Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in group and out. Similarities and difference between cultural relativism and. See ethnocentrism is having the belief that ones country and culture is the best and is the right way to. Nov 10, 2011 sociology ethnocentrisim and cultural relativism roger boutot. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism cultural differences are the variations in the many ways of doing things between different countries, societies or people. Ethnocentrism is an indicator of centricity around our own cultural perspective, meaning we evaluate others based on what we experience and what we were brought up with.
View essay difference between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism from pol 110 at university of phoenix. How can the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism be used to come to a better understanding of contemporary problems. Cultural relativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, everyone has displayed ethnocentrism once or more in their lives but not many have shown cultural relativism. Difference between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. How would you apply the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism to your perception of these customs. Difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism is a fascinating consideration. Ethnocentrism is the view that one particular ethnic group is somehow superior to all others. Apr 10, 2011 difference between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism is a fascinating consideration. Ethnocentrism is quite different than that of cultural relativism. How would you apply the concepts of ethnocentrism and. Get an answer for what are the postives and negatives of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism hum 6500 august 02, 2015 ethnocentrism is the belief that your native culture is the most accepted or higher way of understanding the world according to the book ethnocentrism is judging the world through the lens of ones. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. What cultural relativism means, is that theres no right, absolute right or wrong, but we have.
Cultural relativism for if anyone, no matter, who were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations of the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he would inevitably, after careful consideration of their relative merits, choose that of his own country. Such could be the case with situational ethics, which is a category of ethical relativism. We are ethnocentric when we use our cultural norms to make generalizations about other peoples cultures and customs. Ethnocentrism theories put together ethnocentrism is a theory opposite to cultural relativism.
In addition, i address not one or two, but eleven arguments for cultural relativism, many of which contribute to its popularity but receive scant attention from its critics. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are two contrasting terms that are displayed by different people all over the world. Learning objectives examine the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in relation to your own and other cultures in society. Pdf cultural materialism in the selected short stories. Social relativism and ethnocentrism are the two flip sides of one coin where both of these. Coogan ethnocentrism is the use of values, ideals, and mores from ones own culture. Sep 28, 2012 cultural relativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, everyone has displayed ethnocentrism once or more in their lives but not many have shown cultural relativism.
Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism ethnocentrism is a way of thinking in which a person judges other cultures based on the ideas and beliefs of his or her own culture. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism introduction to. Interculturalism, ethnocentrism and dialogue sage journals. Cultural awareness and acceptance are important steps toward a better and peaceful world. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in group and out group video. Pdf the modern system of international human rights treaties is based on the. To counter our tendency to use our own culture as the standard by which we judge other cultures, we can practice cultural relativism not judging a culture by trying to understand it on its own terms.
This idea consists of being able to judge another culture. Define globalization, ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism. Similarities and difference between cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is defined as a point of view that ones own way of life is to be preferred above all others rosado. The principle of cultural relativism thus forced anthropologists to develop innovative methods and heuristic strategies. Jan 25, 2017 cultural relativism is important in providing objective insight into other cultures. The opposite of ethnocentrism is cultural relativism. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism antonioasuncion40. Cultural relativism versus ethnocentrism philosophy essay.
By combining each of these elements, a theory is created as to why a person. The present world consists of a variety of unique cultures. Both of these terms i learned in 1st year anthropology, and they are quite important for that discipline. Whereas ethnorelativism, is you try to understand the means behind certain things, from rituals, myths, customs,traditions and the meals they consume. One of the processes of anthropology is studying cultural relativism of society versus ethnocentrism. Has the united states media, or people, engaged in cultural relativism to negatively judge the culture of countries where supposed terrorists are from. The council of europe believes that respect for, and promotion of, cultural.
Ethnocentrism americans tend to value technological advancement, industrialization, and the accumulation of wealth. Anthropological concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural. Aug 28, 2014 ethnocentrism is quite different than that of cultural relativism. Slideshow ethnocentrism and cultural relativism image credits. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism essay example bartleby. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism flashcards quizlet.
The cultural superiority complex june 4, 2015 by felicity menzies for if one were to offer men to choose out of all the customs in the world such as seemed to them the best, they would examine the whole number, and end by preferring their own. An american, applying his or her own standards to a culture that does not value those things, may view that culture as primitive or uncivilized. On the opposite side, as we start to look at cultural events, whether its the food or any other cultural event, or cultural phenomenon, from a perspective of the other persons culture, we start to move into the concept of cultural relativism. Start studying ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
Cultural relativism was in part a response to western ethnocentrism. Oppositely, cultural relativism is a theory that states that beliefs, customs, and morality exist in relation to the particular culture from which originate and are not absolute. An example that better defines the two terms would be. We are ethnocentric when we use our cultural norms to make generalizations about. You try to understand it without judgement and find its purpose behind it. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism hum 6500 august 02, 2015 ethnocentrism is the belief that your native culture is the most accepted or higher way of understanding the world according to the book ethnocentrism is judging the world through the lens of ones save paper.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your culture is right or the best. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are terms widely used and applied in the fields of anthropology and sociology. Though we may choose to vehemently deny it, all of us are ethnocentric in some way or the other, with the marked exception of a few people. Cultural relativism and tolerance in intercultural communication. Anthropologists describe people who are ethnocentric as believing their way of living is correct, while anothers way of living is incorrect and inappropriate. Ethnocentrism is a way of thinking in which a person. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism ethnocentrism and. Ethnocentrism definition of ethnocentrism by merriamwebster. Read page 40 in the textbook to see how difficult it can be to practice cultural relativism. Summer 1906 as cited by alexander 2006 said that even a small group from a large group of people differs on their lifestyles and beliefs, practices, values and norms. At any rate, ethical relativism would mean that our morals have evolved, that they have changed over. Cultural awareness learning module one free range research. Cultural relativism is the idea that a persons beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that persons own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another it was established as axiomatic in anthropological research by franz boas in the first few decades of the 20th century and later popularized by his students.
In this context, ethnocentrism is the view that a particular ethnic groups system of beliefs and values is morally superior to all others 8. In some middle eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. This is a narrow mindset that does not lend itself to overcoming cultural gaps or learning how to interact and communicate well with people from different cultures. Although ethnocentrism is universal, it can be suppressed with cultural relativism the recognition that one culture cannot be arbitrarily judged by the standards of another or we can say that a belief that a culture must be understood on its own terms. Cultural relativism and ethnocentrism are the two flip sides of one coin where both of these rather philosophical notions are intertwined. Ethnocentrism definition is the attitude that ones own group, ethnicity, or nationality is superior to others. Cultural relativism is important in providing objective insight into other cultures. Though relativism is apparently attractive to some beginners in philosophy. Why and how does cultural relativism mitigate ethnocentrism. Cultural materialism can be defined as an anthropological research orientation, originally introduced by marvin harris in his book the rise of anthropological theory as a theoretical paradigm and. Lecture on the challenge of cultural relativism duration.
Sociologists refer to this approach as ethnocentrism the practice of judging all other cultures by ones own culture sumner, 195911906. Feminists have made common cause with cultural relativism because first, it provides a tool for criticizing rationality and rejecting objectiv. Essay on ethnocentrism and cultural relativism 667 words. Instead, right and wrong are based on social norms. Between world war i and world war ii, cultural relativism was the central tool for american anthropologists in this rejection of western claims to universality, and salvage of nonwestern cultures.
Did the united states media, or people, engage in ethnocentrism as social justification for the war in iraq. Ethnocentrism landed as a concept amongst different nations earlier than cultural relativism which got to be devised to counter ethnocentrism. Cultural relativism continues to be closely identified with anthropology even though few anthro pologists. Similarities and difference between cultural relativism. Cultural relativism, on the other hand, is defined as the view that all beliefs are equally valid and that truth itself is relative, depending on the situation, environment. Cultural relativism is showing a sense of understanding for different cultures and treating the uniqueness of these cultures with utmost respect.
There is a balance, especially, in the continuum of the relationship between the concepts of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. This encyclopedia entry, which appears in the encyclopedia of global justice springer, 2011, describes and examines cultural relativism as a normative moral claim, and explores its theoretical. Beyond cultures perceiving a common humanity council for. Juxtaposing cultural relativism, ethnocentrism and. Ethnocentrism is a way of thinking in which a person judges. Cultural relativism the position that the values and standards of cultures differ and deserve respect kottak, 2009 greatly opposes the idea of ethnocentrism the tendency to view ones own culture as best and to judge the behavior and beliefs of culturally different people by ones own. Ethnocentrism may take obvious forms, in which one consciously believes that ones peoples arts are the most beautiful, values the most virtuous, and beliefs the most truthful. Cultural relativism, minority ethnic, human rights, politics and. Cultural relativism, unlike ethnocentrism, does not consider one culture to be superior to another.
Ethnocentrism, in contrast to cultural relativism, is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own culture. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in group and out group. Download 6page term paper on anthropological concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism 2020. What are the postives and negatives of ethnocentrism and. Free essays on ethnocentrism and cultural relativism and. Jul 26, 2016 cultural relativism was in part a response to western ethnocentrism. Cultural relativism is the positive attitude or concept while ethnocentrism is the negative side. What are examples of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
Ethnocentrism might seem similar to ethnic pride, which is having pride for your culture and values, but there is a very fine line separating the two. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Sep 15, 2015 ethnocentrism and cultural relativism cultural differences are the variations in the many ways of doing things between different countries, societies or people. Ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and stereotypes by. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism sociology homework. The first use of the term recorded in the oxford english dictionary ethnocentrism leads us to make false assumptions about cultural differences. Cultural relativism boas the idea that each culture must be understood in terms of the values and beliefs of that culture and should not be judged by the standards of another culture it explains human diversity as a logical outcome of the diverse environments in which humans live there is no fixed truth. On sum, ethnocentrism has both social benefits and costs. Jan 03, 2014 so basically ethnocentrism is more like being stereotypical, racist, and snobby about other peoples cultures. Ethnocentrism begins with the idea that you grow up in a particular social and cultural environment, surrounded by people of a similar cultur. Brown cultural relativism continues to be closely identi. Cultural relativism writing prompts poster prompt 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Ethical relativism is the position that there are no moral absolutes, no moral right and wrongs.
Get an answer for why and how does cultural relativism mitigate ethnocentrism. Simply put, ethnocentrism is defined as judging other groups from the perspective of ones own cultural point of view. This quiz and worksheet focus on the characteristics of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, the two primary frameworks people use to assess culture. Sociologists refer to this approach as ethnocentrismthe practice of judging all other cultures by ones own culture sumner, 195911906. Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. I am a very liberal thinker liberal arts grad and have travelled extensively and have lived in different cultures for various lengths of time. Rachel dolezal is a special situation of appropriation and imitation, not ethnocentrism or cultural relativism, those concepts do not apply here. Create a poster or some other type of graphic organizer that defines culture and then describes ethnocentrism and cultural. Elements of culture ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
Ethnocentrism, cultural relativism and stereotypes by aditya. Groups of people develop distinct patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours as they respond to the survival challenges of their shared environment. See ethnocentrism is having the belief that ones country and culture is the best and is the right way to go and that you are right and everyone else is wrong. Merging of groups and their traditions within a society that endorses a. Such could be the case with situational ethics, which is a. The differences and similarities observed between various cultures determine the way the people of those cultures interact with each other. Cultural relativism asserts that cultural values are arbitrary and therefore the value of one culture should not be used as standards to evaluate the behavior of persons from outside that culture. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism both share a similar practice of trying to understand other beliefs and cultures, but they are both hugely different.
777 274 1489 394 1526 1335 78 967 990 98 850 1017 96 628 632 1126 932 1141 1419 1148 834 1597 455 931 329 1320 1020 1132 1269 735 1497 504 265 105 654 1091 775 725 77 980 1214 973 1058 1350 584 444 1271 1178