The Four Elements Of The Four Aspects Of Nonmaterial Culture

Language is the foundation for all academic and social skills and the basis for strong relationships with children

Language is very important for one’s development because it can affect other areas of development and is critical to a child’s future success. For many other aspects of development, including cognitive, social and psychological language is very necessary. Language occurs before the baby is even a month old. For a developing child, the biggest thing that will contribute to our eventual language development is what we hear. Very soon, as a young infant, we demonstrate a sense of language just by simply the noise, movements, and expression that we make. Within the first year of life the baby is already babbling and speaking a hand full of words in their native language. Also they are much better at comprehending simple words spoken to them around

“Norms are written and unwritten rules that specify behaviors appropriate and inappropriate to a particular social situation (Ferrante, 2015, p. 50).” There are two types of norms; folkways and mores. “Folkways are norms that apply to the mundane aspects or details of daily life (Ferrante, 2015, p. 50).” The folkways included in survivalism involve moving to Idaho, attaining a swimming pool fish farm, and developing a grasp on the language that the survivalists use (Walsh, Vandici, Itz, & Collins, n.d.). “Mores are norms that people define as critical to the well-being of a group. Violation of mores can result in severe forms

Norms are behaviors or rules that set forth what is expected of us as people and as a society.

Norm violations are a form of actions that do not seem right to some people. Let’s say that you are in a public place, you are expected to act respectful and normal. Norms describes the expectation of a behavior. (James M. Henslin) One can perform a norm violation by doing the opposite of that, like invading personal space. There can be different reactions to violated norms which sociologists call sanctions. (Henslin) Mores, folkways, and values revolve around norms as well.

ciety has molded us to be or act a certain way, this all sdepends where we are in the world. For example in the United States it is considered completely normal for a women to show skin like their legs, arms, stomach, and chest while in some Islamic states, were it is considered a social value for women are not allowed to show any form of skin whether its legs, arms, and sometimes their face. One’s own society norms, values, and sanctions vary depending where you are geographically in the world as well as your status in your society. I witnessed many norm violations being done on a daily basis and did a couple myself. In every class of individuals one establishes their values which help create their norms while creating negative and positive

While observing deviance, one will realize deviance comes in many forms of behaviors and characteristics. Most think of deviance a bad behavior, which is true, but deviance is much more boarder than that. Deviance can be defined in many different ways, however according to (Adler 2012), deviance is the violation of social norms. (p.11) To get a better understanding, Norms is considered as a way of life for many people, basically what is acceptable in society’s eyes. There are three types’ of norms, folkways, mores, and laws. Folkways are norms that which is strongly constructed more so of traditions, etiquette, and customs. Next you have, Mores, it is constructed

So, think about why these norms are in place and what purpose they serve (some hints would be to think about personal space, our tolerance for strangers, etc).

We live in a society where we have to follow a certain structure in our lives. If someone were to do something out of the ordinary it is considered to be a norm violation. Although, sometimes there could also be exceptions to those norm violations. Throughout this experience of committing my own norm validation and observing a few validations from people living their normal lives, I gained knowledge of how society reacts to these unusual norms.

In day to day life, we stand in lines, we drive on the right side of the road, and just the expectations of people around us. We do this because standing out or getting punished in society isn’t something most people want to do. Norms dictate our lives, but what exactly are they? Folkways, or informal rules, are not a big deal to violate, but you are expected to follow. When a folkway is broken, like cutting in line, it is not a big deal. Besides a few angry people at you, you will not go to jail, or be punished. Mores, are formal, and when violated can be punished. When a more is broken, like driving in the wrong lane, you are probably going to receive a citation or go to jail. While I preferred not to receive a citation or go to jail, I decided to break a folkway. As a Sergeant of Narcotics Investigation for my sheriff’s office, I am happy to wear a t-shirt, with BUD tactical pants, and an outer vest that I only throw on in case of an emergency or when I am in the field. I decided to wear my old patrol uniform, a big no-no for members of investigation, as the Uniform Patrol are thought to be “Inferior” to the investigation

The study of culture is the idea of studying humankind. Social Darwinism laws emerged around the 19th and early 20th century and was advocated by Herbert Spencer along with a host of another sociological theorist. Behavior established or related to standard norms in the Western and European standards have evolved over centuries evolved. This idea was used to justify political conservatism, imperialism, and racism and to discourage intervention and reform. Distinguishing cultural, nonmaterial culture and material culture include a few elements to keep in mind. Culture (nonmaterial culture) is defined by language, beliefs, values, and symbols in a society. Anthropologist George Murdock (1945: 124) compiled a list of more than seventy cultural universals customs and practices that occur across all societies. Cultural transmission is also the process by which one generation passes culture to the next.

In the short story, multiple elements of material/non-material culture are portrayed. Material culture is composed of tangible items that are symbolic or hold meaning to a society such as having a car. Non-material culture consists of ideas, morals and values that hold importance a society or culture. This story illustrates the effect culture can have in our behavior and how it shapes our society, it just comes to support the idea that culture and society are dependent on each other in order to thrive. In order to comprehend material and non-material culture we will first have to separate the both an apply them to context.

What are norms? A norm can be described as a standard, model or pattern that has been accepted and used throughout society. The Buddha, before he became enlightened, was part of a group called the youth. The youth of his time and our time are akin in numerous scenarios. Primarily, the youth from both

Norms are essentially unspoken rules of conduct given by society. These vary and evolve not only through time but also vary from one age group to another and between social classes and social groups. (Becker) It is important to understand how norms dictate our society because breaking any norms can lead to a negative sanctions Sanctions are punishments or rewards one receive when you either abide by a norm or violate it. (Carl, 54) Different types of norms call for different level of sanctions. There are three different types or levels of norms: folkways, mores, and taboos. Folkways are informal norms when violate have lax consequence. An example is picking your nose in class. While it seen as un-hygienic, the sanction for this violation is less severe. The next level of norm is mores. Mores have a much greater value attached to it. Mores distinguish the difference between right and wrong, while folkways draw a line

Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1962) identify over 150 scientific definitions of the concept of culture. Indeed, many authors have tried to define culture and this is why there are so many definitions and that a unique one is hard to find. First of all, Kroeber and Kluckholn (1952) assume that culture is a suite of patterns, implicit and explicit, “of and for behaviour acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiments in artefacts” (p.47). Later, Hofstede adds that culture is “the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another” (Hofstede, 1991, p.51). This definition is the most widely accepted one amongst practitioners. For Winthrop (1991), culture is the distinctive models of thoughts, actions and values that composed members of a society or a social group. In other words,