1/30/2023
What is Culture?
8 most important years of life 14-22
- Your worldview and values are formed
Two Most important years of life (senior high -freshmen)
Culture: The expression of personate by a specified people group which results in the
creation of a system of stylized values, beliefs, behavior patterns and language.
Social System Components
Primary groups=small circles (cliques) of friendships/associates
This group will:
Serve as a reference point for you
Establish your identity
Indicate how you will behave
Status in a Social System:
Status Types:
Outsider: cultural “by passer” of dominant. Follows behind yet consumed with being
included
Mainstream:
· participator: active involvement in culture
· pace setter: charts course for cultural expression (influencers, Elon Musk)
Loner: Ignores the cultural norm, does own thing
Counterculture:
· Rebel: goes against mainstream, produces a counterculture
Enculturation is the culture that is in you (your poem, part of you)
Acculturation is the culture outside of you (ability to adapt and integrate and learn their
culture)
Enculturation: the process by which individuals acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and
values that enable them to be functioning members of a subculture (socialization)
How it is developed:
Role: The behavior expected from the status type of the individual.
Symbol: (Status symbols) The practice or possession which signifies membership into a
certain status
Custom: Action carried on by tradition, enforced by the group
2/8/2023
Culture Continued
Fad: a short-lived, exciting or outrageous custom. If it stops it is a fad, if it continues it
becomes a custom
Trend: a current course of a group towards a style. A fad can become a trend, then a
trend a custom
Style: Prevailing characteristics of a group with varied application
Acculturation
How do I become a student of culture?
Acculturation- process whereby an alien (newcomer) learns appropriate behavior when
entering the host (target) culture to become a “neo-domestic” (insider)
How:
Cognitive SOURCES:
- Facebook/Twitter/Insta/Vine/other
- Music
-School website
- Media Top Lists
- Magazines
Experiential (qualitative research)
“Heart knowledge” firsthand experience of the culture with all 5 senses
Observe and listen
Benefits: hands-on help people sense your concern, learn to trust you
DANGERS
Ethnocentrism: Evaluating culture by one’s own culture and behavioral norms
Cocooning: Culture changes every 6 months, more dangerous as you age in ministry,
culture shock occurs when real teens encountered
Tunnel vision: Perspective from too few key informants. (Echo Chamber)
Cultural Infection: Lot was overcome by culture (Gen. 13, 14, 19), Doctors avoid
infection by taking precautions, more dangerous to young ministers
How to guard against cultural infection
BALANCE your study of culture with study of the Word\Study Christ’s example… He
was part of the culture without infection
Practice Phil. 4:8
Consider your testimony
