Culture
59 flashcards covering Culture for the MCAT Chem / Phys / Psych / Soc section.
Culture is the shared set of beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that define a group of people or society. It influences how individuals think, communicate, and interact, shaping everything from social norms to personal identities. For example, culture affects language, traditions, and even perceptions of health and illness, making it a fundamental concept in understanding human behavior and social structures.
On the MCAT, culture appears in the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section, often through questions about how cultural factors impact behavior, health disparities, or medical practices. Expect multiple-choice items that test your ability to analyze cross-cultural differences, such as in patient interactions or social determinants of health. Common traps include overgeneralizing cultural traits or confusing culture with race; focus on key ideas like acculturation, cultural competence, and their role in healthcare to avoid these pitfalls. A concrete tip: Always consider how cultural context might influence the scenario in a question.
Terms (59)
- 01
Culture
Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and practices that are learned and transmitted across generations within a society, shaping how people think, behave, and interact.
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Cultural norms
Cultural norms are the unwritten rules and expectations that guide behavior in a society, varying by context and helping maintain social order.
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Social norms
Social norms are the standards of behavior accepted by a group, influencing actions through rewards for conformity and sanctions for deviation.
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Values
Values are the abstract ideas and principles that a culture holds as desirable, such as honesty or individualism, guiding decision-making and priorities.
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Beliefs
Beliefs are the convictions or acceptances of truths within a culture, often forming the basis for attitudes and behaviors toward various aspects of life.
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Symbols
Symbols are objects, gestures, or words that represent ideas or concepts in a culture, facilitating communication and shared understanding.
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Language
Language is a system of communication using symbols and rules, serving as a primary means for transmitting culture and shaping thought processes.
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Material culture
Material culture consists of the physical objects, artifacts, and technologies created by a society, reflecting its values and way of life.
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Non-material culture
Non-material culture encompasses the intangible aspects of a society, such as ideas, beliefs, and customs, that influence behavior without physical form.
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Cultural relativism
Cultural relativism is the principle that behaviors and beliefs should be understood within the context of their own culture, rather than judged by external standards.
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Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to judge other cultures based on that bias, often leading to misunderstanding.
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Subculture
A subculture is a group within a larger culture that shares distinct norms, values, and behaviors, while still participating in the dominant society.
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Counterculture
Counterculture refers to a subculture that actively rejects and opposes the values and norms of the dominant culture, seeking social change.
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Cultural diffusion
Cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural elements, such as ideas or practices, from one society to another through contact and interaction.
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Acculturation
Acculturation is the process by which individuals or groups adopt elements of another culture, often due to prolonged contact, while retaining some of their original culture.
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Assimilation
Assimilation occurs when individuals from one culture fully adopt the patterns and identities of another culture, often losing their original cultural traits.
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Enculturation
Enculturation is the process by which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and behaviors of their own culture from birth onward.
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Socialization
Socialization is the lifelong process through which people acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function in their society.
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Primary socialization
Primary socialization is the initial stage of socialization, typically occurring in early childhood within the family, where basic values and behaviors are learned.
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Secondary socialization
Secondary socialization involves learning the norms and roles of broader society through institutions like schools and workplaces after primary socialization.
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Agents of socialization
Agents of socialization are the social institutions and groups, such as family and schools, that transmit cultural knowledge and shape individual behavior.
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Family as agent of socialization
Family serves as a key agent of socialization by teaching children fundamental cultural values, norms, and behaviors through daily interactions.
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School as agent of socialization
School acts as an agent of socialization by imparting formal knowledge, social skills, and cultural expectations to students beyond the family environment.
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Peer groups as agent of socialization
Peer groups influence socialization by providing a context for learning social norms, identity formation, and behavior through interactions with equals.
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Media as agent of socialization
Media serves as an agent of socialization by disseminating cultural values, information, and behaviors through television, social media, and other outlets.
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Religion as agent of socialization
Religion functions as an agent of socialization by instilling moral values, rituals, and worldviews that shape individuals' beliefs and community roles.
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Cultural lag
Cultural lag is the delay between the introduction of new technologies or social changes and the adaptation of cultural norms to accommodate them.
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Cultural change
Cultural change is the process by which a society's beliefs, values, or practices evolve over time due to factors like innovation, contact, or conflict.
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Innovation in culture
Innovation in culture refers to the creation of new ideas, practices, or technologies that can lead to cultural evolution and adaptation.
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Cultural evolution
Cultural evolution is the gradual development of cultural elements over time, driven by factors like natural selection and social needs.
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Folkways
Folkways are informal norms that govern everyday behavior, such as table manners, and are enforced through mild social disapproval if violated.
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Mores
Mores are strongly held norms that are essential to the well-being of a society, with violations often leading to serious sanctions or moral outrage.
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Laws as norms
Laws are formal, codified norms enforced by a society's institutions, distinguishing right from wrong and maintaining social order through penalties.
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Taboos
Taboos are strict prohibitions against certain behaviors, often rooted in cultural or religious beliefs, with violations carrying strong stigma or punishment.
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Rituals
Rituals are symbolic actions or ceremonies performed in a culture to mark important events, reinforce values, or maintain social cohesion.
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Customs
Customs are traditional practices and behaviors passed down in a culture, often observed during holidays or daily routines to preserve heritage.
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Ideology
Ideology is a set of beliefs and ideas that form the basis of a political, economic, or social system within a culture, influencing policies and actions.
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Worldview
Worldview is the overall perspective or framework through which a culture interprets reality, encompassing beliefs about the universe and human purpose.
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High culture
High culture refers to cultural products and activities, such as classical music or fine art, typically associated with elite or educated segments of society.
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Popular culture
Popular culture encompasses the beliefs, practices, and media consumed by the general public, often reflecting mainstream tastes and trends.
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Mass culture
Mass culture is the widespread, commercialized form of popular culture disseminated through media, shaping common attitudes and behaviors.
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Cultural diversity
Cultural diversity is the variety of cultural expressions within a society, arising from differences in ethnicity, language, and traditions.
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Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is a policy or approach that promotes the coexistence and equal respect of multiple cultures within a single society.
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Cultural competence
Cultural competence is the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds.
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Cultural bias
Cultural bias is the tendency to favor one's own cultural perspective, leading to unfair judgments or misinterpretations of other cultures.
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Cross-cultural psychology
Cross-cultural psychology studies how cultural factors influence human behavior, cognition, and development across different societies.
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Individualism vs. collectivism
Individualism emphasizes personal goals and independence, while collectivism prioritizes group harmony and interdependence, varying by culture.
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Power distance
Power distance is a cultural dimension measuring the extent to which less powerful members accept unequal power distribution in society.
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Uncertainty avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance is a cultural trait where societies seek to minimize unpredictability through strict rules and structures.
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Etic vs. emic perspectives
Etic perspectives analyze cultures from an outsider's objective view, while emic perspectives examine them from an insider's subjective experience.
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Cultural universals
Cultural universals are patterns or institutions, such as language or family, found in all human societies despite cultural differences.
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Cultural particulars
Cultural particulars are the unique expressions or variations of universals that differ between societies, like specific marriage customs.
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Cultural patterns
Cultural patterns are the recurring themes or behaviors in a society that reflect its core values and social organization.
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Status and role in culture
Status and role in culture refer to the positions and expected behaviors individuals hold, influencing social interactions and hierarchies.
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Social roles
Social roles are the sets of expectations for how individuals should act based on their status in society, such as parent or student.
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Reference groups
Reference groups are the people or groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating their own attitudes and behaviors.
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In-group and out-group
In-group refers to the social group an individual identifies with, while out-group is any group perceived as different, often leading to favoritism or prejudice.
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Prejudice related to culture
Prejudice related to culture is an preconceived negative attitude toward individuals based on their cultural background, often stemming from stereotypes.
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Stereotypes
Stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a cultural group, which can lead to inaccurate assumptions and discrimination.