Ch. 3- Cultural Structures Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Ch. 3- Cultural Structures Deck (26)
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1
Q

Institutional explanations

A

explanations that focus on the way institutions (e.g. government, the law, patriarchy) act externally- as source of social power- to influence social behavior

2
Q

Cultural explanations

A

Explanations that consider the way internal systems of meaning influence and dictate social behavior. Rather than emphasizing the power and material resources of institutions, cultural explanations emphasize symbols that shape and limit our individual actions, thoughts, and feelings.

3
Q

Symbol

A

something that stands for something else (e.g. a flag, a dollar sign, or a cross; 2 categories: the sacred (good) and the profane (bad or evil)

4
Q

Symbolic system

A

A system or pattern of symbols – for example, language or fashion.

5
Q

Social code

A

pattern of meanings that undergird specific situations. For example, a young child can eat spaghetti with her hands at a restaurant, but for an adult to do so at a business dinner would be considered inappropriate and unprofessional.

6
Q

Classifications

A

Groupings of events and objects that are familiar, similar, or different

7
Q

Laws

A

written norms that prescribe or proscribe specific sets of behaviors under threat of punishment.

8
Q

Counterculture

A

a term referring to values and behaviors that go against those of mainstream society

9
Q

Belief

A

a statement that attempts to describe some aspect of collective reality (i.e. “Gods exists”, “The earth is round”)- whether it is true or false.

10
Q

Behavior

A

Anything we do, regardless whether they are consistent or not with one’s attitude.

11
Q

Attitudes

A

the statements that people make about their values and beliefs.

12
Q

socioeconomic class

A

One of the most common classifications on society, closely tied to occupation and income. Members of different social classes are often seen as occupying different positions in a social hierarchy, and as having unequal access to resources, opportunities, and power. From a cultural perspective, however, socioeconomic class is most relevant in the context of understanding various ways of life, social codes, and classificatory schemes.

13
Q

Genre

A

a distinctive form of cultural expression that aims to create symbols that engage, entertain and sensitize (e.g. commercial art, jazz, musical comedy, framed oil paintings, and evening sitcoms)

14
Q

What is

explanations that focus on the way institutions (e.g. government, the law, patriarchy) act externally- as source of social power- to influence social behavior

A

Institutional explanations

15
Q

What is

Explanations that consider the way internal systems of meaning influence and dictate social behavior. Rather than emphasizing the power and material resources of institutions, cultural explanations emphasize symbols that shape and limit our individual actions, thoughts, and feelings.

A

Cultural explanations

16
Q

What is

something that stands for something else (e.g. a flag, a dollar sign, or a cross; 2 categories: the sacred (good) and the profane (bad or evil)

A

Symbol

17
Q

What is

A system or pattern of symbols – for example, language or fashion.

A

Symbolic system

18
Q

What is

pattern of meanings that undergird specific situations. For example, a young child can eat spaghetti with her hands at a restaurant, but for an adult to do so at a business dinner would be considered inappropriate and unprofessional.

A

Social code

19
Q

What is

Groupings of events and objects that are familiar, similar, or different

A

Classifications

20
Q

What is

written norms that prescribe or proscribe specific sets of behaviors under threat of punishment.

A

Laws

21
Q

What is

a term referring to values and behaviors that go against those of mainstream society

A

Counterculture

22
Q

What is

a statement that attempts to describe some aspect of collective reality (i.e. “Gods exists”, “The earth is round”)- whether it is true or false.

A

Belief

23
Q

What is

Anything we do, regardless whether they are consistent or not with one’s attitude.

A

Behavior

24
Q

What is

the statements that people make about their values and beliefs.

A

Attitudes

25
Q

What is

One of the most common classifications on society, closely tied to occupation and income. Members of different social classes are often seen as occupying different positions in a social hierarchy, and as having unequal access to resources, opportunities, and power. From a cultural perspective, however, socioeconomic class is most relevant in the context of understanding various ways of life, social codes, and classificatory schemes.

A

socioeconomic class

26
Q

What is

a distinctive form of cultural expression that aims to create symbols that engage, entertain and sensitize (e.g. commercial art, jazz, musical comedy, framed oil paintings, and evening sitcoms)

A

Genre