Explain each perspective, give an example of each, and discuss any flaws that each perspective might have. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? (Credit: Arian Zwegers/flickr) Sagada, Echo Valley, hanging coffins. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. They served wine and toasted their honored guest. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.See Wiktionary Terms of Use for details. Putting It Together: Government and Politics, 200. They served wine and toasted their honored guest. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. It is unexpected that an individual would value the goods, services, styles, ideas and other cultural elements of another nation. Ethnocentrism vs Cultural Relativism The difference between these two worldviews are vast but both views are very well and alive in today's society. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. Legal. Outcome: Reality as a Social Construct, 50. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Reading: Mental Health and Disabilities, 175. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. Copyright Opinion Front & Buzzle.com, Inc. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. Her imposing father kept his distance. 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. It is a rule that is similar to "finder's keepers" because of the role that ethnocentrism plays in our personal approach. This comparison of one's culture to others has a significant impact on how we perceive the people around us and the organizations to which we belong. Reading: Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups, 108. Ethnocentrism is a global phenomenon and influences social interaction 1,2.It has been the source of ethnic strains in different regions, such as South Africa and Lebanon 3.It is assumed to be a . Outcome: Sociological Views on Religion, 149. These views involve examining a culture and all its aspects and evaluating them. This is related to ethnocentrism because cultural interactions are increasing as the world gets smaller due to factors such as technology and cooperation between nations. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. In the airport, she heard rapid, musical Spanish being spoken all around her. She missed her home and felt overwhelmed by the new customs, language, and surroundings. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. Some examples of such universals include adorning ones body with ornaments, concepts of privacy, respect, and morality, etc. 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. Outcome: Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology, 240. The idea was formulated by Franz Boas; however, the term was later introduced by the social theorist, Alan Locke in 1924. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. 1. Reading: Roles and the Presentation of Self, 52. 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. Read the full article here. By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others. A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. and should therefore serve as the standard frame of reference. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance, 77. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. The people who maintain an ethnocentric view in life will not typically bother much about other societies and cultures in the world, past or present. Music and laughter are examples of: http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c8-441e-a685-20e9333f3e1d/Introduction_to_Sociology_2e. Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. Reading: Systems of Social Stratification, 87. Outcome: Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 119. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. A good example of ethnocentrism is referring to parts of Asia as the Far East. One might question, Far east of where?. Outcome: Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change, 44. 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 some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. 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. 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. 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. Reading: Symbolic Interactionism and Deviance, 82. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines, 5. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. This is an example of: Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. Reading: Class Structure in the United States, 92. Putting It Together: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control, 83. Did you have an idea for improving this content? Ethnocentric individuals believe they're better than other individuals for reasons based solely on their heritage. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. 27 Apr 2023 17:23:35 These views involve examining a culture and all its aspects and evaluating them. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. Reading: Demography and Population Growth, 219. Reading: The McDonaldization of Society, 71. Caitlin was half asleep by the time supper was servedat 10 p.m.! What issues or events might inform this? Anthropologist Kalervo Oberg (1960) is credited with first coining the term culture shock. In his studies, Oberg found that most people found encountering a new culture to be exciting at first. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. Outcome: The Social Construction of Health, 169. Reading: Recent Economic Conditions in the United States, 211. Reading: Lines of Descent and Family Stages, 141. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Other articles where ethnocentrism is discussed: race: The difference between racism and ethnocentrism: racism must be distinguished from ethnicity and ethnocentrism. An exchange student from China might be annoyed by the constant interruptions in class as other students ask questionsa practice that is considered rude in China. 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. Her imposing father kept his distance. 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. Reading: Healthcare in the United States, 176. Reading: Universal Access to Education, 156. Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. Reading: Health in the United States, 174. The present world consists of a variety of unique cultures. Reading: Introduction to Media and Technology, 235. There was new food to digest, new daily schedules to follow, and new rules of etiquette to learn. 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. Xenocentrism is the opposite of . In the United States, for instance, it is often assumed that European products such as wine and cheese are superior to those produced locally. 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. Reading: Symbolic Interactionism and Society, 49. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. This concept was developed to attempt to overcome ethnocentric bias when conducting anthropological studies. 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. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Culture, 48. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. What issues or events might inform this? Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? Sociologists attempting to engage in cultural relativism, then, may struggle to reconcile aspects of their own culture with aspects of a culture that they are studying. It helps to remember that culture is learned. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? 3. 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. Outcome: Demography and Population Growth, 215. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. In the airport, she heard rapid, musical Spanish being spoken all around her. Ethnocentrism is usually defined as a kind of ethnic or cultural group egocentrism, which involves a belief in the superiority of one's own group, including its values and practices, and often. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, which means to value one's own culture more than the other's culture. Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. Some people will simply call it cultural ignorance. Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one's own. These distinctions and subjective comparisons impart a cultural identity to each ethnicity. 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. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases at bay; the best we can do is strive to be aware of them. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. Reading: Poverty in the United States, 212. When Rodneys host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. Reading: Contemporary Issues in Education, 166. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Distinctions are made between different cultures based on language, behavior, customs, traditions, religion, etc. Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. They help people know when to shake hands, where to sit, how to converse, and even when to laugh. Why It Matters: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 214. Shed stepped out of her comfort zone. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. . Why It Matters: Sociological Foundations, 10. Culture shock may appear because people arent always expecting cultural differences. For instance, Ethan is an ethnocentrist; he considers others' beliefs and practices. These two viewpoints are essentially distinct but do share a few similarities between them. All people are the same; its only their habits that are different. Confucius. They served wine and toasted their honored guest. The opposite of xenocentrism is ethnocentrism which is the tendency to overvalue one's own . Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, which means to value one's own culture more than the other's culture. Putting It Together: Health, Aging, and the Elderly, 190. This leads to making incorrect assumptions about others' behavior based on your own norms, values, and beliefs. " Ethnocentrism, a term coined by William Graham Sumner, is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of your own ethnic culture and the belief that that is in fact the "right" way to look at the world. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. They help people know when to shake hands, where to sit, how to converse, and even when to laugh. Why do you believe this? Reading: Types and Stages of Social Movements, 229. 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. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. Why do you believe this? Putting It Together: Sociological Foundations, 34. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, . An ethnocentric is concerned with how similar others' cultural practices, symbols, and beliefs are to their own. Modification, adaptation, and original content. . The way individuals perceive other cultural practices can be broadly segregated into two types cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. 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. . It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Some visitors may find this practice admirable, while others may think its inappropriate. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Some people will simply call it cultural ignorance. Ethnocentrism noun The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture. 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. Caitlin had trouble interpreting her hosts facial expressions, and didnt realize she should make the next toast. 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. The basis for evaluation differs according to the view employed. It also proposes that no culture has the right to judge another cultures customs and practices and that a culture must be understood in its own terms rather than by the standards of a foreign culture. 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. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Economics, 206. Ethnocentric people think the ways they do things is the way things should be done, and every other culture's way of doing things is unsavory or undesirable. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Reading: Politics in the United States, 197. William G. Summer, an American academic, introduced this term and defined it as the technical name for the view of things in which ones own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it. Such attitudes are an example ofethnocentrism, or evaluating and judging another culture based on how it compares to ones own cultural norms. and not in comparison to another culture culture shock: an experience of personal . 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 psychological terms, xenocentrism is considered a type of deviant behavior because it sways from the norms of society. Why It Matters: Health, Aging, and the Elderly, 168. During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Reading: Structural-Functional Theory, 18. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. During her summer vacation, Caitlin flew from Chicago to Madrid to visit Maria, the exchange student shed befriended the previous semester. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. The bias may be due to ones own cultural beliefs or due to the individuals understanding and perception of human rights and ethics. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. Putting It Together: Marriage and Family, 146. Xenocentrism is the preference for the cultural practices of other cultures and societies, such as how they live and what they eat, rather than of one's own social way of life. [reveal-answer q=436227]Show Answer[/reveal-answer], [reveal-answer q=248899]Show Answer[/reveal-answer]. Her imposing father kept his distance. 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. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. It creates an attitude of independence. Reading: Global Stratification and Inequality, 100. Cite this page as follows: "Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Read the full article here. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. 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. Cultural relativism is a view that a culture must be judged according to its own cultural standards. (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. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. The main similarity is that they both are too much. An exchange student from China might be annoyed by the constant interruptions in class as other students ask questionsa practice that is considered rude in China. Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. 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. Reading: Introduction to Work and the Economy, 205. The way individuals perceive other cultural practices can be broadly segregated into two types - cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. Sociologists attempting to engage in cultural relativism, then, may struggle to reconcile aspects of their own culture with aspects of a culture that they are studying. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. A good example of ethnocentrism is referring to parts of Asia as the Far East. One might question, Far east of where?. It's the belief that one's ethnic group is superior to another. Reading: Introduction to Global Inequality, 93. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. Reading: The Graying of the United States, 181. #ChristianNationalism #nationalism. (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. What are another words for Ethnocentrism? Experiencing new cultures offers an opportunity to practice cultural relativism. RT @VirgilWalkerOMA: "Many would contend that the struggle for social justice and the propagation of Christian nationalism share no similarities. Answer (1 of 3): The main similarity is that they both are too much. Both these viewpoints or concepts present extremist views, i.e. People with a strong sense of ethnocentrism tend to dislike this sort of change, even where it has many advantages. Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related. Outcome: Collective Behavior and Social Movements, 228. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. Xenocentrism is a culturally-based tendency to value other cultures more highly than one's own, which can materialize in a variety of different ways. 3. Why It Matters: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality, 121. The differences and similarities observed between various cultures determine the way the people of those cultures interact with each other. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Shed stepped out of her comfort zone. 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. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. 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. And an appreciation for another culture shouldnt preclude individuals from studying it with a critical eye. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification, 102. Xenocentrism then stands in opposition to ethnocentrism, which is the belief that one's own culture or nation is superior to all others; those who show signs of ethnocentrism are said to. Why It Matters: Social Movements, Media, and Technology, 225. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? For example, Americans tend to say that people from England drive on the wrong side of the road, rather than on the other side. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. Exceptionalism There was new food to digest, new daily schedules to follow, and new rules of etiquette to learn. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture.
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