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    Ethnocentrism

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    Vhim Gutierrez
    The document defines ethnocentrism as judging other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture. There are two types - moderate, which is natural but can involve bias, and extreme, which considers other cultures inferior. Ethnocentrism stems from strong group bonds and lack of contact/education with outsiders. While cultural relativism says no culture is inherently better, some acts like murder may be universally wrong. The document advocates understanding different cultures before judging to avoid ethnocentrism.

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    Ethnocentrism

    Uploaded by

    Vhim Gutierrez
    131 views19 pages
    The document defines ethnocentrism as judging other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture. There are two types - moderate, which is natural but can involve bias, and extreme, which considers other cultures inferior. Ethnocentrism stems from strong group bonds and lack of contact/education with outsiders. While cultural relativism says no culture is inherently better, some acts like murder may be universally wrong. The document advocates understanding different cultures before judging to avoid ethnocentrism.

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    Ethnocentrism

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    The document defines ethnocentrism as judging other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture. There are two types - moderate, which is natural but can involve bias, and extreme, which considers other cultures inferior. Ethnocentrism stems from strong group bonds and lack of contact/education with outsiders. While cultural relativism says no culture is inherently better, some acts like murder may be universally wrong. The document advocates understanding different cultures before judging to avoid ethnocentrism.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    131 views19 pages

    Ethnocentrism

    Uploaded by

    Vhim Gutierrez
    The document defines ethnocentrism as judging other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture. There are two types - moderate, which is natural but can involve bias, and extreme, which considers other cultures inferior. Ethnocentrism stems from strong group bonds and lack of contact/education with outsiders. While cultural relativism says no culture is inherently better, some acts like murder may be universally wrong. The document advocates understanding different cultures before judging to avoid ethnocentrism.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
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    Ethnocentrism

    Definition

     Ethnocentrism is judging another


    culture by the values and standards of
    your own culture.
    2 Kinds of Ethnocentrism

     Moderate Ethnocentrism: Looking at


    another culture through the lens of your
    own culture
     This is a natural part of human psychology.

     Extreme Ethnocentrism: Considering


    another culture inferior because it is
    different from yours
     Extreme ethnocentrism can be dangerous.
    Origins
     The first person to use
    the word ethnocentrism
    was William G. Sumner.

     “…when one's own


    group is the center of
    everything, and all
    others are scaled and
    rated with reference to
    it.”
    Racism?

     Do not confuse racism with


    ethnocentrism.

     Race is not considered to be a valid form


    of human classification.

     What is race?
    Causes of Ethnocentrism

     Members of a group make strong


    connections with other members.

     This bond produces positive feelings


    toward members of the group.

     Sometimes causes negative feelings


    toward outsiders.
    Causes of Ethnocentrism

     Little or no contact with members of


    outsider groups produces strong feelings
    of ethnocentrism.
    Causes of Ethnocentrism

     Lack of education sometimes increases


    ethnocentrism.

     Men are more willing to express


    ethnocentrism than women.

     People with low wealth or low self-


    esteem seem to be more ethnocentric.
    Examples of Ethnocentrism

     Language Example 1:
     What we call others
     Eskimo means “eaters of raw flesh”

     Eskimo is a word used by outsiders.

     Inuit is a word used by members of the


    group (insiders).
     Inuit translates to real people.
    Examples of Ethnocentrism

     Language Example 2:
     Barbarian comes from the Greek word
    Barbar which translates to “the sound a dog
    makes.”

     The Greeks used this word for people who


    could not understand their language.

     These are cases of extreme ethnocentrism.


    How to Avoid Extreme Ethnocentrism

     Cultural Relativism: all cultures are


    relevant…no one culture is better or
    worse than others
     Cultural practices can not be judged right or
    wrong.
     Tolerance is the ultimate goal.

     Observers must suspend ethnocentrism in


    order to properly judge other cultures.
    Cultural Relativism

     Extreme cultural relativism can be just as


    dangerous.

     Humanity must have guidelines of


    morality.
     Human life is precious
    Cultural Relativism

     We can tolerate different perspectives.


    Cultural Relativism

     But can we tolerate moral crimes in the


    name of tolerance?
     Murder
     Rape

     These crimes can be considered


    universally wrong.
    Cultural Relativism: Death Rituals

     Aztec people practices human sacrifice


    because they felt it would guarantee that the
    sun would continue to rise every morning.

     The United States leads the world in the


    number of death penalties.
    Cultural Relativism: Death Rituals

     We now know that the sun has nothing to do


    with human sacrifice.

     Statistics now show that the death penalty


    does not decrease crime in the United States.

     Crime actually decreases when death penalty


    is outlawed.
    Why Death Rituals?

     Both Aztec and U.S.A. death rituals are


    no longer relevant today.

     However, cultural relativism allows us to


    know why.

     Both rituals made promises that society


    would remain stable.
    Conclusion

     Members of different cultures are no less


    human than anyone else.

     We must avoid premature judgments until we


    understand the reasons behind actions.

     Only then can we criticize.


    Discussion Questions

     What is a pluralistic society?

     Could you imagine marrying someone


    from another culture or subculture?

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