of behavior.

What is more important in What is more important in determining human behavior? determining human behavior? Instincts or Culture?Instincts or Culture?

CULTURECULTURE What is heredity’s affect on What is heredity’s affect on personality?personality? ***Nature vs. Nurture ******Nature vs. Nurture *** Studies show about 50/50Studies show about 50/50 Ex. Studies in identical twins. Ex. Studies in identical twins.

Culture and HeredityCulture and Heredity

Reflexes – are simple, automatic Reflexes – are simple, automatic responses to physical stimulus. responses to physical stimulus.

Drives- Impulses to reduces Drives- Impulses to reduces discomfort. discomfort.

Examples:Examples:ReflexesReflexes- Blinking, Finger prick.- Blinking, Finger prick.

DrivesDrives- Eating, sleeping, socialize. - Eating, sleeping, socialize.

SociobiologySociobiology

Study of the biological basis of human Study of the biological basis of human behavior. behavior.

Combo of Darwin’s theory of natural Combo of Darwin’s theory of natural selection and modern genetics. selection and modern genetics.

How do sociobiologists view How do sociobiologists view behavior?behavior? Behaviors that best help people are Behaviors that best help people are biologically based.biologically based.

Transmitted in the genetic code. Transmitted in the genetic code. Include: Affection, friendship, Include: Affection, friendship, reproduction, ed. of children.reproduction, ed. of children.

Criticisms of Criticisms of SociobiologySociobiology

Places such an importance on geneticsPlaces such an importance on genetics Could be used as a way to justify Could be used as a way to justify labeling certain races as inferior. labeling certain races as inferior.

***Why is this scary?******Why is this scary?*** Many argue that there is too much Many argue that there is too much variation in societies to be explained variation in societies to be explained purely on these grounds. purely on these grounds.

A Common Ground?A Common Ground? Believe genes work with culture in a Believe genes work with culture in a complex way.complex way.

Help shape and limit human nature and Help shape and limit human nature and social life. social life.

What will the What will the future bring???future bring???

Sociology is new to the Sociology is new to the field of social sciences.field of social sciences.

So called “hard So called “hard sciences” could help to sciences” could help to

answer social questions. answer social questions.