Chapter 3

Culture
By: Adila Abdullah

What is culture?
Culture is the ways of thinking, the ways of acting and the
material object that together form a peoples way of life.
The root of the word culture is the same as that of the word
cultivate, suggesting that people living together in a society
actually grow their way of life over time.
Divided into two major parts
a) material culture- The physical things created by members of
a society. Example, clothes, shelter.
b) Non-material culture- the ideas created by members of a
society. Example; language, beliefs, values

Component of Culture
Symbols
Language
Values
Norms

and beliefs

Symbols

Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by

people who shared a culture.
Example: a whistle, a wall covered with graffiti, a flag.
Difference meaning can e associated with the same symbol.
Example; wink of an eye.
Societies create new symbols all the time. Example, new
cyber- b4, cu, omg, gtg, etc.

Language
Language- system of symbols that allows people to
communicate with one another.
Language also key to cultural transmission- the process by
which one generation passes cultural to the next.
Languages evolve in responsetochanginghistorical and
socialconditions. Some language transformations typically
occur in a generation or less.
For instance, the slang words used by your parents were very
likely different from those that you use today. You also
probably are familiar with many technical terms, such as "text
messaging" and "high definition TV", that were not in general
use even a decade ago.

Cont
A

dialect is a variant of a language. Dialects may be

both regional and social. If it is associated with a
geographically isolated speech community, it is
referred to as a regional dialect.
However, if it is spoken by a speech community that is
merely socially isolated, it is called a social dialect.
These latter dialects are mostly based on class,
ethnicity, gender, age, and particular social situations.
Typically, the dialects of a society are ranked relative
to each other in terms of social status

Values and Beliefs

Values- Culturally defined standards that people use

to decide what is desirable, good and beautiful that
serve as broad guidelines for social living.
Belief-Specific thoughts or ideas that people hold to
be true.

Values 1 Malaysia

Culture of excellent
Boldness
Humility
Reception
Loyalty
Meritocracy
Education
Integrity

Norms

Norms- Rules and expectations by which a society guides the

behavior of its members.
Mores- Norms that are widely observed and have great moral
significance. Distinguishing what is right and what is wrong.
For example: Adults not engage in sexual relations with
children.
Folkways- Norms for routine or casual interaction. For
instance, Appropriate greetings, proper dress, brushing teeth,
etc
Social Control- Attempts by society to regulate peoples
thoughts and behavior.

Cultural Diversity: Many Ways of Live in One

World
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

High Culture and Popular Culture

Subculture
Multiculturalism
Counterculture
Cultural Change
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

1) High Cultural and Popular

Culture

High culture: Cultural patterns that distinguish a

societys elite.
High culture consists of classical music, opera, ballet,
live theater and other activities usually utilized by
elite audiences, composed primarily of members of
the upper middle and upper classes, who have the
time, money and knowledge assumed to be
necessary for its appreciation.
High culture as a device used by the dominant class
to exclude the subordinate classes.

Cont
Popular

Culture: Culture patterns that are widespread

among a societys population
Popular culture consists of activities, products, and
services that are assumed to appeal primarily to
members of the middle and working classes.
For example: movies, cell phone, football, etc.

2) Subculture

Subculture- Cultural patterns that set apart some

segments of societys population.

Some people who have unique shared behavior

linked to a common racial, language or nationality
background identify themselves as members of a
specific subculture.

3) Multiculturalism

A perspective recognizing the cultural diversity of

the United States and promoting equal standing for
all cultural traditions.
Immigrants from around the world have come
together to form a new way of life

4) Counterculture
Counterculture:

Cultural patterns that

strongly oppose those widely accepted
within society.
Young people are most likely to join
counterculture group, perhaps because
younger persons generally have less
invested in the existing culture

5) Cultural Change

Societies experience cultural change at both material and

nonmaterial levels.
Changes in technology continue to shape the material culture
of society.
Technology refers to the knowledge, techniques and tools
that allow people to transform resources into usable forms
and the knowledge and skills required to use what is
developed.
New technologies make a significant difference in many
peoples lives.

Cont
All parts of culture do not change at the same pace.
When a change occurs in the material culture of a
society, nonmaterial must adapt that change. Frequently
resulting a gap between the two.
William F. Ogburn- Cultural Lag (The fact that some
cultural elements changes more quickly than others
disrupting a cultural system)
Cultural lag occurs when material cultural change faster
than nonmaterial culture, thus creating a lag between the
two cultural components.
For instance, the invention of automobile.

Causes of Change
1)

Invention- the process of creating new

culture elements. For example: telephone,
computer, internet.
2)Discovery- recognizing and understanding
more fully something already existence. For
example: Foods of other culture
3) Diffusion- the spread of cultural traits from
one society to another through such means as
exploration, the media, tourism and
immigration.

6) Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism- the practice of judging another cultural by the

standards' of ones own culture.
Ethnocentrism is based on the assumption that ones own
way of life superior than all others.
For example: Most school children are taught that their own
school and country are the best. The school song, national
anthem.
Negative impact- people emotionally attached to their way of
life.

 An

alternative to ethnocentrism is cultural relativism- the

practice of judging a culture by its own standards)
Cultural must be viewed from the standpoint of those who
live in a particular society.
For example: Why cattle are viewed as sacred and not kill
and eaten in India, where widespread hunger and
malnutrition exist?
From the ethnocentric view, cow worship is the cause of the
hunger in India.
However, the Hindu taboo against killing cattle is very
important to their economic system. Live cows are valuable
because they are direct source of food. From ecological
system cows consume grasses of little values to humans.
Then they produce fuel, fertilizer, milk, leather and floor
covering.
Negeri Sembilan- Adat pepatih more emphasize to

Culture and Human Freedom

Culture

as constrain
Culture as freedom