socio lec 4.pptx

Culture
 Content-
 Culture- Meaning & its Nature
 Components of Culture
 Evolution of culture
 Characteristics of culture
 Types of Culture
 Materials and non material of culture
 Ideal and Real Culture
Sunday, October 8, 2023 2

INTRODUCTION
 Culture is derived from the English word ‘Kulthra’ and
Sanskrit word ‘Samskar’ which denotes social channel
and intellectual excellence. Culture is a way of life.
 MEANING OF THE WORD CULTURE • The word
"culture" derives from a French term, which in turn
derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend
to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture”
(Cristina De Rossi) • In this sense culture is the man-
made environment and the people living in a society
actually grow their way of life over time. • Western
culture, European culture, Pakistani culture, Pakhtoon
culture etc.
 Latin word Cultus “Care”

INTRODUCTION
 Culture is the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and
the material objects that together form a people’s way
of life. • Culture is NOT society-culture is a blueprint
for how we live, think and act, while society is a group
of people within a geographic area. • Culture includes
the traditions we inherit and pass on to the next
generation • Culture: totality of our shared language,
knowledge, material objects, and behavior

 DEFINITION
 EB Taylor- Culture is a complex whole, which includes
knowledge, belief, art, morals, customs and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by the man as a
member of society.
 Leglic AY White- Culture is a symbolic continuous,
cumulative and progressive process.
 Malinowski B- The cumulative creation of man; the
handwork of man and the medium through which he
achieves is ends

 DEFINITION
 Graham wallas- An accumulation of thoughts, values and
objects; it is the social heritage acquired by us from
preceding generations through learning as distinguished
from the biological heritage which is passed on to us
automatically through genes.
 CC North- The instruments constituted by man to assist
him in a satisfying his wants.
 Redfield- Culture is an organization of phenomenon of
acts, objects, ideas attitudes, values and use of the symbols.
Culture is an organized body of conventional
understanding manifested in arts and artifacts which
persisting through tradition, characterizes the group

NATURE OF CULTURE
 Culture is a learned behavior not inherited. It is learned
through experience, imitation, communication, concept,
thinking and socialization process.
 Culture is transmitted by vertically or horizontally thus it
is communicative. Vertical transmission is from one
generation to another whereas horizontal transmission is
from one group to another group within the same period
Culture is social not individual the pattern of thinking,
feeling & acting can be shared by the members of the group
and kept relatively uniform through group pressures

NATURE OF CULTURE
 Culture provides opportunities and provides means for the
satisfaction of our needs and desires to fulfill group
functions.
 Culture is adaptive. It may institute changes in the
environment as a means of adopting, instead of altering
themselves to the changing environments.
 Culture is dynamic. Couture is subjected to slow but
constant change.
 Couture respond to the changing condition of the world.
Every society has its own culture.
 Culture is continuous and cumulative
Culture is integrative

Culture
“Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted
customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior”
 Includes ideas, values and customs of groups of
people.
 For example patriots attachment to the national flag is
an aspect of culture.

TYPES OF CULTURE
 There are two types of culture i.e. material culture and
non-material culture
 Material culture- Material culture concerned with the
external, mechanical and utilitarian objects. It can be
easily communicated and makes our life more
comfortable, luxurious and meaningful. Thus material
culture has the extrinsic value like housing, fashion,
diet etc. material culture represent the whole
apparatus of life or civilization.
 Material culture a component of culture that consists
of the physical or tangible creations (such as clothing,
shelter, and art) that members of a society make, use,
and share.

 Non-material culture- It includes the concepts, values,
mores and ideas e.g. monogamy, democracy, worship
etc.
 Nonmaterial culture a component of culture that
consists of the intangible human creations of society
(such as attitudes, beliefs, and values) that influence
people’s behavio

Ideal and Real Culture –
Differences and Examples

 Ideal culture is a set of values and practices that a
culture aims to achieve but are not truly obtained.
 Ideal Culture Definition
 Max Weber defines ideal culture as:
 “an imaginary construct that serves as an ideal for the
assessment of actual culture” (1922)

 Weber’s definition highlights that ideal culture is only
a construct. The actual culture is always different from
it, and the construct serves as a benchmark, helping us
see the gap between aspiration and achievement.
Another definition comes from Robert K. Merton, who
defined ideal culture as:
 “a set of cultural goals and the means to achieve them,
which, when shared by a large number of persons,
define the norms of a culture and the normative
structure of a social system” (1957).

Ideal Culture Examples
 The American Dream: The American Dream is a set of
ideal values consisting of liberty, equality, prosperity, etc.
The term was coined by J.T. Adams in 1931, who said that
“life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone”.
This is a belief that, in the US, there are opportunities for
everyone to prosper—irrespective of social class, one can
work hard and succeed in the capitalist system.
 Perfect Marriages: Marriage is considered the ideal form
of union between two people. It is usually backed by
religious approval and is seen as the perfect way of raising
children. Marriage is thought to be a life-long
commitment— “till death us do part”—that is based on
love. However, in reality, marriages are often based on
pragmatic concerns like money or status, affairs are
common, and marriages often end in divorce

 No Crimes: In an ideal culture, there are few or no crimes, and
individuals feel completely safe both inside and outside their
homes. As people do not have to worry about their personal or
property safety, they can focus more on their work and personal
lives, leading to a more efficient and happy society. Indeed,
crime rates around the world have been steadily declining but
there is still a long way to go.
 Honesty: Ideal culture would have individuals that can trust
each other and rely on institutions to function ethically.
Everyone is truthful and has integrity, so promises and
agreements are always fulfilled. There is little or no corruption in
institutions, leading to fair and efficient use of resources. This is
far from reality, as dishonesty is pervasive, and there is a lack of
transparency & accountability in institutions.

 Equality: Individuals receive equal treatment and opportunities
in an ideal culture, irrespective of race, gender, religion, etc. But
in reality, discrimination has not disappeared and there are huge
differences in access to resources. In America, racial
discrimination, such as police brutality and housing
discrimination, continues to exist. Gender discrimination,
xenophobia, and several other issues also need to be addressed.
 Secularism: Secularism is the separation of the state from
religious institutions, which allows individuals to practice any
religion or no religion. Instead of following any religious
doctrine, the state governs through reason and treats everyone
fairly. In reality, however, the states that call themselves “secular”
are far from it: during recent times, the rise of Hindu
nationalism and communal tensions in India is a good example.

REAL CULTUTE
 Real culture refers to the actual values, beliefs,
practices, and norms that exist in a society at any
given time. In sociology, it is juxtaposed to
the concept of ideal culture, which refers to an
aspiration (or ‘idealization’) of a culture rather
than reality.
 The term ‘real culture’ helps sociologists to refer
to a realistic picture of a society’s culture at a
particular moment.

 Real Culture Definition
 Real culture refers to culture as it is rather than what it
aspires to be. The famous American anthropologist
Clifford Geertz defined culture as:
 A historically transmitted pattern of meanings
embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions
expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men
communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge
about and attitudes toward life.” (1973).

 Geertz’s definition suggests that culture is a system of
symbols and meanings—customs, language, art, etc.—
that is transmitted from one generation to the next. It
is through this system that we develop our “attitude
toward life”.
 So, culture is essentially a way of life: it shapes how we
think and act while also giving us a sense of identity. It
includes both tangible (clothing, jewelry, architecture,
etc.) and intangible things (beliefs, rituals, norms,
etc.).

 Real Culture Examples
 Below are examples of real culture, where the nuances and
imperfections of culture are evident:
 Sustained Poverty: Most societies aim to provide everyone with
enough resources & opportunities to live a dignified life, but poverty is
still far from eradicated. In the United States, for example, the poverty
rate was 10.5% in 2020, with 34 million people living in poverty.
Globally, the rate is 9.2%, with 734 million people living on less than
$1.90 per day, the majority of whom live in Africa and South Asia.
 Failure of the American Dream: In the United States, people are
getting disillusioned with the idea of the American Dream. The ideals
of liberty, equality, and social mobility haven’t been actualized in
America, where inequalities and racial discrimination continue to exist.
In 2020, a poll found that only 54% of people found the American
Dream attainable, 28% thought otherwise, and 9% rejected the idea
altogether.

 Ongoing violence: All societies aspire to maintain peace,
but instances of violence continue to happen in every
society around the world. This includes domestic and
public violence issues.
 Environmental degradation: Environmental degradation
has become the most critical issue in today’s world, despite
societies claiming to promote sustainability. The global
average temperature of the world has increased by about
1.1°C (2.0°F) since the 19th century and is expected to rise
further (IPCC). This has led to rising sea levels, numerous
heat waves, and heavier precipitation. Loss of biodiversity
and air pollution are two other significant concerns.

 Lack of freedom of expression: Freedom of expression is
considered a fundamental human right, but attempts to silence
voices continue. The Charlie Hebdo incident (2015) is an apt
example when two gunmen attacked the newspaper’s office over
what they felt was an offensive depiction of Prophet Mohammad.
Government censorships, such as India banning the recent BBC
documentary on Narendra Modi, are also common.
 Gender inequality: Unequal gender treatment continues to be
a pervasive issue in our world. The gender pay gap exists in every
country, and there is a very small representation of women in
business leadership (only 6.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs). Women
also have limited access to opportunities, especially in
developing countries. Finally, violence against women, inside
and outside homes, has still not been eradicated.

Elements of Culture
 There are major aspects of culture that shape the way the
member of society live:
 Symbols,
 Language,
 Norms,
 Sanction
 belief
 values.
 Humans, consciously and subconsciously, are always
striving to make sense of their surrounding world.
 Symbols—such as gestures, signs, objects, signals, and
words—help people understand the world.

Symbols
 Symbols are the central components of culture.
Symbols refer to anything to which people attach
meaning and which they use to communicate with
others. More specifically, symbols are words, objects,
gestures, sounds or images that represent something
else rather than themselves.
 Every culture is filled with symbols, or things that
stand for something else and that often evoke various
reactions and emotions. Some symbols are actually
types of nonverbal communication, while other
symbols are in fact material objects.

Examples of symbols
 Nonverbal symbols,a common one is shaking hands,
 It commonly conveys friendship and is used as a sign of both
greeting and departure.
 Probably all societies have nonverbal symbols we call gestures,
movements of the hands, arms, or other parts of the body that
are meant to convey certain ideas or emotions.
 Each society has its own sign of gestures.
 Bowing head, whistling, winkling of eyes situation, all are the
symbols, which express a specific object idea about other.
BaithUllah is the symbol of God and we pray to it. American
Shake their hand to answer for No. Other examples are flag,
anthem, picture, statues are symbols. Symbols are the short
expression for the identification of an object or situation.

Language
 Language is a symbolic system through which
people communicate and through which culture
is transmitted. Some languages contain a system
of symbols used for written communication,
while others rely only on spoken communication
and nonverbal actions.
 Language can shape how we see, taste, smell, feel, and
hear
 Reflects the way we think about the people, ideas, and
objects around us.

 Language is like a vehicle through which we can carry
out our complex social activities. Language is the
foundation of a culture and ticket to the entrance of a
social life. Animal have not culture because they have
no specific language to transmit worlds to others. So,
language is the key to open a social life of an individual
with some special characteristics.

NORMS
 Norms as elements of culture are the rules and the
guidelines which specify the behavior of an individual.
Norms keep a person within the boundary of society and
its culture. It gives us restriction about something which to
do and which not to do. It molds our behavior and gives as
knowledge about wrong and right.
 Norms Are the established standards of behavior
maintained by a society” i.e. respect your elders
 All societies have a way of encouraging and enforcing what
they view as appropriate behavior while discouraging and
punishing what they consider to be improper behavior.

Types of Norms
 Sociologist distinguish norms in two ways
01. Formal norms
02. Informal norms.
Formal norms; are generally in written form and
specify strict punishment for violators.
They are behaviors worked out and agreed upon in
order to suit and serve the most people.
 Formal norms, also called mores (MOOR-ayz)
and laws, refer to the standards of behavior
considered the most important in any society.

 Laws are formal norms, but so are employee manuals,
college entrance exam requirements, and “no running”
signs at swimming pools.
 Formal norms are the most specific and clearly stated
of the various types of norms, and the most strictly
enforced.
 But even formal norms are enforced to varying
degrees, reflected in cultural values.

Informal norms
Are generally understood but are not precisely
recorded.
There is no as such punishment or sanction for the
person who violate these standards.
People learn informal norms by observation,
imitation, and general socialization.
Some informal norms are taught directly—“ bow your
head to elders, use your napkin.
Although informal norms define personal
interactions, they extend into other systems as well.

Norms are also classified by their relative importance to
society. When classified in this way, they are known as
mores(“mor-ays) and folkways.
Norms
Mores Folkways

 Both “mores” and “folkways” are terms coined by the
American sociologist William Graham Sumner. Mores
distinguish the difference between right and wrong,
while folkways draw a line between right and rude.
While folkways may raise an eyebrow if violated,
mores dictate morality and come with heavy
consequences.

Mores
 Mores is a Latin word and the plural of mos which
means customs or beliefs accordance with a group
customary expectation. It is the “must” behavior of a
person. Mores refers to “what ought to be and what
ought not to be.” Mores are serious norms but are
informed like folkways. They have a serious binding on
a group the violation of mores threats to social order.
Punishment may be both formal and informal for the
violation of mores.

MORES

Folkways
 Informal norms, also called folkways and customs,refer
to standards of behavior that are considered less important
but still influence how we behave.
 Are often referred to as "customs." They are standards of
behavior that are socially approved but not morally
significant.
 They are norms for everyday behavior that people follow
for the sake of tradition or convenience.
 Folkways indicate whether to shake hands or kiss on the
cheek when greeting another person.
 Breaking a folkway does not usually have serious
consequences.

 Folkways are distinguished from laws and mores in
that they are designed, maintained and enforced by
public sentiment, or custom, whereas laws are
institutionalized, designed, maintained and enforced
by the political authority of the society. Folkways in
turn may be divided into two sub types: fashion and
custom.

 Fashion: Is a form of behavior, type of folkways that is
socially approved at a given time but subject to periodic
change. Adherents combine both deviation and conformity
to norm of a certain group.
 Custom: Is a folkway or form of social behavior that, having
persisted a long period of time, has become traditional and
well established in a society and has received some degree
of formal recognition. Custom is a pattern of action shared
by most or all members of a society. Habit is a personality
trait, where as the custom is a group trait. Fashion and
customs can be differentiated in that while custom changes
at slower rate, fashion changes at a faster rate.

Sanctions
Sanctions are a form of social control, a way to encourage
conformity to cultural norms.
Types of Sanctions:
1. Positive Sanctions: Positive sanctions are rewards or
incentives provided to individuals as a result of their
adherence to cultural norms. These rewards can include
praise, recognition, promotions, bonuses, awards, and other
forms of positive reinforcement. Positive sanctions are meant
to encourage and reinforce desirable behavior within a society.
2. Negative Sanctions: Negative sanctions, on the other hand,
involve punishments or penalties imposed on individuals who
violate cultural norms. These penalties can vary in severity
and may include fines, legal consequences, social ostracism,
ridicule, or other forms of negative reinforcement. Negative
sanctions deter individuals from engaging in behavior
deemed unacceptable by society.

Values
 Values are a culture’s standard for discerning what is
good and just in society.
 Values are deeply embedded and critical for
transmitting and teaching a culture’s beliefs.
 Values have major influence on a person's behavior
and attitude and serve as broad guidelines in all
situations.

VALUES
 Values are shared ideas of a groups or a society as to
what is right or wrong, correct or incorrect, desirable
or undesirable, acceptable or unacceptable, ethical or
unethical, etc., regarding something.
 They are general road maps for our lives. Values are
shared and are learned in group. They can be positive
or negative. For example, honesty, truth – telling,
respect for others, hospitality, helping those in need,
etc are positive values. Examples of negative values
include theft, indecency, disrespect, dishonesty,
falsehood, frugality, etc. T

Belief
 Definition: Beliefs are personal convictions, ideas, or mental
attitudes that individuals hold to be true. These beliefs can cover
a wide range of topics, including religious, political, moral, and
philosophical viewpoints. They represent an individual's
understanding of the world and influence their thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors.
 Beliefs are the tenets or convictions that people hold to be true.
 Individuals in a society have specific beliefs, but they also share
collective values.
 For example: Americans commonly believe in the American
Dream—that anyone who works hard enough will be successful
and wealthy. Underlying this belief is the American value that
wealth is good and important.

QUIZ
 Which of the following is an example of a non-
material aspect of culture?
 a) Traditional clothing
 b) A language
 c) A sculpture
 Which of the following is an example of material
culture?
 a) A religious belief
 b)A traditional dance
 c) A piece of artwork

QUIZ
 How is culture distinct from society?
 a) Culture is about geography, while society is about
traditions.
 b) Culture is a blueprint for living, thinking, and
acting, while society is a group of people.
 c) Culture and society are interchangeable terms.
 True or False: Culture is a static and unchanging
concept.

 Assignment Title: "Cultural Identity in the Digital
Age: Social Media and Its Impact"

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