World view world View: The mental and emotional structure about Life and the Universe that provides a internal coherence about existence "Meanings" a group's philosophy of life a separate reality
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1 Dr. Ken Barger IUPUI, Anthropology © 2003
Class Notes on
A group's philosophy of life - a separate reality (Don Juan) Cultures are?
! Categories of life experience Groupings and subgroupings of phenomena And contrasts with other goupings ! Meanings of categories
What a group thinks life is like Perceptions imposed on "reality"
! Cosmology - ideas about origin, structure, and destiny of Univ. Includes perceived categories and assumed meanings ! Knowledge - information considered "factual" ! Logic - analysis of how things in life are related/cause-effects Given world view/ideology re "Intelligence" Part of the basis of ethnocentrism: "Ignorant", "irrational" b. Perceptions
Cultures literally see life differently Perceptual styles: Analytical to global - imbedded figures test, etc. Describe room in 3-5 words Temne/Eskimo/Europeans, M/F How people perceive life tells us how they experience life Often reflected in language - ethnolinguistics Cognitive styles reflect a separate reality 3. Values Values: Ideas about the desirability of things How things "should" be Includes "norms" (re Social Control)
• Apply to settings • Apply to people
Values form an integrated hierarchy of ideals Values do not stand alone - operate in conjunction with each other But responsibility to the group can be a higher value Relationship between values and expressed behavior: Values are not always compatible with actual behavior The "ideal" does not always occur in the "real" The range of human behavior includes brutality, genocide, etc. Ideas about the relationship between values and expressed behavior " Values predominate But values can also be products of actions " Interactive Cognitive dissonance: values conform to actual behavior Relative deprivation: an increase in ideal-real gap stimulates drastic reorganization of realities towards achieving a new ideal Revolutionary movements often occur when reform movements are blocked Value conflicts can sometimes be a major force in motivating behavior and social change 4. Religion a. Religion Religion: A system of beliefs and activities involving people's relationship with the supernatural A universal in all human cultures A basic part of the human experience Culture is an ? Cultures are ? Indicates something unique about human nature Complexity of abstract awareness Religion usually involves core meanings about Life and the Universe Also reflects important patterns of psychological character Have been the focus of much Anthropological inquiry
Can be concurrent and/or separate What is considered the "natural" may vary NOTE: Cannot prove or disprove the supernatural By definition, not subject to Natural Laws... and therefore scientific proof
(1) Spiritual power - an intangible supernatural force/energy A universal concept that underlies all religious beliefs and practices - with variations "Animatism" - "mana", "manitou"/"wakan"/"medicine" Is usually amoral - can be used for good/evil Spiritual power exists on own or as a part of phenomena Can be invested in supernatural beings and objects Can be innate or acquired Growth with person (2) Spiritual beings - beings with distinct character and/or powers Different kinds of spiritual beings - gods, spirits, ghosts Spiritual beings are usually seen as anthropopsyhcic Perceived as having human-like personalities, feelings, etc. Studies indicate characters of beings much like cultural character Dealings with the supernatural varies with cultural character Supplications - asking/begging for consideration from "unworthy" Bargaining - vows, sacrifices Appeasement - offerings (3) Soul - the life/character essence of a person Ideas about the soul can vary Generally have some supernatural power - freed from mortal constraints Usual infers ideas about an afterlife - domain of the deads' souls c. Myth
Generally validate a moral/norm - positive and negative All groups have such myths
For positive and negative ends Concept of spiritual power
We will consider magic as a part of religion (1) Types of magic: How is supernatural power transferred to affect the natural ! Contagious: transmission of power effects through physical contact ! Imitative: mechanistic reproduction of forces in universe Spiritually acting out compels nature to follow suit ! Sympathetic: symbolic direction of an individual's power to certain effects Person's power so strong that can have impact by "wishing" or "willing" May be purposeful or not All may be involved in particular rituals
Knowing the unknown - past, future, events in another location ! Health and fortune: enhance individual/group health and well-being Prevention - protect from illness/harm Curing - restoration of health/well-being ! Witchcraft: supernatural infliction of harm Witching (my term): Exercise of personal power for harm "Witchcraft" proper Sympathetic magic - often unintentional
" Meanings: What accept as "factual" or "truth" - can be very logical " Functions: Witchcraft is associated with an opportunity for social control Witchcraft accusations may also be a sign of social distress Belief in supernatural magic can have very powerful impacts Indicates that our biological medical models need development e. Ritual
Involves significant symbols and activities for group commitment Primary purpose to commune with and influence the supernatural
! Rites of Passage: celebrate stages in individual's life Phases: Separation Transition - instruction/reflection on new place in society Reincorporation ! Cyclic rites: celebrate important events in group's existence Regular cycle of rituals - each with significance ! Rites of Intensification: reinforcement of social identity/values Rituals recall, restate, and sanctify group norms Strengthen identity, illustrate norms, sanction disruptions ! Rites of Reversal: emphasis of ideal by contrast with temporary [controlled] abnormal/deviant behavior Focuses on attention on opposites, but as "undesirable" Some overlaps Other special rites occur irregularly as needed f. Organization of Religious Practices (1) Religious Specialists Religious specialists exist in every society Act as intermediaries between group and the supernatural Guide religious ideas/experience and conduct rituals Types of religious practitioners: ! Shaman: ability based on individual spiritual power ("medicine man") Powers often derived from special spirit protectors Usually a part-time specialist ! Priest: ability based on expert knowledge of sacred materials Exact enactment of codicils compels nature to respond Usually a full-time and professional religious specialist (2) Levels of Religious Organization ! Individual: Personal but socially patterned activities ! Communal: Organized group religious activities Occasional or cyclic rites, usually led by a religious leader ! Ecclesiastical: Socially institutionalized religious organizations Social institutions based on organized membership, clergy, and cyclic rituals Sometimes may be the predominant political institution as well - Vatican state, Tibet, Pharonic Egypt 5. Psychological Orientations a. Ethnic Character "Culture and personality" an early focus in cross-cultural studies Attempts to explain broad range of human behavior Heavily psychoanalytic - intuitive inferences (pros and cons as an approach)
Configuration of covert psychological processes and manifest behavior Can see variations within pluralistic societies Similar behavioral styles across social boundaries Different ways of experiencing life Are clearly patterns within groups Social surveys based on 1,000 - can indicate the range of behavior Have to be careful about stereotypes (ethnocentrism - simplification) Individual variations exist within ethnic range
b. Socialization Socialization: The whole process by which an individual develops socially patterned behavior How people learn their cultures has been much studied in Anthropology Efforts to explain the wide variations in human behavior (Mead)
re "socializing" Goal: To prepare the individual to be a functional member of the group Internalized - so functional behavior comes from within (re Social Control) The process of socialization involves two major factors: ! The individual's character Biological constitution, primary needs, learned needs People come to the socialization process with a large capacity - a large "blank check" Humans are adapted for ? ! The individual's total environment Physical - climate, home size/shape, etc. Sociocultural - views about ideal behavior, roles, norms, beliefs Individual experiences - birth order, accidents, etc.
Children are active partners in this process Many techniques of child rearing Positive and negative reinforcement Minimally, socialization involves imitation and experience
Interest in the child's physical/emotional development varies Care-givers (socialization agents) can also vary widely Universally includes the mother - but can also include elder siblings, aunts/cousins, and others The more care-givers the more constant and responsive the care
Important in physical and social skills, roles, values Also in other primates and mammals
Issues:
Meanings ? Functions ? See Text c. Mental Health Psychopathology another major focus in Anthropology Attempt to explain human nature from abnormal Another premise in psychoanalytic models
What can be "normal" in one group can be "abnormal" in another Each culture has its own set of problems Differences in levels of stresses minimal Except in cases of unusual changes - wars, ecological collapse and disasters, etc. Each culture also provides most members with means for coping with its stresses Culturally patterned ways of psychopathology Different cultures have different stresses and expressions Basis is ethnic character patterns "Abnormal" varies from "normal" Probably some universals re interactive model of adaptation Universal agreements? Presumably a point where any "normal" person can break
Both individual and society are responsible for disorders Goal: To effectively reintegrate individual into group Treatments contrast widely Issues: Are basic psychic process the same or different? Cross-cultural validity of diagnostic categories/standards? d. Aesthetics and Arts We do not have time to discuss all aspects of culture Includes: ! Visual artistic styles ! Music - melody vs. harmony ! Drama - plays on social themes and issues Usually not art for art's sake See Text for discussions 6. Functions of World View World View involves the basic meanings in cultural experience (and ethnocentrism) In looking at others' ways, we often do not think to ask about functions Types of functions? Like other aspects of culture, world view helps people adapt to life challenges What are some of the important functions of World View: Biological ? Ecological ? Economic ? Social ? Psychological ? Every culture faces the adaptive challenges of motivating and directing life experience For the individual For the group Views and emotions are structured to provide for a meaningful life experience As integrated with other aspects of culture The whole system is adaptive SUMMARY of World View World view Cognition Ideology Perceptions Values Types
Value system Value conflicts Religion
Supernatural Impacts on daily existence Power/force/energy Myth
Magic Types ? Uses
Ritual Organization of Religious Practices Psychological Orientations
Mental health "Abnormal" varies from "normal" Aesthetics and arts Functions of World View Culture is an ? Adapt by ? There is a tremendous range for being human - potentials great The cultural context selects and molds certain behaviors From among all those possible Many valid ways of being human Awareness of others can help us better understand ourselves Download 57.48 Kb. Share with your friends:
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