Introduction
Cultural practices together with social practices forms a crucial integral element in each society or community through which individuals who are found in that community vividly distinguish each other from the rest of the people in the world. Due to these cultural and social diversities various aspects and views have been created among the existing societies. As an elaboration, some cultural and social practices from a specific country, region or community may be viewed with a positive note or view by another community or may be taken in a repulsive manner (Wingfield & Nesbitt-Larking, 2007).
SOCIETY, CULTURE AND SOCIAL THEORIES
According to sociologist from the United States of America, the positive or negative perception which is held by a looker-on towards another community’s cultural and social practices is based on the previous relationships which have been in existence. In addition, the interaction, integration level and the counteraction effects of these cultural and social elements towards another community plays a key role on how these elements are taken and absorbed by another community. Depending on the culture or community from which a person is originating from, he or she can have a different perception towards a certain action. For instance, master-slave relationships have been in existence and accepted in a number of American societies. In addition, polygamous and multi-sexual partner’s relationships have been dominant in some American societies (Preiss, 2007).
Conversely, the manner in which such activities have been taken or addressed in various communities is usually different. These forms of judgments are usually based on cultural and social practices are dominant from one community to another. Despite the issue of cultural and social norms being identified as the key modifiers of one’s behaviors, some specific elements such as family units, peer group, school and its system as well as mass media can be linked to such norms and practices. These elements play a crucial role of delivering certain influential information to their target clients. For instance, mass media has been identified as a key player in elevating or boosting the issue of globalization in the United States of America. Peer group entail the individuals who are found to have a great influence in the manner of conduct, lifestyle and character of a person. Consequently, they greatly influence the way a person evaluates a particular scenario existing within a given society. Social character exhibited by society members is significantly influence by a number of dominating external elements which are found in that given society. These elements usually constitute the practiced religious beliefs, cultural background, media influence and political administration found in any given country.
Media is one of the factors which is known to extensively influence the behavior and character which is held by society members. This is through vigorous campaigns and advertisements which are designed to lure in any accessible audience. Media is a general term which is used to refer to any communication channel targeting a significant fraction of the community members. Such channels include television channels, radio stations, print media such as newspaper, Internet and influential bill boards to mention but a few (Sayre & Cynthia, 2009).
The 3 sociological Paradigms have effectively analysed the element of sociology on the bases of cultural and social aspects. Conflict theories are standpoint in sociology through which issues linked to political, social and economic elements within a society are evaluated. Nevertheless, the approach through which these elements are addressed under conflict theory is through a critique of the existing social systems. For instance, it addresses class conflict and other historically ideologies which are usually dominant within a given community. On the other hand, Symbolic interaction is an integral sociological dimension that places much weight on micro-scale social relations, which is particularly vital in sublevels such as social psychology and urban sociology. Symbolic interaction is developed from American based pragmatism, specifically the concepts of George and Cooley. According to these scholars, they acknowledged that human beings approaches toward elements are based on the meaning portrayed by those elements that have for them. Basing on their approaches, they emphasized that these meaning were based on social interaction as well as personal levels of interactions (Nabi &Oliver, 2009).
Structural functionalism also known as functionalism is a wide field of sociological theory which vividly interpret society as a structural framework with interrelated entities. Functionalism elaborates a society as a whole in relation to the function of its essential elements which mainly include the traditions, norms, institutions and customs. As acknowledged by various sociologists from the United States of America, a society is composed of a various parts which cohesively and comprehensively form an integral entity in any given community. For instance, adoption of specific moral code of conducts can be termed as an act of adhering to certain regulations or guidelines as stipulated by a given body or institution in order to be at par with societal or governmental expectations. Apart from governmental rules and regulations, religious beliefs and practices are among the key determinants of moral conduct and ethics which are exhibited by any given society. Therefore, the level of moral and ethical influence in a given society directly correlates to the religious doctrines which dominate in that society. Religious practices are linked to moral conduct due to the association of supreme authorities or powers which are thought to control and govern the activities in the universe. Depending on the society in question, a person is expected to hold on certain practices which are presumed to be of please to these supreme authorities (Macionis, 2010).
Conclusion
The positive or negative perception which is held by a looker-on towards another community’s cultural and social practices is based on the previous relationships which have been in existence. In addition, the interaction, integration level and the counteraction effects of these cultural and social elements towards another community plays a key role on how these elements are taken and absorbed by another community. A number of influential factors can substantially determine how people react towards some social factors. For example, media is one of the factors which is known to extensively influence the behavior and character which is held by society members. This is through vigorous campaigns and advertisements which are designed to lure in any accessible audience.
References
Macionis, J.J. (2010). Society: The Basics, Canada: Pearson Education Canada,
Nabi, R L & Oliver, M.B. (2009). The SAGE Handbook of Media Processes and
Effects, London, UK: SAGE Publisher.
Sayre, S., & Cynthia K. (2009) Entertainment and society: influences, impacts, and
innovations, New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Publisher.
Preiss, R.W. (2007) Mass media effects research: advances through meta-analysis,
London, UK:
Routledge Publishers.
Wingfield, P &Nesbitt-Larking. (2007) Politics, society, and the media, Toronto:
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Toronto Press.
