Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and develop cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. An American visiting Italy might long for a real pizza or complain about the unsafe driving habits of Italians compared to people in the United States. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. A more modern example of cultural imperialism may include the work of international aid agencies who introduce agricultural methods and plant species from developed countries while overlooking indigenous varieties and agricultural approaches that are better suited to a particular region. This concept was developed to attempt to overcome ethnocentric bias when conducting anthropological studies. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Reading: Defining the Sociological Imagination, 13. Putting It Together: Work and the Economy, 213. Someone from a country where dog meat is standard fare might find it off-putting to see a dog in a French restaurantnot on the menu, but as a pet and patrons companion. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism | Introduction to Sociology Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. 7. Cite this page as follows: "Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Putting It Together: Race and Ethnicity, 120. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Even the most culturally relativist people from egalitarian societiesones in which women have political rights and control over their own bodieswould question whether the widespread practice of female genital mutilation in countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan should be accepted as a part of cultural tradition. Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. It's the belief that one's ethnic group is superior to another. Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and develop cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group. The bias may be due to ones own cultural beliefs or due to the individuals understanding and perception of human rights and ethics. They served wine and toasted their honored guest. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. Ethnocentric individuals believe that their own ethnicity is centrally important and all other cultures and ethnicity must be judged according to the standards of their own culture. And an appreciation for another culture shouldnt preclude individuals from studying it with a critical eye. It can take weeks or months to recover from culture shock, and it can take years to fully adjust to living in a new culture. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Such attitudes are an example ofethnocentrism, or evaluating and judging another culture based on how it compares to ones own cultural norms. In the airport, she heard rapid, musical Spanish being spoken all around her. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. A high level of appreciation for ones own culture can be healthy; a shared sense of community pride, for example, connects people in a society. In a more extreme sense, some cultures may idolize . Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. and not in comparison to another culture culture shock: an experience of personal . They are cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. He further clarified that such a view would lead to a sense of pride, vanity, superiority over others, and contempt towards those that are not a part of that group. Her imposing father kept his distance. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Antonyms for ethnocentricity. Why do you believe this? Caitlin had trouble interpreting her hosts facial expressions, and didnt realize she should make the next toast. Want to create or adapt books like this? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Why It Matters: Social Movements, Media, and Technology, 225. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? For instance, a particular practice may seem immoral or unethical according to the beliefs of a different culture, but those same practices may be perfectly acceptable and normal with respect to its own culture. While each culture has specific and unique traits, there exist some traits that are found universally across all cultures of the world. Xenocentrism: Valuing Other Cultures More Than Your Own - ThoughtCo In sociology, we call thisculture shock. the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards, and not in comparison to another culture culture shock: an experience of personal disorientation when confronted with an unfamiliar way of life ethnocentrism: the practice of evaluating another culture according to the standards of one's own culture xenocentrism: A cross-cultural comparison of ethnocentrism and the intercultural This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Marriage and Family, 145. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. Reading: Global Stratification and Inequality, 100. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. Culture shock may appear because people arent always expecting cultural differences. As nouns the difference between ethnocentrism and xenocentrism. A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. For instance, Ethan is an ethnocentrist; he considers others' beliefs and practices. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Caitlin was half asleep by the time supper was servedat 10 p.m.! In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own ostensibly advanced cultural values on another culture. This is an example of: [reveal-answer q=501221]Show Glossary[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=501221]. Some travelers pride themselves on their willingness to try unfamiliar foods, like celebrated food writer Anthony Bourdain, while others return home expressing gratitude for their native cultures fare. What Caitlin hadnt realized was that people depend not only on spoken words but also on subtle cues like gestures and facial expressions, to communicate. Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. It involves evaluating other cultures and ethnic groups based on the standards and values of one's own group and viewing them as inferior or less important. Cultural relativism is a view that a culture must be judged according to its own cultural standards. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? Reading: Theories of Self-Development, 61. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. Cultural relativism: definition & examples (article) | Khan Academy Eventually, as people learn more about a culture and adapt to its norms, they recover from culture shock. Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging other cultures based. Even the most culturally relativist people from egalitarian societiesones in which women have political rights and control over their own bodieswould question whether the widespread practice of female genital mutilation in countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan should be accepted as a part of cultural tradition. Outcome: Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 119. Xenocentrism: Concept in Sociology and Examples . Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. Experiencing an entirely new practice may lead to a high degree of interest or a level of criticism. Reading: Conflict Theory on Education, 159. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others,and should therefore serve as the standard frame of reference. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. (Photo courtesy of OledSidorenko/flickr). while ethnocentrism leans towards intolerance, cultural relativism leans towards incredibly high tolerance of cultural features. Perhaps the Chicago traveler was initially captivated by Montanas quiet beauty and the Chinese student was originally excited to see a U.S.-style classroom firsthand. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. Ethnocentrism in its extreme form gives rise to racism and supremacist (e.g., the holocaust), while cultural relativism allows the propagation of certain practices that violate basic human rights (e.g., the practice of female genital mutilation). Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. https://assessments.lumenlearning.com/assessments/996. Reading: Symbolic Interactionism on Media and Technology, 243. There are very few things that are actually similar between these two views, the only thing that they really have in common is that they are b. European colonizers often viewed the people in the lands they colonized as uncultured savages who were in need of European governance, dress, religion, and other cultural practices. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. A good example of ethnocentrism is referring to parts of Asia as the Far East. One might question, Far east of where?. Another example would be the deforestation of the Amazon Basin as indigenous cultures lose land to timber corporations. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Experiencing new cultures offers an opportunity to practice cultural relativism. Xenocentrism Concept & Examples | What is Xenocentrism? - Video The only major similarity they share is the fact that they are both meant as ways to evaluate and judge cultures other than our own. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Reading: Introduction to Media and Technology, 235. Synonyms for ethnocentricity in Free Thesaurus. Why do you believe this? In the airport, she heard rapid, musical Spanish being spoken all around her. An ethnocentric is concerned with how similar others' cultural practices, symbols, and beliefs are to their own. Outcome: Sexual Attitudes and Practices, 132. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine, 171. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. But as they experience unanticipated differences from their own culture, their excitement gives way to discomfort and doubts about how to behave appropriately in the new situation. Some travelers pride themselves on their willingness to try unfamiliar foods, like celebrated food writer Anthony Bourdain, while others return home expressing gratitude for their native cultures fare. Both these viewpoints or concepts present extremist views, i.e. Due to the extremist nature of both theories, anthropologists employ a strategy that is a sort of middle ground between these two viewpoints. Outcome: The Sociological Imagination, 11. Ethnocentrism | anthropology | Britannica Reading: Introduction to Sociological Research, 29. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Sanai had been forced to flee war-torn Bosnia with her family when she was fifteen. To the Inuit people, winning was enjoyable, but their culture valued survival skills essential to their environment: how hard someone tried could mean the difference between life and death. To the Inuit people, winning was enjoyable, but their culture valued survival skills essential to their environment: how hard someone tried could mean the difference between life and death. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. It may also possess subcultures within it, with their own unique and distinct characteristics. Often, people in the United States express disgust at other cultures cuisine and think that its gross to eat meat from a dog or guinea pig, for example, while they dont question their own habit of eating cows or pigs. Caitlin had trouble interpreting her hosts facial expressions, and didnt realize she should make the next toast. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. Why It Matters: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, 121. Why It Matters: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 214. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. Often, people in the United States express disgust at other cultures cuisine and think that its gross to eat meat from a dog or guinea pig, for example, while they dont question their own habit of eating cows or pigs. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. After two weeks in Spain, Caitlin had developed a bit more compassion and understanding for what those people had gone through. Ethnocentrism is a way of thinking and perceiving the world that centers on one's own cultural or ethnic group. Reading: Social and Psychological Changes of Aging, 186. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance, 77. Outcome: Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and Society, 45. Ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor to prejudice, racism, and xenophobia. In the United States, its most likely filled with coffee, not Earl Grey tea, a favorite in England, or Yak Butter tea, a staple in Tibet. Outcome: Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology, 240. Reading: Conflict Theory and Deviance, 78. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Culture, 48. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one's own. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. Reading: Healthcare in the United States, 176. Ethnocentrism and Xenocentrism - 1. 1. Ethnocentrism usually - Studocu Reading: Types and Stages of Social Movements, 229. People with a strong sense of ethnocentrism tend to dislike this sort of change, even where it has many advantages. 3. Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and develop cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. In January 2011, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America presented evidence indicating that the hormone oxytocin could regulate and manage instances of ethnocentrism. Over the course of his stay, Barger participated in caribou hunts, learned how to take shelter in winter storms, and sometimes went days with little or no food to share among tribal members. Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. But as they experience unanticipated differences from their own culture, their excitement gives way to discomfort and doubts about how to behave appropriately in the new situation. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others. Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Religion, 150. Over the course of his stay, Barger participated in caribou hunts, learned how to take shelter in winter storms, and sometimes went days with little or no food to share among tribal members. Reading: Symbolic Interactionist Theory, 20. Reading: Defining Social Stratification, 86. and should therefore serve as the standard frame of reference. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. It helps to remember that culture is learned. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. North Americans keep more distance and maintain a large personal space. Even something as simple as eating and drinking varies greatly from culture to culture. Marias mother kissed Caitlin on both cheeks when she greeted her. In January 2011, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America presented evidence indicating that the hormone oxytocin could regulate and manage instances of ethnocentrism. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. A high level of appreciation for ones own culture can be healthy; a shared sense of community pride, for example, connects people in a society. This leads to making incorrect assumptions about others' behavior based on your own norms, values, and beliefs. As nouns the difference between ethnocentrism and xenocentrism is that ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture while xenocentrism is a preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. RT @VirgilWalkerOMA: "Many would contend that the struggle for social justice and the propagation of Christian nationalism share no similarities. I disagree." The Dangerous Intersection of Christian Nationalism and Ethnocentrism. Book: Introduction to Sociology (Waymaker), { "5.10:_Outcome:_Pop_Culture_Subculture_and_Cultural_Change" : "property get [Map MindTouch.Deki.Logic.ExtensionProcessorQueryProvider+<>c__DisplayClass228_0.
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