SOC 105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Genetic Programming, Sociobiology, Cultural Relativism
13 Sep 2016
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Culture: language, beliefs, values, norms, behavior,s and even material objects that are passed from one generation to the next. Two types of cultures-- material and nonmaterial (belief system, etc. ) We take our culture for granted; it remains imperceptible to us. Ethnocentrism: a tendency to use our own group"s ways of doing things as a yardstick for judging others. Creates in-group loyalties but also leads to discrimination against those whose ways differ from ours. Try to understand a culture on its own terms wo judgment. An attempt to refocus our lens of perception so we can appreciate other ways of life rather than simply asserting our way is right . Anthropologist robert edgerton said cultural values that result in exploitation should be viewed as inferior to those that enhance people"s lives. Nonmaterial culture usually referred to as symbolic culture . Allows culture to develop by freeing people to move beyond their immediate experiences.
