LO 8-2 Distinguish between norms and values and identify examples of sanctions for formal and informal norms. • Sociologists distinguish between norms in two ways, classifying them as formal or informal and as mores or folkways. • The formal (defined) norms of a culture will carry the heaviest sanctions; informal (generally understood) norms will carry light sanctions. • Mores are norms that embody cherished principles of a society, and folkways are informal norms that govern everyday behavior. • Values are comparatively stable and influence behavior, serving as criteria for evaluating the actions of others. LO 8-3 Discuss the differences in values concepts for global cultural war and clash of civilizations. • The notion of global cultural war holds that societies today are engaged in serious disputes that focus on controversial elements of culture, an idea that generally disregards evidence of widely shared human values. • Some scholars and politicians have interpreted terrorism, genocide, and other forms of military struggle as evidence of a clash of civilizations, involving cultural and religious issues rather than strictly national or political concerns. LO 8-4 Analyze culture and the dominant ideology using the major sociological perspectives. • The dominant ideology of a culture is the set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests. • Identifying a dominant, or core, culture in the United States is difficult, and perhaps undesirable, because of the extensive cultural variation within U.S. society. 72 CHAPTER THREE Culture KEY TERMS Culture war The polarization of society over controversial cultural elements. Dominant ideology A set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests. Folkway A norm governing everyday behavior whose violation raises comparatively little concern. Formal norm A norm that has been written down and that specifies strict punishments for violators. Informal norm A norm that is generally understood but not precisely recorded. Language An abstract system of word meanings and symbols for all aspects of culture; includes gestures and other nonverbal communication. Law Governmental social control. Mores Norms deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society. Norm An established standard of behavior maintained by a society. Sanction A penalty or reward for conduct concerning a social norm. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis A hypothesis concerning the role of language in shaping our interpretation of reality. It holds that language is culturally determined. Symbol A gesture, object, or word that forms the basis of human communication. Value A collective conception of what is considered good, desirable, and proper—or bad, undesirable, and improper— in a culture. MODULE 9 Development of Culture around the World Learning Objectives LO 9-1 Explain the processes by which culture develops and spreads. LO 9-2 Demonstrate the ways in which technology has affected the speed of cultural diffusion. Module Outline Innovation Globalization, Diffusion, and Technology
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