Read to Discover What are the basic values that form the foundation of American culture? What new values have developed in the United States since the.

Read to Discover

What are the basic values that form the foundation of American culture?

What new values have developed in the United States since the 1970s?

Section 1: The American Value System

Question

What basic values form the foundation of American culture?


Traditional American Values

Personal achievement Individualism Work Morality and humanitarianism Efficiency and practicality Progress and material comfort Equality and democracy Freedom


Personal Achievement—nation built primarily by people valued individual achievement, as in the area of employment

Individualism—success comes through hard work and initiative

Work—discipline, dedication, and hard work are viewed as signs of virtue


Morality and Humanitarianism—high value is placed on morality and the world is viewed in terms of right and wrong; quick to help the less fortunate

Efficiency and Practicality—practical and inventive; every problem has a solution; objects are judged on their usefulness and people on their ability to get things done


Progress and Material Comfort—through hard work and determination, living standards will continue to improve

Equality and Democracy—to have human equality, there must be an equality of opportunity; success must be earned

Freedom—freedoms of choice such as religion, speech, and press must be protected from government interference


Question

What new values have developed in the United States since the 1970s?


Commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents, and potential; self-fulfillment includes leisure, physical fitness, and youthfulness

Environmental protection

Education and religion were deemed important by students who were polled


Our Changing Values

Read to Discover

How are the norms of society enforced?

What are the differences between positive and negative sanctions and between formal and informal sanctions?

Section 2: Social Control

Question

How are the norms of society enforced, and what are

the four types of sanctions?


Internalization—process by which a norm becomes a part of an individual’s personality, thus conditioning that individual to conform to society’s expectations

Sanctions—rewards and punishments used to enforce conformity to the norms


Enforcing the Norms of Society

Negative: punishment or the threat of

punishment to enforce

conformity

Formal: reward or punishment

by a formal organization or

regulatory agency, such as a school

Informal: spontaneous expression of approval or

disapproval by an individual or group

Positive: action that rewards a particular

kind of behavior

Internalization: how a norm becomes part of a person’s personality, causing them to conform to society’s expectations

Sanctions: rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms


Question

What are the differences between positive and negative sanctions

and between formal and informal sanctions?


Positive Sanction—action that rewards a particular kind of behavior such as good grades or a pay raise

Negative Sanction—punishment or the threat of punishment to enforce conformity such as frowns, imprisonment, and even death


Formal Sanction—rewards or punishments by a formal organization or regulatory agency such as the government; includes promotions, awards, or low grades

Informal Sanction—spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval by an individual or group such as a standing ovation, gifts, gossip, or ridicule


Read to Discover

What are the main sources of social change?

What factors lead people to resist social change?

Section 3: Social Change

Question

What are the main sources of social change?


Values and Beliefs—changes in values and beliefs are often caused by ideology spread through social movements

Technology—new knowledge and tools people use to manipulate their environment

Population—change in size of population may bring about changes in the culture


Diffusion—process of spreading culture traits from one society to another

Physical Environment—the environment may provide conditions that encourage or discourage cultural change

Wars and Conquests—exposure to new cultures; changes in politics, economy, population, property, technology, medicine


Values and Beliefs

Technology

Population

Diffusion

Physical Environment

Wars and Conquests


Social Consequence

Source of Social Change Example

Question

What factors lead people to resist social change?


Ethnocentrism—tendency to view one’s own culture or group as superior, which can lead to segregation

Cultural Lag—a delay in cultural change, such as in the introduction and use of computers

Vested Interests—satisfaction with and an investment in the status quo, which can lead to such things as a focus on maintaining budgets over a focus on providing a quality education


Chapter Assignments• Complete the Open Book Test/Worksheet

• Project – American Values

1. Students will work with their team.

2. Each team is to select a product, theme, Idea, etc., which they will promote. (examples: supporting the troops, being “Green”, etc.)

3. Create an advertisement which uses at least four of the American values discussed in Chapter 3, Section 1.

4. You may research the internet for ideas.

5. Brainstorm your ideas with your team members and select your theme.

6. Create an advertisement which your class will present to the class.

a) Classified ad for a newspaper or magazine.

b) A billboard ad (miniaturized to bulletin board or poster size.

c) A handbill or flyer or a poster.

Read to Discover What are the basic values that form the foundation of American culture? What new values have developed in the United States since the.

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