Book Chapter 3

practices: nonmaterial cultural elements that refer to a group's traditional commonplace behaviors

cultural transmission: process by which people learn their culture

industrial societies: massive urban centers built around factories and supported by the people who moved there

norms: nonmaterial cultural elements that designate expectations or rules for behavior

value contradictions: cultural elements that are inconsistent, contradictory, or mutually exclusive

culture: complex system of meaning that a group uses to understand and share experiences

ideal culture: idealized cultural elements, or what people in a society theoretically value, believe, or practice

society: diverse collection of people who live in a defined geographic area and share a common way of life

agrarian societies: most advanced of the agricultural era, groups living in settlements while growing crops and animals

nonmaterial culture: fundamental ways of thinking, knowing, or doing that are characteristic of a culture

cultural diffusion: particular elements of one culture adopted by another

values: nonmaterial cultural elements that represent that the ideal principles of a society

cultural lag: situations in which material culture changes more quickly than nonmaterial culture

real culture: values, beliefs, and practices that people in a society actually follow in their daily lives

cultural universals: elements of culture that almost all societies have in common

sanctions: reactions in response to following a norm or violating a norm

technological revolution: social revolution marked by a rapid spread of industrialization

cultural lead: situations in which nonmaterial culture changes more quickly than material culture

third-person effect: common belief that you personally are not affected by mass media messages to the extent of others

folkways: norms that are less strongly enforced

mores: norms that are more strongly enforced

cross-cultural research: research that includes multiple cultures in the same study

social revolution: period of social change that fundamentally alters the way of life in a society

postindustrial societies: characterized by an economy based on the production of info and services

counterculture: subculture that opposes aspects of the dominant culture

pop culture: common activities and interests of the general public that largely center on entertainment

industrial revolution: social revolution that was a move away from an economy based on agriculture to mass production

culture shock: times of rapid cultural change

cultural relativism: attempting to understand another culture from the perspective and experiences of its members

economic capital: money and liquid assets

digital revolutions: social revolution marked by a shift from analog to digital technology

agricultural revolution: social revolution marked by formally nomadic groups starting to grow plants or raise animals

cultural capital: socially valued knowledge, skills, and education that one possesses

h & g societies: earliest human societies, nomadic bands that sustained themselves by using simple tools

horticultural societies: part of the agricultural era and focused on growing crops while continuing to hunt wild animals

High culture: represents the very best of a society, or its most revered thoughts, knowledge, and accomplishments

propoganda: refers to the use of mass media to disseminate messages meant to sway public opinion

pastoral societies: agricultural era focused on raising animals while continuing to forage for vegetation

language: nonmaterial culture and refers to symbols that members of a culture use to express meaning

material culture: cultural elements produced by a society that convey cultural meaning

ethnocentrism: tendency for people to use the standards of their own culture as a basis for evaluating others

social capital: connections among people that cause social cohesion

folk culture: common activities and interests of small, homogeneous groups

mass media: any platform or message that is intended to communicate with a mass general audience

taboos: strongly enforced formal norms; represent what people in society consider to be the most unconscionable behavior

mean world syndrome: effect of watching violent media content that leads to increased fears of crime victimization

beliefs: nonmaterial cultural elements that refer to understandings about what is real to true

subculture: non-dominant culture that exists in a society; all of the characteristics of distinct culture