5.5: Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. One example is the romanticization of the noble savage in the 18th-century primitivism movement in European art, philosophy and ethnography. (Photo courtesy of OledSidorenko/flickr). Ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor to prejudice, racism, and xenophobia. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. Reading: Healthcare Outside of the United States, 179. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. European colonizers often viewed the people in the lands they colonized as uncultured savages who were in need of European governance, dress, religion, and other cultural practices. 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. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. 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. RT @VirgilWalkerOMA: "Many would contend that the struggle for social justice and the propagation of Christian nationalism share no similarities. People with a strong sense of ethnocentrism tend to dislike this sort of change, even where it has many advantages. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A good example of ethnocentrism is referring to parts of Asia as the Far East. One might question, Far east of where?. Sanai had been forced to flee war-torn Bosnia with her family when she was fifteen. Reading: Introduction to Media and Technology, 235. Read the full article Oxytocin promotes human ethnocentrismhere, https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-3e/pages/3-1-what-is-culture, Describe and give examples of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. 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. The people who maintain an ethnocentric view in life will not typically bother much about other societies and cultures in the world, past or present. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Sex, 133. 27 Apr 2023 17:23:35 Copyright Opinion Front & Buzzle.com, Inc. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one's own. Caitlin was half asleep by the time supper was servedat 10 p.m.! Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance, 77. Outcome: Collective Behavior and Social Movements, 228. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. It helps to remember that culture is learned. Marias mother kissed Caitlin on both cheeks when she greeted her. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. If your professor comes into an early morning class holding a mug of liquid, what do you assume she is drinking? . 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. European colonizers often viewed the people in the lands they colonized as uncultured savages who were in need of European governance, dress, religion, and other cultural practices. 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. 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. The basis for evaluation differs according to the view employed. while ethnocentrism leans towards intolerance, cultural relativism leans towards incredibly high tolerance of cultural features. North Americans keep more distance and maintain a larger personal space. Even something as simple as eating and drinking varies greatly from culture to culture. The belief that ones culture is inferior to another culture is called: 2. Xenocentrism noun A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Government, 199. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. A cross-cultural comparison of ethnocentrism and the intercultural Explain each perspective, give an example of each, and discuss any flaws that each perspective might have. Reading: Universal Access to Education, 156. Cultural norms accompany even the smallest nonverbal signals (DuBois 1951). Putting It Together: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 224. ethnocentrism; xenocentrism; Show Answer. Putting It Together: Socialization and Interaction, 72. Sociologists attempting to engage in cultural relativism, then, may struggle to reconcile aspects of their own culture with aspects of a culture that they are studying.