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2: Culture as a Social Construct

  • Page ID
    13444
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    Learning Objectives

    At the end of the module, students will be able to:

    1. illustrate how culture is constructed and received
    2. describe the influence of context on cultural creation and acceptance
    3. explain the significance of collective culture on group solidarity and cohesion
    4. discuss and assess the impact of cultural change on the social structure

    How does culture affect your thinking and behavior? How are you able to communicate the influence of culture on your life to others? How do you justify your culture as true, real, or tangible? Because culture is a socially meaningful expression that can be articulated and shared it often takes a physical form in our minds. A spiritual or philosophical expression that is not physical in nature becomes tangible in our minds and is equivalent to an “object” (Griswold 2013). The cultural expression is so real that people perceive it as something achievable or concrete (even if only in psychological form). The mental picture is the object and the meaning associated with the object is the expression when we are speaking about non-material culture.

    • 2.1: Social Production of Culture
      This page explores the connection between love and material culture, illustrating how emotions manifest in tangible forms, particularly through gifts. It highlights the significance of cultural objects, shaped by diverse backgrounds, and how culture is validated through communal acceptance. Social media's role in amplifying cultural ideas is showcased, alongside a discussion on the societal implications of cyberbullying and the perceptions it generates.
    • 2.2: Collective Culture
      This page examines cultural universals, like cooking and marriage, and their variations in different contexts. It explores Emile Durkheim's mechanical and organic solidarity, discussing social bonds in communities of varying sizes and the phenomenon of social anomie during transitions between these types. Additionally, it introduces Charles Horton Cooley's "looking glass self," highlighting how interactions influence self-identity and social connections.
    • 2.3: Group and Organizational Culture
      This page explores group dynamics, distinguishing primary and secondary groups, in-groups and out-groups, and their influence on identity and social interactions. It highlights reference groups' roles in self-evaluation and social acceptance, particularly in social movements. Additionally, it delves into nonverbal communication related to norm violations in organizations, examining reactions to breaches and the enforcement of norms influenced by peer pressure and external factors.
    • 2.4: Levels of Culture
      This page examines the three levels of culture: international, national, and subculture. It describes how international culture transcends borders through technology and globalization, while national culture is defined by unique symbols and values of a country. Subcultures, like athletic groups, showcase distinct artifacts and values within nations.
    • 2.S: Culture as a Social Construct (Summary)
      This page provides an overview of key sociological terms and concepts essential for cultural and organizational studies, including acculturation, cultural change, and collective consciousness. It addresses group dynamics, distinctions between in-groups and out-groups, and the roles of different organizations (normative, coercive, utilitarian) in society.

    Thumbnail: Charlottesville "Unite the Right" Rally. Alt-right members preparing to enter Emancipation Park holding Nazi, Confederate Battle, Gadsden "Don't Tread on Me," League of the South, and Thor's Hammer flags. (CC BY 2.0 Generic;  via Flickr)


    This page titled 2: Culture as a Social Construct is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Vera Kennedy via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.