AN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE AND IDENTITY
KEY CONCEPTS
How do we explain people's behaviour?
What are the social meanings we give to people's actions?
What is the relationship between the individual and society?
CULTURE
Life of the social group, including:
Customs
Norms (rules)
Values
The Relationship Between Culture and Social Structure
Culture explains how individuals are influenced by structural relationships, such as family or work etc. as this influence varies between cultures.
Material Culture
Objects produced and used by a society.
Like consumer goods showing status or identity.
Subculture
Identifiable, but different from mainstream. Age, ethnicity or other social characteristics.
Roles
Expected behaviour associated with a particular social position, eg. gender, age etc.
Learning the culture of a society. Sociologists believe it's all learned. Primary socialisation in the home, or secondary in schools etc. Lessons carry on into adulthood. Lessons may be rejected or adapted. Culture provides continuity but it also changes.
Identity
A sense of self develops in a child and they see themselves as separate individuals in family and society. We can:
See ourselves as others do
Imagine what it is like to be someone else
Anticipate the consequences of behaviour on others.
Postmodernism says identity important by examining the ways in which individuals get their sense of self by identifying with a range of social groups based on age, gender or ethnicity. ********************
THE MAIN SOCIOLOGICAL DEBATES
Is there a Dominant Culture?
Structural sociologists, Marxist, functionalist or feminist, generally agree that societies are dominated by a single culture, while recognising minority subcultures which differ from the dominant one.
Postmodernism, celebrates diversity and sees individuals making choices about identity by joining a variety of social groups and through consumption.
Responding to Cultural Diversity
In some places, diversity makes a new culture, or it can be seen as a threat and encourage racism.
The Main Sources of Identity
Postmodernism says it's less with class now and more to do with the products you consume, the cultural ones rather than manufactured.
Is Identity Chosen or Imposed?
Structuralists say it's imposed, interactionists and postmodernists, say individuals make choices and construct their own identities. Gidden's theory of structuration attempts to combine both perspectives.
How have Sociologists explained Socialization?
Marxists say ruling culture is imposed and make people falsely conscious. Feminists see patriarchal culture imposed on both genders and make them falsely conscious. Functionalists see socialization as learning a consensual culture which integrates society. Interactionists see socialization as a process of negotiation and labelling.
Extra Information
Exam tip: you must be able to define and explain the terms, and also use them in response to data response questions.
Be able to understand arguments in debates.