Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu used cultural capital to describe material goods, non-material attitudes, and knowledge associated with particular economic classes. Cultural capital can influence how people navigate social settings and which opportunities seem familiar or accessible to them.
These forms are related, but they are not interchangeable: owning a book is objectified cultural capital, while having the knowledge to discuss it is embodied cultural capital.
All flashcards
What are the three forms of cultural capital?
Embodied (learned dispositions and skills), objectified (cultural possessions), and institutionalized (recognized credentials).
What is a counterculture?
A group that rejects or challenges some norms and values of the larger culture.
What is culture lag?
The delay between the introduction of new material culture and its social acceptance.
How do diffusion and globalization differ?
Diffusion is the spread of cultural items and ideas; globalization is the growth of interactions and interdependence among regions and populations.
Why can cultural categories change over time?
Historical context and social attitudes change; Shakespeare's plays, for example, moved from popular entertainment to being often treated as high culture.
Quiz questions
What does cultural capital refer to?Answer: Class-associated goods, attitudes, and knowledge that can shape social opportunities.
Which description best distinguishes a counterculture from a subculture?Answer: A counterculture challenges some dominant norms; a subculture can retain a distinct identity while participating in wider society.
In sociology, what is an innovation?Answer: The initial appearance of an object or concept in a society.
What makes an invention different from a discovery?Answer: An invention combines existing elements in a new way to create something new.
What does globalization refer to?Answer: Growing interactions among regions and populations, including market integration and interdependence.
Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.