Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

• Ecological Perspective: Ecology is the study of the relationship between various organisms and their environments. Cultural ecology states that culture is formed by the limitations or excess of resources and other changes in the environment. Cultural ecologists insist that climate, geography, plant life, and animal life shape the cultures of the world. This is truer in simpler societies. Universal Aspects across Cultures Some aspects of different cultures are actually alike from society to society. There are a vast number of universals, or characteristics shared by many cultures. The figure at the right shows some of the most common. These practices are general; each culture creates their own form and expression of each. For example, marriage and family systems are present in every culture, but the structure varies widely.

Food

Marriage and Family System

Production of Goods

Cultural Universals

Education

Civil Order

Shelter

Figure 3: Examples of Cultural Universals

Another universal aspect is ethnocentrism , the belief that one’s own culture is the ‘right’ or ‘normal’ one. This is especially evident amongst isolated communities. While this is a type of patriotism, it can actually lead to racism and hostilities. Because of the way humans learn, most people tend toevaluate another culture by the standards of their own; this is known as ethnocentric thinking. The antithesis of this thinking pattern is cultural relativism, the idea that another culture cannotbe judged by the standards of one’s own. This idea is necessary for sociologists; they will not be able to fully understand another culture unless they attempt to understand it within its owncontexts.

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