Cultural Norms

The only time we can use the term “normal” to explain you!!!!!

What is culture?

• Definition : a collection of thoughts, actions, beliefs and ideals, shared amongst a group of people.

• Culture includes more than ethnic groups– religion, school, community, country, music/arts,

hobbies, etc.• Typically those who share culture will have equal

stock in creating and following cultural guidelines.• These guidelines are called Cultural Norms

Cultural Norms

• Definitions – the standards or “rules” a specific culture sets for its “in-group”

• Though we mentioned this before, it is important to understand these Norms extend past stereotypes, and likes/dislikes of a group.

• These Norms also include– laws, politics, commerce, “pecking order”,

Cultural Dimensions

• Definition: How a culture defines or “perceives” major aspects of daily life, that influence how a person will act. Much bigger than the social identity roles we have discussed.– Individualism / collectivism – how members will define

themselves within or apart from other members of their culture. • Individualism – emphasis is placed on the member choosing

their own affiliations within the culture.• Collectivism – emphasis is placed on the member acting as part

or on behalf of a predestined group. Ex. Family, religion, school.

Cultural Dimensions

• Individualism / collectivism cont.• What happens as a culture dimensions

change?– Past slogans – “God, Country, Family, Self” & “Ask

not what your country can do for you…….”– Modern Day – “Army of One”, “You are the author

of your own life”

Cultural Dimensions

• Masculinity / Femininity – Masculinity – typically a culture that focuses on

competition, assertiveness, ambition, and accumulation of possession.

– Femininity – typically a culture that focuses on relationships, and quality of life.

• Can also include the male and female roles in the culture group, but that is more of a social identity realm.

-emic vs -etic Cultural Norms

• -emic Cultural Norms – are defined as norms specific within a given cultural group

• -etic Cultural Norms – are defined as norms that often are universal across cultures.

• The Focus deals more with how we perceive norms based on cultural dimensions

• For Example – Self Reliance

-emic vs. -etic

• Self Reliance – Individualism dimension – perceived as ones

ability to pursue one’s own goals. This includes the perception that they are in competition with others

– Collectivism dimension – perceived as one’s ability to not be a burden on others. This provides no competition component “what can I do to stay out of others way”

• Emic: Western children and adults exhibit greater abilities to recall specific past events and event-specific details than their Asian counterparts.

• Etic: Differences a result of methodological artifacts or the true work of ‘culture’ difference on event-specific details?

-emic vs. –etic: Semantic Memory

• Emic: Hutus believed that the Tutsis were to blame for economic hardship and unofficial caste structure that held them (Hutus) back, based on genetic markers (tall, slender noses).

• Etic: The colonial influences of Germany and Belgium created divide and superiority between Hutus and Tutsis based on genetic marker similarity to Europeans.

-emic vs. –etic: Rwandan genocide

Imposed -etic

• -etic research is meant to be as objective as possible. This is invalidated when we become subjective in our discussion.

• Imposed -etics when a researcher applies their own “-emic” cultural understanding when explaining another’s culture.

• This of course is an oxymoron, and will invalidate your conclusions.