The Way Humans Think About The World Around Them

Submitted By Harriet_Grace
Words: 1034
Pages: 5
Open Document
'The way humans think about the world around them is the result of the cultural and social influences upon them'

Humans have a strong need to classify the world around them, this is influenced by the lack of understanding some people hold of the world and wish to make clearer, mainly through social and cultural issues, in this essay I will delve into these said issues and attempt to bring about an understanding and solidarity to the reasons behind these results for 'the way humans think about the world around them'.

Classification is a process that is done universally by all societies and cultures in which people give/find meaning to what they don't understand, although all societies and cultures inhabit this process not all classify the same as the other; most societies exhibit diversity through their cultural influences so the actions of one culture/society may seem strange or irrational to other group, E.g. (Azande) Witchcraft, Evans-Pritchard studied the Azande peoples are their view on society and their culture, he found that they explained various misfortunes though the cause of witchcraft, he saw this as irrational when measured against science; he couldn't see things from their perspectives and had a rose-tinted view when studying the Azande culture, however he failed to recognise the similarities between witchcraft and science; both these are belief systems (Cosmologies) they both have people putting faith in a (witch) doctor.
Cultural influences, even though most anthropologists try to give meaning to culture, are only abstract reality conducted though social constructs put in place to give humans; meanings, understanding and rank in the world, culture directs human behaviour in that people follow what they learn/ have been taught much more than the instinct given. Structural anthropologists such like Durkheim and Mauss believe in external structures; a belief that society makes people ready for the external world found outside our consciousness and creates the way humans exist with one another, (they) supported the idea of universal classification and the diversities between different societies explaining how all peoples classify the same but through their similarities are diversities, e.g. dietary preferences, such like the ambition of some societies, i.e. China, to consume cats and dogs, whereas other societies would consider these particular animals as household pets, this indicates a binary diversity between these societies through a universal classification of cats and dogs, this was the conception that hidden in these diverse practises was a common logic.
Similarly was another structural anthropologist, Claude Levi-Strauss who supported this thesis though conducted a different approach from it, he believed in internal structures that resided in the heads of all humans, these internal structures were already there from birth and inputted from society, they shaped the behaviours, norms and values of the different cultures. Levi-Strauss was the first to develop structuralism, using it to understand things like kinship systems and myths. His view on binary oppositions where that of the way humans tended to divide the world up, E.g. nature/culture, he believed that these oppositions were exclusive, something could not be part of culture and nature at the same time, however this sometimes caused contradictions and myths were used to solve said contradictions. Furthermore Levi-Strauss neglects the importance of history in shaping culture and makes little attempt to explain the variety of human culture and therefore becomes Eurocentric in his explanations and results.
But are languages tools for expressing thoughts, or do they actually shape thoughts? Sapir and Whorf disagreed with Durkiem, Mauss and Levi-Strauss' thesis and instead implied that language created culture (reality), they saw the different cultures/societies as completely different things (no universal input), the two produced a hypothesis; 1)
Show More

Related Documents: The Way Humans Think About The World Around Them

Technology From A Post-Humanist Perspective Analysis

There is no question that personal technologies, such as the introduction of smart phones and social medias, have enabled greater connection in the social world. Not only have such means reduced geographical barriers that once existed between people, but have facilitated communication over distance, allowing speedy exchanges and flexibility in our communication. But, whilst technology has clearly brought our global spheres closer together, has this communication revolution changed the nature of interpersonal…

Words 2040 - Pages 9

Emma Bird Essay

child can influence children’s services. It is also highly important to look at how the rights of a child can affect relationships within the family life and discover ways in which family life and the rights of a child are supported by political and legal systems in the UK. A broad range of children and family practitioners can benefit from gaining knowledge on law and policy that shapes practice,(Isles 2008). It is known that human rights are fundamental rights to which every human being is…

Words 2090 - Pages 9

Ant 101 Essay

What Makes Us Human Traits defining human species/nature Territorial Affectionate Social Creatures Humans only exist within social groups Culture Ambitious Interesting Language Stand up right- walks bipedal- it’s rare Curiosity Human or culture No Fur Wear clothes Social Norms between groups because as a species can’t survive without a group Awareness Of others About death We can deceive Leads to war Leads to teaching Teaching Some call us teaching creature Pass along knowledge…

Words 3161 - Pages 13

Social Psychology Review Guide

Social Psychology Exam 1 Review Guide (Chapters 1-4) Chapter 1: What is Social Psychology? What is Social Psychology? Social Psychology (the scientific study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context) “The scientific study”: observations, descriptions, and measurements of the study of the human condition; applies the scientific method “Of how individuals think, feel, and behave”: focuses on the individual “In a social context”: focus on human behavior that concerns others…

Words 3848 - Pages 16

AP Biology Paper

Chapter 1. What is Human Ecology? Chapter 2. Environment, Technology, and Culture What Is Human Ecology? 1 Chapter 1. WHAT IS HUMAN ECOLOGY? Another Unique Species (Title of Robert Foley’s 1987 book on evolutionary human ecology) I. Introduction What is human ecology? Human ecology is an approach to the study of human behavior marked by two committments. First, human ecologists think that humans should be studied living systems operating in complex environments. The human sciences are…

Words 7920 - Pages 32

Essay about Sociology 1301 Lecture notes

shock Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life Happens in our own communities as we confront people of other cultures See pg 38 Confronting the Yanomano and Horace Minors Nacirema Only humans depend on culture rather than instincts to ensure the survival of their kind Elements of culture 4 COMMON ELEMENTS Symbols Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture Human capacity to create and manipulate symbols is almost limitless…

Words 4056 - Pages 17

Attachment Theory and Adam d. Clarke Essay

the formation of a relationship between individuals. Operant conditioning could occur where an individual is positively reinforced with the potential partner offering pleasant stimulus e.g. smiling. Additionally the potential partner may provide for social needs such as friendship and sex, furthering the likelihood of a relationship developing. Negative reinforcement may be involved where a negative stimulus is removed by the potential partner e.g. if a woman helps a man through a troubled time in his…

Words 4055 - Pages 17

Stakeholders: Culture and Organizational Culture Essay

“Cultural differences should not separate us from each other but rather cultural diversity brings a collective strength that can benefit all of humanity” Robert Alan In this global era, interactions between people from different cultures are common. It is widely believed that cultural diversity increases a company’s ability to reach its potential. Different ideas from different cultures are collaborated together to identify an effective business strategy. Diversity is a universal truth and cannot…

Words 3405 - Pages 14

Perception: Psychology and Previous Experiences Essay

process; * Understand sensory thresholds and related concepts. * Understand the relevance to marketing. Internal influences This session is the first of those that focus on the internal dynamics of the individual consumer. Each of us is, to a certain degree, self contained and when we are subjected to the same external influences as other individuals we react in different ways. Our personal and unique thoughts, feelings, beliefs, experiences, knowledge, and attitudes determine not only how we…

Words 1998 - Pages 8

The Material World Essay

The Material World The term ‘material world’ relates to the environment in which society finds itself today (Finding meaning in a Material World, 2013). Just as with all living things, society has been forced to change and evolve according to human needs, technology and energy requirements. Although it is obvious that it must have certain adjustments every now and then to work along with individuals, transformations in the material world occurs more often. In fact, at present, human and technological…

Words 1365 - Pages 6