Culture & SocietyCulture & SocietyUnit 3

CultureCultureCulture: Shared material &

nonmatiral aspects◦Material Culture◦Nonmaterial Culture

Social StructureCultureSociety: People living together &

sharing culture

Human NatureHuman NatureInstinctReflexesDrivesLearning

So is it Nature that determines who we are, or Nurture?

The Great Debate: Nature vs. The Great Debate: Nature vs. NurtureNurture

Nature: This side states that we have a range of abilities, traits, and limitations that are inherited genetically from the parents at the time of conception that cannot be changed.

The Great Debate: Nature vs. The Great Debate: Nature vs. NurtureNurture

Nurture: This side states that we have a variety of environmental influences that impact us, starting at conception!◦Examples:

Mother’s health during pregnancy Chemicals encountered in the

environment Psychological/Sociological

experiences

The Great Debate: Nature vs. The Great Debate: Nature vs. NurtureNurture

So which is it?

BOTH!

Nature and nurture interact throughout development.

The Great Debate: Nature vs. The Great Debate: Nature vs. NurtureNurture

Harry Harlow attempted to determine if physical comfort or food was more important to baby monkeys.

Monkeys were given access to 2 artificial wire “mothers”. ◦1 had a bottle of milk◦1 had a fleece cover

Harlow’s Rhesus MonkeysHarlow’s Rhesus Monkeys

•Babies preferred the fleece mother, and Harlow concluded that primates are comforted by warm, soft things, NOT food.

Cultural ValuesCultural ValuesNormsFolkwaysMoresTabooLawsValuesSanctions

Symbolic InteractionSymbolic InteractionSymbolsLanguageArtsCulture

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyHunter/Gatherer:

◦Few statuses◦No specialized roles◦Identical values◦No wealth/capital◦Shared resources◦Simple needs◦Less working time overall

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyPastoral:

◦Nomadic◦More elaborate possessions◦Trade◦Conflict & fighting◦Servitude systems◦Religious

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyHorticultural Societies

◦Political institutions◦Roles & statuses◦Elaborate artifacts◦Communication◦Economic development

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyAgrarian:

◦Cities◦Power systems◦Government◦Inequality◦Elaborate trade◦Symbolic monetary systems◦Religion as a social institution◦Written communication

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyIndustrial:

◦Constant, swift change◦Large◦Better living standards◦Urbanized◦Social life & secondary groups◦Representative overnment &

bureaucracies◦Social interaction & anonymity◦Formal education◦Class inequalities◦Seldom at war or in conflict

Types of SocietyTypes of SocietyPost-Industrial:

◦Creation & production of information◦Communication◦Knowledge & education mandatory◦Depend on global economy

SocietySocietySociety: Population sharing the

same geographic territory with common culture.

Social StructureSocial StructureSocial Structure: The pattern of

relationships within society.Status

◦Master status◦Status inconsistency◦Ascribed status◦Achieved status◦Social Class

Role TheoryRole TheoryRoles

◦Role Set◦Role Expectations◦Role Performance

Stress & Strain◦Role Confusion◦Role Strain◦Role Conflict

Group TheoryGroup TheoryGroup

◦Primary Group◦Secondary Group

Aggregate

Social InstitutionsSocial InstitutionsSocial Institution: Stable cluster

of ideologies developed based on social needs.

Common features: ◦Resistance to change◦Interdependency◦Co-dependent change◦Cause of social issues

Social InstitutionsSocial InstitutionsFunctionalist: DysfunctionalConflict: Failure due to power

changesInteractionalist: Dysfunctional

SocializationSocializationSocialization

◦Lifelong◦Constantly changing◦Significantly impacted by learning

Emotional DevelopmentEmotional DevelopmentUniversal Emotions:

◦Newborns: Pleasure, Surprise, Disgust, Distress

◦2 Month Olds: Joy◦3 Month Olds: Anger◦9 Month Olds: Fear◦12-18 Months: Affection◦5-6 Years: Insecurity, Confidance, Envy◦Adolescence: Complecated, adult

emotions

Theories of DevelopmentTheories of DevelopmentCognitiveEmotionalBehavioralBiosocial

The Big 5 Personality Development

Adult PersonalityAdult Personality

Charles Horton CooleyCharles Horton CooleyLooking-Glass Self

◦Social MirrorSocial Development in 3 Steps:

◦Imagining how we appear to others◦Imagining how others judge us◦Using interpretation to develop self-

image

Erving GoffmanErving GoffmanDramaturgical ApproachImpression ManagementFace-Work

George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert MeadSymbolic InteractionChildren’s Socialization in 3

Stages◦Imagination◦Play

Role Taking using Significant Other

◦Games using Generalized Other

Freud’s Theory of Consciousness: ◦Conscious◦Preconscious◦Unconcious

Sigmund Freud Theory of Sigmund Freud Theory of ConsciousnessConsciousness

Freud’s Theory of Personality: ◦Id◦Ego◦Superego

Sigmund Freud Theory of Sigmund Freud Theory of PersonalityPersonality

Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development: Personality develops based on changes in the libido (sexual energy) and fixation on erogenous zones. ◦5 stages of Psychosexual

Development◦Personality is determined by the first

3 stages and is fixed by the age of 5

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Age Stage CharacteristicsBirth to 1 year Oral Stage •Infant receives pleasure from oral actions

•Biting•Sucking•chewing)

•Weaning is the single most important behavior associated with this stage.

1-3 years Anal Stage •Child receives pleasure from the anus and defecation. •The psychological goal of the child is independence and autonomy.•The most important behavior in this state is toilet training.

3-6 years Phallic Stage •Child receives pleasure from genitals and genital stimulation. •Freud also believes that boys are proud of their penis and girls are puzzled about why they don’t have one.

7-11 years Latency Stage •Child does not have significant psychosexual development. •Child focuses on friendships and social skills.

12 years- adulthood

Genital Stage •Genitals are the focus of pleasurable feelings. •Young person seeks sexual satisfaction in relationships.

Stages of Psychosexual Stages of Psychosexual DevelopmentDevelopment

Defense Mechanisms: Strategies the psyche uses to protect itself from situations or events that may be traumatic.

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Oedipal Complex: The belief that little boys resent the relationship that their fathers have with their mothers, and as a result, harbor a latent desire to murder their fathers and marry/engage in sexual relations with their mothers.

Electra Complex: The belief that little girls resent the relationship that their mothers have with their fathers, and as a result, harbor a latent desire to rebel against their mothers and marry their fathers (or someone eerily similar!)

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Freud is widely accepted as a noted theorist, even today. However…

Criticisms: ◦Lack of scientific research◦Subjects Freud observed were often

greatly disturbed◦First 2 stages of psychosexual

development theory still unsupported using studies of children with normal development

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories

Erik Erikson’s Stages of Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentPsychosocial Development

Age Stage DescriptionInfancy Sensorimotor

Stage•Child experiences the word through their sense. •“The Little Scientists”•Object Permanence: The ability to understand that objects continue to exist even when they are no longer visible.

Jean Piaget’s Stages of Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Age Stage Description2 years old

Preoperational Stage

•Child can think symbolically (e.g. thinking of the past and future, using language, playing pretend). •There is a large growth in vocabulary and use of words and symbols in this stage.•Children LACK operations (the ability to mentally manipulate objects).•Egocentric: Children in this stage cannot distinguish between their own perspective and the perspectives of others.

Jean Piaget’s Stages of Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Age Stage DescriptionSchool aged

Concrete Operational Stage

•Children can think logically and consistently about features in their world that are real and concrete. •Children are capable of abstract reasoning and performing operations as long as it is in terms of concrete objects.

•EX: A > B, B > C, which is greater, A or C? – NO•EX: Adam is taller than Bill, Bill is taller than Charlie, who’s taller, Adam or Charlie? – YES!

•The schema of conservation (i.e. knowing that changing the shape of things does not change the amount) is formed during this time.•Egocentrism begins to disappear.

Jean Piaget’s Stages of Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Age Stage DescriptionAdolescents and Adults

Formal Operational Stage

•Individuals are able to think on many different planes:

•Hypothetically•Abstractly•Speculatively•Rationally

•Deductive reasoning and learning to consider possibilities also occurs in this stage.

Some Adults Post-Formal Operational Stage

•Individuals are able to think on many different levels, building on formal operational thought. •Individuals are able to mentally manipulate even complex, abstract ideas.

Jean Piaget’s Stages of Jean Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive DevelopmentCognitive Development

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) by Lev Vygotsky◦The difference between what a learner

can do on their own, and with a little bit of guidance/help from an instructor.

Scaffolding: The process of introducing new ideas with sufficient support so that the student can learn and achieve on a level they would not be capable of on their own.

Other Cognitive TheoriesOther Cognitive Theories

Lawrence Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: May be based roughly on the cognitive development of Jean Piaget. ◦Broken down into 3 Levels, with 2 stages in each level.

◦Tests to determine which stage the individual are in are dependent on responses to Kohlberg’s Dilemmas.

Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages of Moral Developmentof Moral Development

Level 1: Pre-Conventional: Moral choices are based on reward and punishment. ◦Stage 1: Might Makes Right aka

Punishment-Obedience Obedience to authority is to avoid

punishment, while still furthering self-interest.

Very young children◦Stage 2: Looking Out For Number One

aka Tit-for-Tat aka Quid Pro Quo aka You Scratch My Back, I’ll Scratch Your Moral decisions are based on what the

individual can get out of the situation. Young/elementary aged children

Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages of Moral Developmentof Moral Development

Level 2: Conventional: Moral decisions are based on laws and trying to appear “good” to others. ◦Stage 3: Good Girl/Nice Boy aka

Conformity aka Instrumental Conformity Moral decisions are based on what will

make others like and approve of the individual.

Middle school aged children. ◦Stage 4: Law and Order aka Law of

the Land aka Judgment Moral decisions are based on being a

good, law-abiding citizen. Teenagers and many adults.

Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages of Moral Developmentof Moral Development

Level 3: Post-Conventional: Moral decisions are based on using one’s own conscience to decide right and wrong. ◦Stage 5: Social Contract aka Social Conformity aka Social Contract and Individual Rights Moral decisions are based on a social

contract stating that the laws in place are for the greater good of society. Any deviance will violate this contract and could lead to chaos.

Only a small portion of society.

Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages of Moral Developmentof Moral Development

Level 3: Post-Conventional: Moral decisions are based on using one’s own conscience to decide right and wrong. ◦Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles aka Universal Principles Moral decisions are based on a universal

values and rights that all individuals deserve. Life, Love, Peace, Happiness, Property, Education, etc.

Only a handful of people have ever coded into this category.

Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages Lawrence Koglberg’s Stages of Moral Developmentof Moral Development

Gilligan continued Kohlberg’s theory, stating that..◦Girls tend to develop morals based

on compassion and care◦Boys tend to develop morals based

on justice and judgment

Moral DevelopmentMoral Development

Agents of SocializationAgents of SocializationAgents of Socialization

◦Family◦Schools◦Peers◦Mass Media◦Internet

Resocialization

Life CourseLife CourseAnticipatory Socialization

◦Resocialization

Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Death & Dying◦Denial◦Anger◦Bargaining◦Depression◦Acceptance

Death ProcessDeath Process

Social InteractionSocial Interaction5 Form of Social Interaction

◦Exchange◦Cooperation◦Conflict◦Competition◦coercion

Social InteractionSocial InteractionGeorge Herbert Mead’s Symbolic

InteractionErving Goffman’s Dramaturgy

◦Presentation of Self◦Impression Management

Ethnomethodology

Social InteractionSocial InteractionHarvy Sachs’ Conversation

Analysis◦Turn-Taking◦Transitions◦Interruptions

Social InteractionSocial InteractionNonverbal CommunicationEdward T. Hall’s 4 Zones of

Personal Space: ◦Intimate Distance◦Personal Distance◦Social Distance◦Public Distance

Social NetworksSocial NetworksSocial networks

◦Source of information◦Companionship◦Influence preferences and decesions

Berger-Luckmann ModelBerger-Luckmann ModelSocial Construction of Reality in 3

Stages: ◦Creation of Cultural Products◦Cultural Creations are Integrated◦Cultural Creations are Accepted as

Cultural Reality Legitimized Reified

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesFunctionalist: Interdependent

parts work together to create culture. ◦What about change?

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesConflict: Constant conflict

produces constant cultural change. ◦Ideology

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesInteractionist: Individuals

interacting create culture.

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesCultural Ecology: Culture as a

result of resources.

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesFunctionalist: Interdependent

parts work together to create culture. ◦What about change?

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesConflict: Constant conflict

produces constant cultural change. ◦Ideology

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesInteractionist: Individuals

interacting create culture.

Cultural PerspectivesCultural PerspectivesCultural Ecology: Culture as a

result of resources.

Cultural UniversalsCultural UniversalsCultural Universal: Things found

in every culture◦George Murdock: 60 known cultural

universals

Cultural StandardsCultural StandardsEthnocentrismCultural RelativismMoral Relativism

Cultural VariationCultural VariationCultural IntegrationIdeal Culture vs Real Culture

◦Subculture◦Counterculture

Methods of Cultural Methods of Cultural ChangeChange

DiscoveryInventionDiffusion