7 elements of culture Communication examples

Michael Sheinis Block: 110/5/14

CultureIs passed on by parents, grandparents,

teachers, etc Affects the way we think, what we believe

(religiously & morally), what we eat, what we wear, how we behave, how our society behaves

Social OrganizationSociology= the study of the development,

organization, & functioning of societyWhat is the most important social unit?

FamilyFamily patterns

Nuclear family- wife, husband, kids. Typical to industrialized societies

Extended family- Several generations in one household. Parents, kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles. Usually in developing nations.

Patriarchal- family where the oldest male makes the decisions

Matriarchal- family where the oldest female makes all the decisions

Social Organization (cont...)Kinship= concept that everyone is related to

someoneThere are rules (i.e. uncles can’t marry nieces)

Clan= people w/in an ethnic group who claim to be descended from a common ancestor

Social Classes= rank people according to status in societyCan be based on $, occupation, heredity,

education, etcSocial mobility= chance to move up and

down the social ladder.

Customs & TraditionsRules of behavior (enforced by social

pressures or by written laws)ways of doing everyday thingsBasic moral valuesLanguage

Linguistics= the study of languagesLanguage families- most languages have root in

same source. Largest major language family is the Indo-European Language

ClothesFoodsEducationOccupation

Arts & LiteratureProducts of human imagination teach us

about cultural values. Can encourage pride or criticize.

Includes:PaintingSculpturemusicDrawingTheatreLiteraturearchitecture

ReligionHelps people answer the basic questions about the

meaning of life; supports the values of a culture; can shape morals & ethics of a group of people

Monotheism- belief/worship of 1 godPolytheism- belief/worship of more than 1 godAnimism- belief that everything in nature has a spiritThe 5 Major World Religions:

HinduismBuddhismChristianityJudaismIslam

LanguageCornerstone of CultureCulture passed through languageAll cultures have languageLanguage reflects a culture’s identitySome countries have mixed languages

Forms of GovernmentGovernment is designed to provide for

people‘s common needs- keeping order in society & protecting it from outside threatsRefers to the person(s) who holds power and to

society’s laws & institutions.Types of Governments:

Democracy- the people have supreme pwr. Governments acts by & w/ their consent

Republic- people choose the leaders who will represent them

Dictatorship- a ruler (or group acting as 1) holds power by force. Often uses military to stay in office.

Economic SystemsHow people use limited resources to satisfy their wants &

needs3 questions:

What goods & services should we produce? How should we produce them? For whom should we produce them?

Traditional economy- people prod most of what they need to survive. Hunting/gathering or farming/herding societies.

Market economy- individuals answer the econ questions by buying & selling goods & services

Command economy- government controls what goods are prod, how they are prod & what they cost. Individuals have little econ power

Mixed economy- individuals make some decisions & government makes others

Examples of communicationThe process of sending and

receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means--speech (oral communication),writing (written communication), signs, signals, or behavior.