Unit Two
Culture and Ethnocentrism
American Intercontinental University
SSCI210
Professor Kenya Lawton
August 24, 2013
Abstract
The research contained within this paper will give a logical definition to the meaning of culture. Also discussed are the factors that impact a person’s culture; examples of these factors are values, societal norms, symbols and most importantly language. Also described in this research is cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. An evaluation of my own thoughts regarding ethnocentrism toward a foreign film and a conclusion as to why cultural relativism must be utilized more will also be discussed.
Culture and Ethnocentrism
According to the Editorial Board (2012), culture can be defined as a shared idea of life amid an assembly of individuals which impacts thoughts, opinions, behaviors, and beliefs. Again, according to the Editorial Board (2012), even though cultures tend to vary widely, most have common components; for instance, values, norms, symbols and even language. Many may not identify their techniques when utilizing ethnocentrism, but maybe in perusing this research papers explanation and explaining my personal ethnocentrism will assist the reader in fully gaining and understanding for the fact that we all unconsciously utilize ethnocentrism in our day to day lives. There is the hope that this research will guide all readers to work toward utilizing the practices of cultural relativism. It is important to respect the differences in another culture, only then will you be closer to understanding them.
There are several universal elements that make up different cultures. An example of this is the creation and use of symbols that reflect shared meanings across cultural lines. An example of a universal symbol is a nation’s flag. Each country on this earth has a flag that represents them. However, each country’s flag has a different meaning. For the United States, the flag stands for liberty and...