similarities of ethnocentrism and xenocentrism

A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. Xenocentrism then stands in opposition to ethnocentrism, which is the belief that one's own culture or nation is superior to all others; those who show signs of ethnocentrism are said to. Someone from a country where dog meat is standard fare might find it off-putting to see a dog in a French restaurantnot on the menu, but as a pet and patrons companion. In a more extreme sense, some cultures may idolize . Why do you believe this? A culture consists of a group of people that possess specific traditions, language, belief system, customs, hierarchy, food, music, and literature. Reading: Symbolic Interactionism and Deviance, 82. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Putting It Together: Culture and Society, 53. Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. Citing Paraphrases and Summaries (APA), 4. Both views present negative connotations. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. In January 2011, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America presented evidence indicating that the hormone oxytocin could regulate and manage instances of ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism vs Cultural Relativism The difference between these two worldviews are vast but both views are very well and alive in today's society. Reading: Charter Schools and Homeschooling, 165. Putting It Together: Sociological Foundations, 34. It's the belief that one's ethnic group is superior to another. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Reading: Defining the Sociological Imagination, 13. Some travelers pride themselves on their willingness to try unfamiliar foods, like celebrated food writer Anthony Bourdain, while others return home expressing gratitude for their native cultures fare. Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. Her imposing father kept his distance. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. Why It Matters: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 214. A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. For example, Americans tend to say that people from England drive on the wrong side of the road, rather than on the other side. Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. The unique qualities of each culture influences the reasoning of an individual and plays a role in shaping the way that individual perceives the world and other cultures in it. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements, 231. Outcome: Globalization and the Economy, 209. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. Over the course of his stay, Barger participated in caribou hunts, learned how to take shelter in winter storms, and sometimes went days with little or no food to share among tribal members. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and develop cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. The basis for evaluation differs according to the view employed. For this reason, culture shock is often associated with traveling abroad, although it can happen in ones own country, state, or even hometown. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Ethnocentrism is a global phenomenon and influences social interaction 1,2.It has been the source of ethnic strains in different regions, such as South Africa and Lebanon 3.It is assumed to be a . Such characters are called cultural universals. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. 2 words related to ethnocentrism: partisanship, partiality. Putting It Together: Social Stratification and Inequality, 105. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that one's own culture is better than all others, and should therefore serve as the standard frame of reference. Xenocentrism is the preference for the cultural practices of other cultures and societies which can entail how they live, what they eat, rather than of one's own way of life. belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. Reading: Symbolic Interactionist Theory, 20. Why It Matters: Government and Politics, 196. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? North Americans keep more distance and maintain a large personal space. Even something as simple as eating and drinking varies greatly from culture to culture. Why do you believe this? In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own ostensibly advanced cultural values on another culture. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. Explain each perspective, give an example of each, and discuss any flaws that each perspective might have. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, . Outcome: Reality as a Social Construct, 50. Outcome: The Social Construction of Health, 169. Where he is from, unless they are romantically involved, men do not kiss one another. For instance, a particular practice may seem immoral or unethical according to the beliefs of a different culture, but those same practices may be perfectly acceptable and normal with respect to its own culture. Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism, 39. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Putting It Together: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 224. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. It is unexpected that an individual would value the goods, services, styles, ideas and other cultural elements of another nation. Outcome: Types of Formal Organizations, 69. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. The way individuals perceive other cultural practices can be broadly segregated into two types cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. She missed her home and felt overwhelmed by the new customs, language, and surroundings. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. Outcome: Theoretical Perspectives on Education, 157. Ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor to prejudice, racism, and xenophobia. Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. Music and laughter are examples of: [reveal-answer q=72875]Show Answer[/reveal-answer], http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c8-441e-a685-20e9333f3e1d/Introduction_to_Sociology_2e, http://cnx.org/contents/02040312-72c9333f3e1d@3.49. Outcome: Social Stratification in the United States, 89. Marias mother kissed Caitlin on both cheeks when she greeted her. Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Xenocentrism puts others before one's own nation, which means that the health and stability of one's own is thought of as less important. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. Her imposing father kept his distance. Reading: Systems of Social Stratification, 87. Outcome: Collective Behavior and Social Movements, 228. Outcome: The Sociological Imagination, 11. North Americans keep more distance and maintain a large personal space. Even something as simple as eating and drinking varies greatly from culture to culture. Based on this subjective perception of other cultures, two types of views emerge when one compares two or more cultures. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. Reading: Introduction to Global Inequality, 93. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Europes colonial expansion, begun in the sixteenth century, was often accompanied by a severe cultural imperialism. 3. Ethnocentric individuals believe they're better than other individuals for reasons based solely on their heritage. Due to the extremist nature of both theories, anthropologists employ a strategy that is a sort of middle ground between these two viewpoints. Over the course of his stay, Barger participated in caribou hunts, learned how to take shelter in winter storms, and sometimes went days with little or no food to share among tribal members. Reading: Class Structure in the United States, 92. Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging other cultures based. For example, Americans tend to say that people from England drive on the wrong side of the road, rather than on the other side. During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine, 171. Why It Matters: Health, Aging, and the Elderly, 168. . It also proposes that no culture has the right to judge another cultures customs and practices and that a culture must be understood in its own terms rather than by the standards of a foreign culture. In the airport, she heard rapid, musical Spanish being spoken all around her. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. Someone from a country where dog meat is standard fare might find it off-putting to see a dog in a French restaurantnot on the menu, but as a pet and patrons companion. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture and adapt to its norms, they recover from culture shock. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? For example, Americans tend to say that people from England drive on the wrong side of the road, rather than on the other side. Ethnocentric individuals believe that their own ethnicity is centrally important and all other cultures and ethnicity must be judged according to the standards of their own culture. A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. Even the most culturally relativist people from egalitarian societiesones in which women have political rights and control over their own bodieswould question whether the widespread practice of female genital mutilation in countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan should be accepted as a part of cultural tradition. Figure 1. Caitlins shock was minor compared to that of her friends Dayar and Mahlika, a Turkish couple living in married student housing on campus. Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. Where he is from, unless they are romantically involved, men do not kiss one another. Xenocentrism noun A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Outcome: Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 119. In terms of sensitivity, ethnocentrism is insensitive to other cultures, while cultural relativism shows high cultural sensitivity. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. It can take weeks or months to recover from culture shock, and it can take years to fully adjust to living in a new culture. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. An American visiting Italy might long for a real pizza or complain about the unsafe driving habits of Italians compared to people in the United States. Ethnocentrism in social science and anthropologyas well as in colloquial English discoursemeans to apply one's own culture or ethnicity as a frame of reference to judge other cultures, practices, behaviors, beliefs, and people, instead of using the standards of the particular culture involved. While each culture has specific and unique traits, there exist some traits that are found universally across all cultures of the world. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Some people will simply call it cultural ignorance. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). An exchange student from China might be annoyed by the constant interruptions in class as other students ask questionsa practice that is considered rude in China. Putting It Together: Socialization and Interaction, 72. He knew hed never hold his own against these experts. Xenocentrism Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider, and even adapt to, new values and norms. This comparison of one's culture to others has a significant impact on how we perceive the people around us and the organizations to which we belong. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. Reading: Theories of Self-Development, 61. In the United States, its most likely filled with coffee, not Earl Grey tea, a favorite in England, or Yak Butter tea, a staple in Tibet. Ethnocentrism noun The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture. What issues or events might inform this? When Rodneys host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. To the Inuit people, winning was enjoyable, but their culture valued survival skills essential to their environment: how hard someone tried could mean the difference between life and death. An exchange student from China might be annoyed by the constant interruptions in class as other students ask questionsa practice that is considered rude in China. As nouns the difference between ethnocentrism and xenocentrism. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards, and not in comparison to another culture culture shock: an experience of personal disorientation when confronted with an unfamiliar way of life ethnocentrism: the practice of evaluating another culture according to the standards of one's own culture xenocentrism: Cultural relativismis the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of ones own culture. Ethnocentrism, as sociologist William Graham Sumner (1906) described the term, involves a belief or attitude that ones own culture is better than all others. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. Reading: Roles and the Presentation of Self, 52. On the one hand, ethnocentrism can lead to negative judgments of the behaviors of groups or societies. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. In sociology, we call thisculture shock. Culture shock may appear because people arent always expecting cultural differences. A good example of ethnocentrism is referring to parts of Asia as the Far East. One might question, Far east of where?. During her summer vacation, Caitlin flew from Chicago to Madrid to visit Maria, the exchange student shed befriended the previous semester. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. Shed stepped out of her comfort zone. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance, 77. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Anthropologist Kalervo Oberg (1960) is credited with first coining the term culture shock. In his studies, Oberg found that most people found encountering a new culture to be exciting at first. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. [reveal-answer q=436227]Show Answer[/reveal-answer], [reveal-answer q=248899]Show Answer[/reveal-answer]. The present world consists of a variety of unique cultures. It can take weeks or months to recover from culture shock, and it can take years to fully adjust to living in a new culture. (The Greek root word xeno, pronounced ZEE-no, means stranger or foreign guest.) An exchange student who goes home after a semester abroad or a sociologist who returns from the field may find it difficult to associate with the values of their own culture after having experienced what they deem a more upright or nobler way of living. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. Everyone is ethnocentric to an extent, and identifying with ones own country is natural. APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines, 5. Antonyms for ethnocentricity. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. But as they experience unanticipated differences from their own culture, their excitement gives way to discomfort and doubts about how to behave appropriately in the new situation. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. Xenocentrism is the preference for the cultural practices of other cultures and societies, such as how they live and what they eat, rather than of one's own social way of life. Ethnocentrism in its extreme form gives rise to racism and supremacist (e.g., the holocaust), while cultural relativism allows the propagation of certain practices that violate basic human rights (e.g., the practice of female genital mutilation). People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Gender, 130. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, which means to value one's own culture more than the other's culture. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. 5.5: Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. These views involve examining a culture and all its aspects and evaluating them. Trying hard and working together, two nonmaterial values, were indeed much more important than winning. Figure 2. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. It involves evaluating other cultures and ethnic groups based on the standards and values of one's own group and viewing them as inferior or less important. is that ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture while xenocentrism is a preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Reading: Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups, 108. What are another words for Ethnocentrism? She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. a. Even the most culturally relativist people from egalitarian societiesones in which women have political rights and control over their own bodieswould question whether the widespread practice of female genital mutilation in countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan should be accepted as a part of cultural tradition. 3. Why It Matters: Socialization and Interaction, 55. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, which means to value one's own culture more than the other's culture. The differences and similarities observed between various cultures determine the way the people of those cultures interact with each other. Exciting as it was, she felt isolated and disconnected. 27 Apr 2023 17:23:35 Part of ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own race, ethnic or cultural group is the most important or that some or all aspects of its culture are superior to those of other groups.

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