Institutional norms are driven by sentimental values and socially acceptable perceptions of people’s actions in attempting to achieve their goals. The interaction between cultural goals and social norms
The purpose of the following paper is to analyze, interpret and discuss individualism vs. collectivism and their significance in understanding cultural differences. Individualism vs. Collectivism In order to understand the different processes and roles that an individual goes through their life span development it is very important to understand what is the meaning of culture and how much does culture matters. Every human being reacts and behaves according to the environment in which is exposed through their life. People live in different societies and as a consequence their cultural perspective and psychological processes are different from others. From a multicultural psychological perspective individualism and collectivism are concepts that enclose essential differences in how the interactions between people and their roles in societies are build.
Cultural relativism Denise Lewis ANT 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (GSF1517D) Instructor: Fae Goodman Date Submitted The comprehension of a different culture practices tends to be difficult when only used in comparison to one’s own culture and practices. It may seem not normal for one’s own standards yet to those of the opposite cultures our own practices may not be considered as normal or logical to them as well. In order to be able to understand any culture, one must really know the meaning of cultural relativism. “Cultural relativism is the idea that the significance of an act is best understood by the standards of the actor’s own culture” (Crapo, 2013). Using this definition will lay the foundation of this paper.
In most cases, society affects it by the formation of prevailing fashions and cultural characteristics of the times, which are commonly called the custom. This is deeply rooted in the propaganda and education, as well as based on the development of politics and economy. People are exerted a subtle influence on while they may not recognize the fact. One who defy it would be viewed like an ‘alien’ and unable to integrate into society However, it is worthy of further discussion that the way people look, dress and act can represent what the whole society holds and values comprehensively and accurately. When speaking from the personal level, the answer tends to be negative.
Summarize the Milgram Study findings and importance and analyse: (a) In your view how is the Milgram Study on Obedience of interest to contemporary organisations and management? And (b) What are the potentially negative ethical consequences of blind and unquestioned obedience in organizations for both the organization’s own sustainability and organizational learning on one hand, and the way it treats its internal and external stakeholders? Critically analyse and discuss both (a) and (b) One of the most important elements of our society is the involvement of its members in organizations. People that become part of an organisation interact with each other so social life is formed inside the organisational structure but outside of it as well. Like most of the organisational management essentials, social life consists of norms that define people’s way of behaving and operating.
Culture is defined as the learned, shared behaviour of the members of a society including values, norms and meanings. It’s a focal point of our being and has the ability to unite or damage a society and furthermore a nation. There are many theories surrounding the importance and functionality of culture and in this essay, I will be assessing the Functionalists’ theories and contrasting it with alternative sociological points of view. Similar to their theory of socialization, Item A reveals the functionalist theory of everything in society performing a function in order to create a value consensus. Durkheim is a firm supporter of this theory and believes that social order is held together by attitudes of solidarity which play the role of ensuring the survival of a well integrated society in which everything and everybody is a piece of a jigsaw that fits together to create a bigger picture.
In the chapter, Individual Autonomy and Social Structure, by anthropologist, Dorothy Lee, she discussed how within a given society, there can be many different cultures. It is through culture that we define ourselves to our society, including our own rights and beliefs. With these different points of view and ways of life, there are many normality’s in regards to resolving a conflict, and understanding so. The reading gave outlook on to how different societies deal with their conflicts, and exactly how; “The principle of personal autonomy is supported by the cultural framework.” (Lee, 5) The key problem that is addressed in this reading is the conflict that takes place in between an individual’s autonomy and social structure. Although everyone has personal autonomy, there is always a limit to it, in our society.
In addition to body movements and gestures, the nonverbal cues given through facial expressions and eye contact, personal space, and touch, influence individual interactions in the workplace. While this body language is fairly well understood in general in each culture, there are major cultural differences in nonverbal communication. Because communication styles are different in different cultures and it can lead to misunderstandings, people should have general knowledge about cultural features, conversation etiquettes and mentality of other nationalities, so avoiding awkward situations. In different cultures communication can be differentiated in some ways. Culture can be defined as that set of values and beliefs, norms and customs, and rules and codes that socially define groups of people.
The cultural aspect of the sociological imagination involves the “learned ideas, values, knowledge, rules and customs shared by members of a collectivity” (Holmes et al, 2003, pg 11). Culture in the sociological imagination allows the comprehension of why people hold certain ideas and values, and follows certain rules and customs. The critical aspect of the sociological imagination stipulates the initiative to analyze. Although it is, by human nature, to assume the meaning of actions carried out by people, C. Wright Mills claims that assumptions are not enough. Through assumptions, many things are taken for granted and the true meaning is not revealed.
He uses Clyde Kuckhohn’s Mirror of Man, a work he believes is a good general introduction to anthropology, as a basis to describe his own view. He believes that Kluckhohns definition of culture as “the total way of life of a people”, is slightly constricted and does not represent the complete picture. He sees the concept of culture as predominately a semiotic one. Semiotic being the study of signs and sign processes. Geertz sees culture as “webs of significance” and the analysis of these webs.