Page 91 - Essencials of Sociology

64 CHAPTER 2 Culture

Values in U.S. Society have customs concerning cooking, childbirth, funerals, and so
on, because these customs differ from one culture to another,
there are no cultural universals. Pp. 58–60.
Discuss the major U.S. values and explain value clusters, value
2.4
contradictions, value clashes, how values are lenses of perception, Technology in the Global Village
and ideal versus real culture.
What are some core U.S. values?
2.6 Explain how technology changes culture and what cultural lag
Although the United States is a pluralistic society, made up and cultural leveling are.
of many groups, each with its own set of values, certain values
dominate. These are called its core values. Core values do How is technology changing culture?
not change without opposition. Some values cluster together William Ogburn coined the term cultural lag to describe
to form a larger whole called value clusters. Value contra- how a group’s nonmaterial culture lags behind its changing
dictions (such as equality versus sexism and racism) indicate technology. With today’s technological advances in trade,
areas of tension, which are likely points of social change. travel, and communications, cultural diffusion is occurring
Leisure, self-fulfillment, physical fitness, youthfulness, and rapidly. This leads to cultural leveling, groups becoming
concern for the environment form an emerging value cluster. similar as they adopt items from other cultures. Much of the
Pp. 55–58. richness of the world’s diverse cultures is being lost in the
process. Pp. 60–63.
Cultural Universals

Take a position on the issue of the existence of cultural
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universals and contrast sociobiology with sociology.
Do cultural universals exist?
Cultural universal refers to a value, norm, or other cultural
trait that is found in all cultures. Although all human groups

Thinking Critically about Chapter 2
1. Do you favor ethnocentrism or cultural relativism? 3. Are you a member of any subcultures? Which one(s)?
Explain your position. Why do you think that your group is a subculture and
2. Do you think that the language change in Miami, Florida not a counterculture? What is your group’s relationship
(discussed on page 48), indicates the future of the United to the mainstream culture?
States? Why or why not?