Culture and

Society
THINK!!!!!

What is the
relationship
between Culture
and Society?
 What is Culture?
It is a complex whole which
includes knowledge, beliefs, arts,
morals, laws, customs and any
other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of
society.

It is a foundation of man’s endless

transaction and continuing
interaction with his environment.
 Functions of Culture

1. Culture allows man to adjust

and adapt as to be integrated
with his environment through
his creativity and
resourcefulness to survive.
 Functions of Culture

2. Culture maintains its patterns

of etiquette, protocols, and
norms considered as acceptable
social behavior.
 Functions of Culture

3. Culture sends its meanings

through verbal and non-verbal
communication, written and
non-written language,
symbolisms and expressions.
 Functions of Culture

4. Culture creates man-made

things such as clothing, tools,
equipments made possible by
technological know-how.
 Functions of Culture

5. Culture paves way to overall

human satisfaction as ways to
make life more rewarding and
interesting.
Elements of Culture

1. Knowledge
2. Beliefs
3. Social Norms
What are Social Norms?

Social norms are the

unwritten rules of beliefs,
attitudes, and behaviors
that are considered
acceptable in a particular
social group or culture.
They provide us with an
expected idea of how to
behave, and function to
provide order and
predictability in society.
Forms of Social Norms?

FOLKWAYS

- In simple terms,
folkways are the
customary, normal and
habitual ways of the
group to meet certain
needs or solving day-to-
day problems.
 FOLKWAYS

1. A common example of a folkway is the practice, in

many societies, of waiting in line. This practice brings
order to the process of buying things or receiving services,
allowing us to more easily perform the tasks of our daily
lives.

2. Other examples of folkways include the concept of

appropriate dress, the practice of raising one's hand to
take turns speaking in a group, and the practice of "civil
inattention"—when we politely ignore others around us
in public settings.
 MORES

 Mores are norms of morality, or right and

wrong, and if you break one it is often
considered offensive to most people of a
culture. Sometimes a more violation can
also be illegal, but other times it can just
be offensive. If a more is not written down
in legislation, it cannot get sanctioned by
the criminal justice system.
 MORES
 For example, many religions have prohibitions on
cohabitation with a romantic partner before marriage.
If a young adult from a strict religious family moves in
with her boyfriend then her family, friends, and
congregation are likely to view her behavior as
immoral.
 If one attended a funeral for a family member, no one
would expect to see someone in bright pink clothes or a
red one. Most people are encouraged to wear black
clothing out of respect. Although there may not be
specific rules or laws that state expected attire to wear
to a funeral
 TABOOS

A taboo is a very strong negative norm; it is a prohibition

of certain behavior that is so strict that violating it results
in extreme disgust and even expulsion from the group or
society.

Often the violator of the taboo is considered unfit to live in

that society. For instance, in some Muslim cultures, eating
pork is taboo because the pig is considered unclean. At the
more extreme end, incest and cannibalism are both
considered taboos in most places.
 LAWS

 Laws are social norms that have become

formally inscribed at the state or federal
level and can laws can result in formal
punishment for violations, such as fines,
incarceration, or even death. Laws are a
form of social control that outlines rules,
habits, and customs a society uses to
enforce conformity to its norms.
Ethnocentrism,
Xenocentrism
and
Cultural
Relativism
 ETHNOCENTRISM

 Ethnocentrism is a belief in the

superiority of your own culture. It results
from judging other cultures by your own
cultural ideals. Ethnocentrism is linked to
cultural blind spots. Blind spots occur
when we fail to attribute differences
between our behaviours and beliefs and
those of others to differences in cultural
schemas.
 XENOCENTRISM

 Xenocentrism is the opposite of

ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that
another culture is superior to one’s own.
It is the preference for the products, style,
culture, people, significant others, and
food of others, rather than of one's own.
 Cultural Relativism

 Cultural relativism is the idea that a

person's beliefs, values, and practices
should be understood based on that
person's own culture, and not be judged
against the criteria of another.