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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 the particular region. A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. 5.5: Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. Some examples of such universals include adorning ones body with ornaments, concepts of privacy, respect, and morality, etc. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. 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. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism, 39. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. Outcome: Demography and Population Growth, 215. Reading: Health in the United States, 174. Reading: Global Stratification and Inequality, 100. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. Outcome: Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 119. Experiencing new cultures offers an opportunity to practice cultural relativism. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. Sanai had been forced to flee war-torn Bosnia with her family when she was fifteen. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification, 103. Reading: Universal Access to Education, 156. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. Caitlins shock was minor compared to that of her friends Dayar and Mahlika, a Turkish couple living in married student housing on campus. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine, 171. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. They served wine and toasted their honored guest. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. Cultural relativism is a view that a culture must be judged according to its own cultural standards. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. Putting It Together: Race and Ethnicity, 120. primarily from the perspective of one's own as being superior. Reading: Poverty in the United States, 212. Distinctions are made between different cultures based on language, behavior, customs, traditions, religion, etc. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The opposite of xenocentrism is ethnocentrism which is the tendency to overvalue one's own . Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. It proposes that all cultures have their own merits and demerits, and hence are of equal value such that there is no concept of cultural superiority. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Since this judgement is often negative, some people also use the term to refer to the belief that one's culture is superior to, or more correct or normal than, all othersespecially regarding the distinctions that define each ethnicity's cultural identity, such as language, behavior, customs, and religion. 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. Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. All people are the same; its only their habits that are different. Confucius. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. 3.1E: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism - Social Sci LibreTexts Reading: Conflict Theory on Education, 159. Ethnocentrism vs Xenocentrism - What's the difference? People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. Why do you believe this? Reading: Introduction to Sociological Research, 29. . However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. (The Greek root word xeno, pronounced ZEE-no, means stranger or foreign guest.) An exchange student who goes home after a semester abroad or a sociologist who returns from the field may find it difficult to associate with the values of their own culture after having experienced what they deem a more upright or nobler way of living. As nouns the difference between ethnocentrism and xenocentrism. Outcome: Globalization and the Economy, 209. RT @VirgilWalkerOMA: "Many would contend that the struggle for social justice and the propagation of Christian nationalism share no similarities. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. Reading: Introduction to Media and Technology, 235. Culture shock may appear because people arent always expecting cultural differences. Reading: Marriage and Courtship Patterns, 138. One example is the romanticization of the noble savage in the 18th-century primitivism movement in European art, philosophy and ethnography. Why It Matters: Work and the Economy, 202. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance, 77. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Urbanization, 220. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. 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. Reading: Social Change and Modernization, 233. Based on this subjective perception of other cultures, two types of views emerge when one compares two or more cultures. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. 1. What issues or events might inform this? Reading: Functionalism on Media and Technology, 241. What are the similarities and differences between cultural - eNotes He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. Such attitudes are an example ofethnocentrism, or evaluating and judging another culture based on how it compares to ones own cultural norms. Read the full article here. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. 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. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. Explanation: Hope its help For example, Americans tend to say that people from England drive on the wrong side of the road, rather than on the other side. 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. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. There was new food to digest, new daily schedules to follow, and new rules of etiquette to learn. (The Greek root word xeno, pronounced ZEE-no, means stranger or foreign guest.) An exchange student who goes home after a semester abroad or a sociologist who returns from the field may find it difficult to associate with the values of their own culture after having experienced what they deem a more upright or nobler way of living. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. What issues or events might inform this? When Rodneys host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. What are synonyms for ethnocentricity? That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases at bay; the best we can do is strive to be aware of them. 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. 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. Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture. Cite this page as follows: "Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Shed stepped out of her comfort zone. Shed stepped out of her comfort zone. Outcome: The Environment and Society, 223. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. After two weeks in Spain, Caitlin had developed a bit more compassion and understanding for what those people had gone through. Reading: Types and Stages of Social Movements, 229. Sociologists attempting to engage in cultural relativism, then, may struggle to reconcile aspects of their own culture with aspects of a culture they are studying. It is a rule that is similar to "finder's keepers" because of the role that ethnocentrism plays in our personal approach. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Jeff Charles, Agent of Chaos on Twitter: "RT @VirgilWalkerOMA: "Many Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. Reading: Feminist Theory on Education, 160. After two weeks in Spain, Caitlin had developed a bit more compassion and understanding for what those people had gone through. Where he is from, unless they are romantically involved, men do not kiss one another. The idea was formulated by Franz Boas; however, the term was later introduced by the social theorist, Alan Locke in 1924. 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. Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. It can also lead to discrimination against people who are different. Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. similarities of ethnocentrism and xenocentrism - Brainly.ph Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. 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. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others. Ethnocentrism noun The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture. Why do you believe this? It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases at bay; the best we can do is strive to be aware of them. It is unexpected that an individual would value the goods, services, styles, ideas and other cultural elements of another nation. (Photo courtesy of OledSidorenko/flickr). She missed her home and felt overwhelmed by the new customs, language, and surroundings. Wed love your input. Reading: Functionalist Theory on Education, 158. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. 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. Why do you believe this? And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. These two viewpoints are essentially distinct but do share a few similarities between them. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict.