Cultural ConformityCultural Conformityand Adaptationand Adaptation

Chapter Three

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THE AMERICAN THE AMERICAN VALUE SYSTEMVALUE SYSTEM

Section One

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Despite all of our Despite all of our differences (race, religion, differences (race, religion, socio-economic status, socio-economic status, etc.), Americans share etc.), Americans share certain values.certain values.

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I. Traditional American I. Traditional American ValuesValuesSociologist Robin Williams

identified a set of 15 values central to the American way of life.

A.Personal Achievement: the U.S. was built on individualism and competition

B.Individualism: we work solo and are to blame when we fail

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C. Work: those that don’t are lazy and looked at negatively

D. Morality & Humanitarianism: we tend to be “religious” and have definite ideas of what’s right and wrong

E. Efficiency & Practicality: we’re inventive and interested in the usefulness of technology

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F. Progress & Material Comfort: we’re comfortable with science and technology and value material items

G. Equality & Democracy: including equal opportunity

H. Freedom: choice is important

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I. Nationalism & Patriotism: often for holidays or at time of war

J. Science & Rationality: we like to have explanations

K. Racial & Group Superiority: our group of people are best

L. Education: added by James Henslin

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II. Our Changing ValuesII. Our Changing Values

A. Values are dynamic—they’re always changing

B. Additional Values—linked to self-fulfillment

1. Leisure2. Physical Fitness3. Youthfulness4. Concern for Environment

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C. Christopher Lasch1. Author of The Culture of

Narcissism2. Americans are extremely

self-centered

D. Daniel Yankelovich1. Americans believe less in

hard work today2. We need to focus on

fulfillment outside of material items

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SOCIAL CONTROLSOCIAL CONTROLSection Two

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Norms are developed to Norms are developed to help a society run help a society run smoothly.smoothly.

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I. Internalization of NormsI. Internalization of NormsPeople follow rules because it is

good, useful, or appropriate

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II. SanctionsII. Sanctions

A. Positive Sanctions: rewards for certain behaviors

◦ Example: raises for good work

B. Negative Sanctions: punishment for undesired behaviors

◦ Example: spankings for bad children

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C. Formal Sanctions: given by formal organizations (schools, businesses, or governments)

◦ Example: job promotion or imprisonment

D. Informal Sanctions: spontaneous approval or disapproval

◦ Example: compliments or frowns

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III. Social Control (enforcing III. Social Control (enforcing norms)norms)A. Self-controlB. Encouraged by: authority

figures, courts, police, religion, family, and public opinion

Capital Punishment—is this right or wrong?

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Social StructureSocial Structure

Chapter Four

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BUILDING BLOCKS OF BUILDING BLOCKS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURESOCIAL STRUCTURE

Section One

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Question: Can a society Question: Can a society exist without a social exist without a social structure—a system of structure—a system of interrelated parts?interrelated parts?

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I. StatusI. Status

A. Definition: a socially defined position in a group or in a society

B. Types1. Ascribed: assigned position based

on age or inherited traits Example: teenager, gender, race

2. Achieved: a position acquired due to a person’s own efforts

Example: occupations, athletes, wife

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3. Master: the status that plays the greatest role in defining a person’s life/identity; usually changes throughout a person’s life

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II. RolesII. Roles

A. Definition: the behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status

B. Role Issues1. Reciprocal: needs a corresponding

role to be fulfilled Example: husband/wife, doctor/patient

2. Role Expectations: socially determined behaviors

Example: police officers are expected to follow the law

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3. Role Performance: the actual behavior

Do all police officers follow the law?

4. Role Conflict: when a person’s roles conflict

Example: a good employee goes to work every day, but a good parent stays home with a sick child

5. Role Strain: when a person has trouble completing the expected behaviors for his/her status

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III. Social InstitutionsIII. Social Institutions

A. Definition: when the statuses and roles are organized to satisfy the basic needs of society

B. Examples: family, the economy, politics, education, religion, the media, medicine, and science

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TYPES OF SOCIETIESTYPES OF SOCIETIESSection Three

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I. Preindustrial SocietiesI. Preindustrial Societies The main economic activity is

food productionA. Hunting and Gathering Societies

1. Collect plants and hunt animals daily

2. Nomadic3. Usually less than 60 people4. Family is the main social unit

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B. Pastoral Societies1. Domesticate animals for food needs2. Nomadic3. Groups are larger than Hunters &

Gatherers4. Division of labor: food production,

craftworks, weapons, etc.5. Trade with other groups or families6. Heredity chieftainships

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C. Horticulture Societies1. Use simple tools to cultivate the

land for multiple seasons2. Have villages with 30 to 2000

people

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D. Agricultural Societies1. Uses technology to

maximize production2. Develop cities with

specialized roles3. Use money4. Have armies for defense

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II. Industrial SocietiesII. Industrial SocietiesThe main economic activity

is producing manufactured goods

A.Urbanization: population is concentrated in cities

B.Use the assembly line/mass production

C.Science often challenges religious ideas

D.Social mobility is possible29

III. Post Industrial III. Post Industrial SocietiesSocietiesThe main economic activity is

providing information and services

A.Includes the United StatesB.Emphasizes science and

education

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