Culture: Vocabulary
- anthropology - the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind; the study of human beings' similarity to and divergence from other animals.
- behavior - manner of behaving or acting; observable activity in a human or animal; the aggregate of responses to internal and external stimuli; a stereotyped, species-specific activity, as a courtship dance or startle reflex.
- beliefs - confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof; a statement unworthy of belief; confidence; faith; trust.
- biases - a particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned; unreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudice.
- celebration - to observe (a day) or commemorate (an event) with ceremonies or festivities; to make known publicly; proclaim to praise widely or to present to widespread and favorable public notice, as through newspapers or novels.
- conflict - to come into collision or disagreement; be contradictory, at variance, or in opposition; clash; to fight or contend.
- cooperation - an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action; more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc.
- culture - the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group; the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.
- cultural artifact - an item that, when found, reveals valuable information about the society that made or used it. Anything that evidences the social, political, economic or religious organization of the people whom they belonged to can be considered cultural artifacts.
- cultural pluralism - a condition in which minority groups participate fully in the dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences; a doctrine that a society benefits from such a condition.
- cultural relativity - a concept that cultural norms and values derive their meaning within a specific social context.
- discrimination - an act or instance of discriminating, or of making a distinction; treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.
- distribution - the state or manner of being distributed; arrangement; classification; something that is distributed; the frequency of occurrence or the natural geographic range or place where any item or category of items occurs; placement, location, arrangement, or disposition.
- ethnicity - an ethnic group; a social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like; ethnic traits, background, allegiance, or association.
- ethics - the body of moral principles or values governing or distinctive of a particular culture or group; a complex of moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual.
- ethnocentrism - the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture; a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own.
- group - any collection or assemblage of persons or things; cluster; aggregation; a number of persons or things ranged or considered together as being related in some way.
- holiday - a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.
- ideals - a conception of something in its perfection; a standard of perfection or excellence; a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model for imitation.
- immigration - to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence; to pass or come into a new habitat or place, as an organism.
- institution - a well-established and structured pattern of behavior or of relationships that is accepted as a fundamental part of a culture, as marriage; an organization, establishment, foundation, society, or the like, devoted to the promotion of a particular cause or program, especially one of a public, educational, or charitable character.
- informed judgement - making a decision based off of something or information that you already know.
- interdependence - mutually dependent; depending on each other; the quality or condition of being interdependent, or mutually reliant on each other.
- kinship - the state or fact of being of kin; family relationship; relationship by nature, qualities, etc.; affinity.
- lore - the body of knowledge, especially of a traditional, anecdotal, or popular nature, on a particular subject; learning, knowledge, or erudition.
- migration - to go from one country, region, or place to another; to pass periodically from one region or climate to another, as certain birds, fishes, and animals; to shift, as from one system, mode of operation, or enterprise to another.
- minority - the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole; a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action; a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority; a racial, ethnic, religious, or social subdivision of a society that is subordinate to the dominant group in political, financial, or social power without regard to the size of these groups.
- multicultural diversity - a form of appreciating the differences in individuals. The differences can be based on gender, age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social status. (http://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-diversity-in-the-workplace-definition-trends-examples.html)
- norms - a standard, model, or pattern; general level or average.
- practices - habitual or customary performance; operation: habit, custom; repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency.
- prejudice - an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason; any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable; unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an ethnic, racial, social, or religious group.
- preservation - to keep alive or in existence; make lasting; to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare; to keep up; maintain.
- role - the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status.
- social class - a broad group in society having common economic, cultural, or political status.
- social mobility - the ability of individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy with changes in income, education, occupation, etc.
- sociology - the science or study of the origin, development,
organization, and functioning of human society; the science of the fundamental
laws of social relations, institutions, etc.
- status - the position of an individual in relation to another or others, especially in regard to social or professional standing; state or condition of affairs.
- stereotyping - a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group; to make a stereotype of; to characterize or regard as a stereotype; to give a fixed form to.
- stories/legends - a non-historical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical; the body of stories of this kind, especially as they relate to a particular people, group, or clan.
- traditions - the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs,
information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth
or by practice; something that is handed down.
- values - relative worth, merit, or importance; monetary or material worth,
as in commerce or trade; the worth of something in terms of the amount of other
things for which it can be exchanged or in terms of some medium of exchange.
All definitions found from www.dictionary.com unless stated otherwise.