Culture and SocietyCulture includes norms and practices passed on from one generation to the next

Culture includes norms and practices passed on from one generation to the next. In contrast, society is a group of people associated with each other by a culture. Culture provides guidelines on how people should live, while society provides structure through culture-based organization.

1. Culture and SocietyCulture and Society
A Social Systems PerspectiveA Social Systems Perspective
HBSE II HBSE II

2. Definitions Definitions
Culture:Culture:
Those qualities and attributes that seem to be Those qualities and attributes that seem to be
characteristic of all humankind.characteristic of all humankind.
Humans evolve and adapt primarily through Humans evolve and adapt primarily through
culture rather than changes in anatomy or culture rather than changes in anatomy or
genetics.genetics.
Culture survives if it can accommodate to Culture survives if it can accommodate to
changing conditions.changing conditions.
Culture is viewed as a macrosystem.Culture is viewed as a macrosystem.
Binds a particular society together, and includes Binds a particular society together, and includes
its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.

3. Society:Society:
A group of people who have learned to live A group of people who have learned to live
and work together.and work together.
Society is a holon and within the society, Society is a holon and within the society,
culture refers to the way of life is followed culture refers to the way of life is followed
by the group (society).by the group (society).

4. Nature of Culture Nature of Culture
Culture is a group phenomenon.Culture is a group phenomenon.
Cultures evolve from the interaction of Cultures evolve from the interaction of
person with others, and a person’s belief person with others, and a person’s belief
or behavior becomes part of the culture or behavior becomes part of the culture
when it is externalized and objectified.when it is externalized and objectified.

5. A culture evolves as each person encounters A culture evolves as each person encounters
four “poles”.four “poles”.
One’s own body or somatic process.One’s own body or somatic process.
Biological constitutionBiological constitution
Genetic endowment Genetic endowment
Other persons or society.Other persons or society.
Feedback cycleFeedback cycle
The material world of nonhuman objects. The material world of nonhuman objects.
The universe of social constructed meanings.The universe of social constructed meanings.

6. According to Erikson, cultures change According to Erikson, cultures change
through the action of persons whose ideas through the action of persons whose ideas
and behavior “fit” the culture.and behavior “fit” the culture.
Change can also occur as a result of Change can also occur as a result of
cataclysm, either physical as in famine, cataclysm, either physical as in famine,
war, epidemic, or disaster.war, epidemic, or disaster.
It can also change as a result of a It can also change as a result of a
“paradigm shift” in fundamental “paradigm shift” in fundamental
understandings by those in the culture.understandings by those in the culture.

7. Unique Aspects of the Human Unique Aspects of the Human
Species Species
The capacity to think.The capacity to think.
Sets humans apart from most other forms of Sets humans apart from most other forms of
life.life.
Humans have the capacity to externalize Humans have the capacity to externalize
the thought process.the thought process.
ToolsTools
Human reproductionHuman reproduction
Cloning Cloning

8. The Family as Human Universal The Family as Human Universal
The family is biologically based and is the The family is biologically based and is the
primary social unit.primary social unit.
Family is constant; the form of the family is Family is constant; the form of the family is
variable.variable.
The development of culture exists The development of culture exists
because culture is transmitted from one because culture is transmitted from one
generation to the next through education generation to the next through education
not through the genes.not through the genes.

9. Language and Communication Language and Communication
Language is defined as any transfer of Language is defined as any transfer of
meaning, but general usage refers only to meaning, but general usage refers only to
spoken and written messages.spoken and written messages.
It is essential to be attuned to unspoken It is essential to be attuned to unspoken
and unwritten language.and unwritten language.
Language structures realityLanguage structures reality
Form and variability determine how members Form and variability determine how members
of the culture will view reality and structure of the culture will view reality and structure
their thoughts. their thoughts.

10. Territoriality Territoriality
Tendency of people to seek and maintain Tendency of people to seek and maintain
a territory.a territory.
The definition of spatial and interactional The definition of spatial and interactional
territories is paramount feature of any territories is paramount feature of any
culture.culture.
Refers to the cultural ways people locate Refers to the cultural ways people locate
themselves in their universe and establish themselves in their universe and establish
the boundaries of their various human the boundaries of their various human
systems.systems.

11. Qualities of a Society Qualities of a Society
Culture is that complex whole that includes Culture is that complex whole that includes
knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, knowledge, belief, art, law, morals,
custom, and any other capabilities and custom, and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by a human being as a habits acquired by a human being as a
member of society.member of society.
Culture is viewed as the ways of doing, Culture is viewed as the ways of doing,
being, and explaining, as they exist in being, and explaining, as they exist in
each particular system.each particular system.

12. Tools Tools
Amplifiers of human capacities:Amplifiers of human capacities:
Sensory capacitySensory capacity
Motor capacityMotor capacity
Reasoning and thinking capacityReasoning and thinking capacity
Include devices, objects, and procedures that Include devices, objects, and procedures that
are extensions of human natural capacities.are extensions of human natural capacities.
Tools of a culture include not only understanding Tools of a culture include not only understanding
their built-in purpose but, their purpose for the their built-in purpose but, their purpose for the
user. user.

13. Social Organizations:Social Organizations:
Society and RolesSociety and Roles
All cultures, being social systems, have All cultures, being social systems, have
organization.organization.
Three aspects operating to define social class:Three aspects operating to define social class:
Economic statusEconomic status
Social statusSocial status
Political powerPolitical power
Social class suggests a group consciousness on Social class suggests a group consciousness on
the part of members.the part of members.
Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in Emergence of a permanent “underclass” in
American society.American society.

14. Role relates to and derives from status.Role relates to and derives from status.
Total of the cultural expectations associated with Total of the cultural expectations associated with
a particular status, including:a particular status, including:
AttitudesAttitudes
ValuesValues
BehaviorBehavior
Role expectation are defined by the culture and Role expectation are defined by the culture and
its components and incorporated by the persons its components and incorporated by the persons
filling the role.filling the role.

15. All persons occupy a complex set of roles:All persons occupy a complex set of roles:
ParentParent
ChildChild
WorkerWorker
VoterVoter
Worshipper Worshipper
The total number of roles is influenced by The total number of roles is influenced by
the quantity of networks they are involved the quantity of networks they are involved
in.in.

16. Language Language
Transfer of meaning between systems and Transfer of meaning between systems and
between subsystems.between subsystems.
Composed of symbols and the meanings Composed of symbols and the meanings
are learned and transferred through social are learned and transferred through social
interaction.interaction.
Communication of symbols and their Communication of symbols and their
meanings represents the major form of meanings represents the major form of
transaction between systems.transaction between systems.

17. Mead stated that we do not simply respond to Mead stated that we do not simply respond to
the acts of others; we act on our interpretations the acts of others; we act on our interpretations
of their intentions and judgments. of their intentions and judgments.
A means of setting and maintaining cultural A means of setting and maintaining cultural
boundaries; also to organize the energies of the boundaries; also to organize the energies of the
system.system.
The importance of screening and interpreting The importance of screening and interpreting
symbols in working with people is quite clear.symbols in working with people is quite clear.

18. Child RearingChild Rearing
A major task of any culture.A major task of any culture.
As a culture becomes more complex and As a culture becomes more complex and
differentiated, so too does child rearing, differentiated, so too does child rearing,
and other social provisions appear.and other social provisions appear.
These new systems arise to realize more These new systems arise to realize more
effectively the complex values of a culture.effectively the complex values of a culture.
Certain values are in conflict with certain Certain values are in conflict with certain
other values, leading to tension and strain other values, leading to tension and strain
within the culture.within the culture.

19. Human Urge to Explain the WorldHuman Urge to Explain the World
Humans are congenitally compelled to Humans are congenitally compelled to
impose a meaningful order upon reality.impose a meaningful order upon reality.
Religion, philosophy, science, and Religion, philosophy, science, and
superstition are some of the means.superstition are some of the means.
Science continues to be the dominant Science continues to be the dominant
means of exploring, explaining, and means of exploring, explaining, and
changing our world.changing our world.

20. Social Relations:Social Relations:
Caring Caring
Cultures are marked by the style in which Cultures are marked by the style in which
they conduct social relationships.they conduct social relationships.
Caring involves both an emotional Caring involves both an emotional
disposition and caring labor.disposition and caring labor.
It is a practice in which both thought and It is a practice in which both thought and
action are integrated around central aims action are integrated around central aims
or goals.or goals.
Caring is a dimension of culture as much Caring is a dimension of culture as much
as tools and language.as tools and language.

21. A feminist critique states that caring is largely A feminist critique states that caring is largely
delegated to women by a male-dominated delegated to women by a male-dominated
society.society.
Regardless of sex, individuals and groups who Regardless of sex, individuals and groups who
occupy subordinate status display a responsive occupy subordinate status display a responsive
orientation to others characterized by deference, orientation to others characterized by deference,
attentiveness, awareness of needs, attentiveness, awareness of needs,
understanding of perspectives, moods, understanding of perspectives, moods,
intentions, and responsiveness.intentions, and responsiveness.

22. An emphasis on autonomy as a basis for An emphasis on autonomy as a basis for
caring may be more acceptable to men.caring may be more acceptable to men.