The opposite of xenocentrism is ethnocentrism which is the tendency to overvalue one's own . Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. These cookies do not store any personal information. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! Read the full article here. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Her imposing father kept his distance. Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and develop cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. Reading: Technological Globalization, 239. 3. Pride in ones own culture doesnt have to lead to imposing its values on others. Copyright Opinion Front & Buzzle.com, Inc. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? Putting It Together: Social Movements, Media, and Technology. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. Due to the extremist nature of both theories, anthropologists employ a strategy that is a sort of middle ground between these two viewpoints. Another example would be the deforestation of the Amazon Basin as indigenous cultures lose land to timber corporations. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. Sometimes when people attempt to rectify feelings of ethnocentrism and to practice cultural relativism, they swing too far to the other end of the spectrum. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases at bay; the best we can do is strive to be aware of them. Eventually, as people learn more about a culture, they recover from culture shock. Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related. Reading: Health in the United States, 174. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. A culture consists of a group of people that possess specific traditions, language, belief system, customs, hierarchy, food, music, and literature. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives of Race and Ethnicity, 111. For example, while all cultures have language, analysis of particular language structures and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. " Ethnocentrism, a term coined by William Graham Sumner, is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of your own ethnic culture and the belief that that is in fact the "right" way to look at the world. She understood that adjusting to a new culture takes time. 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. Xenocentrism noun A preference for the products, styles, or ideas of a different culture. Experiencing new cultures offers an opportunity to practice cultural relativism. They help people know when to shake hands, where to sit, how to converse, and even when to laugh. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. That night, Caitlin crawled into a strange bed, wishing she hadnt come. 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. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Her imposing father kept his distance. Ethnocentrism is usually defined as a kind of ethnic or cultural group egocentrism, which involves a belief in the superiority of one's own group, including its values and practices, and often. A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. The present world consists of a variety of unique cultures. 3 Reasons Doing Nothing Can Actually be Productive, 3 Myths Far Too Many People Believe About the Past. Outcome: Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change, 44. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements, 231. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. Originally from Indiana, Barger hesitated when invited to join a local snowshoe race. while ethnocentrism leans towards intolerance, cultural relativism leans towards incredibly high tolerance of cultural features. Reading: Universal Access to Education, 156. After two weeks in Spain, Caitlin had developed a bit more compassion and understanding for what those people had gone through. Reading: Theories of Self-Development, 61. Outcome: Sexual Attitudes and Practices, 132. Reading: Structural-Functional Theory, 18. 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It may also possess subcultures within it, with their own unique and distinct characteristics. 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. Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. She missed her home and felt overwhelmed by the new customs, language, and surroundings. These views involve examining a culture and all its aspects and evaluating them. Do you feel that feelings of ethnocentricity or xenocentricity are more prevalent in U.S. culture? Anthropologist Ken Barger (1971) discovered this when he conducted a participatory observation in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. Outcome: Challenges Facing the Elderly, 189. Living with this constant stress can make people feel incompetent and insecure. Reading: Social and Psychological Changes of Aging, 186. a tendency to evaluate other people, activities, cultures, etc. Reading: Defining the Sociological Imagination, 13. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)right to your inbox. 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 fellow patrons companion. What issues or events might inform this? Outcome: The Sociological Imagination, 11. Figure 1. In reality, these travelers are guilty ofcultural imperialism, the deliberate imposition of ones own cultural values on another culture. 5.5: Reading: Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts. Reading: Introduction to Global Inequality, 93. A high level of appreciation for ones own culture can be healthy; a shared sense of community pride, for example, connects people in a society. This leads to making incorrect assumptions about others' behavior based on your own norms, values, and beliefs. 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. Outcome: Types of Formal Organizations, 69. 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. Introductory Sociology by Lumen Learning is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Reading: Healthcare in the United States, 176. During her summer vacation, Caitlin flew from Chicago to Madrid to visit Maria, the exchange student shed befriended the previous semester. Reading: Functionalist Theory on Education, 158. During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. Explain each perspective, give an example of each, and discuss any flaws that each perspective might have. Why It Matters: Social Movements, Media, and Technology, 225. By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. Reading: The Graying of the United States, 181. Perhaps the greatest challenge for sociologists studying different cultures is the matter of keeping a perspective. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. 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. Accessibility StatementFor more information contact us atinfo@libretexts.org. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Her imposing father kept his distance. a. Putting It Together: Health, Aging, and the Elderly, 190. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Government, 199. However, indiscriminately embracing everything about a new culture is not always possible. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. Reading: Types and Stages of Social Movements, 229. Reading: Conflict Perspective on Media and Technology, 242. Xenocentrismis the opposite of ethnocentrism, and refers to the belief that another culture is superior to ones own. 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. 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. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Sure enough, he finished last, to his mortification. 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. Outcome: Theoretical Perspectives on Stratification, 101. Antonyms for ethnocentricity. ethnocentrism: the practice of evaluating another culture according to the standards of one's own culture material culture: the objects or belongings of a group of people nonmaterial culture: the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society xenocentrism: a belief that another culture is superior to one's own [/hidden-answer] Why do you believe this? Reading: Functionalism on Media and Technology, 241. It helps to remember that culture is learned. Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. Reading: Symbolic Interactionism and Society, 49. Perhaps the Chicago traveler was initially captivated by Montanas quiet beauty and the Chinese student was originally excited to see a U.S.-style classroom firsthand. 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. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. 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. The way individuals perceive other cultural practices can be broadly segregated into two types - cultural relativism and ethnocentrism. During his time with the Inuit tribe, Barger learned to engage in cultural relativism. 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. And an appreciation for another culture shouldnt preclude individuals from studying it with a critical eye. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. Outcome: Globalization and the Economy, 209. Putting It Together: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment, 224. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We hope you enjoy this website. When Rodneys host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. Legal. Shed studied Spanish in school for yearswhy hadnt it prepared her for this? and should therefore serve as the standard frame of reference. Outcome: Sociological Views on Religion, 149. Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own traditional, deferred, or adoptive ethnic culture. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. After two weeks in Spain, Caitlin had developed a bit more compassion and understanding for what those people had gone through. Why It Matters: Religion and Education, 147. Marias family sat at the table for hours, speaking loudly, gesturing, and arguing about politics, a taboo dinner subject in Caitlins house. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. A traveler from Chicago might find the nightly silence of rural Montana unsettling, not peaceful. People react to frustration in a new culture, Oberg found, by initially rejecting it and glorifying ones own culture. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Aging, 184. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Cite this page as follows: "Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. And it was nothing like that of her classmate Sanai. For example, in many countries, religious minorities (religions that are not the dominant religion) often face discrimination. It is a rule that is similar to "finder's keepers" because of the role that ethnocentrism plays in our personal approach. All people are the same; its only their habits that are different. Confucius. Reading: Theoretical Perspectives on Sex, 133. By the end of Caitlins trip, shed made new lifelong friends. But the tribal members congratulated him, saying, You really tried! In Bargers own culture, he had learned to value victory. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. Reading: Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives, 15. Reading: Roles and the Presentation of Self, 52. It's the belief that one's ethnic group is superior to another. Youll have more success on the Self-Check, if youve completed the three Readings in this section. 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. Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals. Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric. APA Citation Style, 6th edition: General Style Guidelines, 5. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. But ethnocentrism can lead to disdain or dislike for other cultures and could cause misunderstanding and conflict. The way cuisines vary across cultures fascinates many people. Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all of the differences of a new culture, one may experience disorientation and frustration. Outcome: Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 119. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. 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. Read the full article here. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. We also acknowledge previous National Science Foundation support under grant numbers 1246120, 1525057, and 1413739. Shed learned a lot about Spain, but shed also discovered a lot about herself and her own culture. Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. During her summer vacation, Caitlin flew from Chicago to Madrid to visit Maria, the exchange student shed befriended the previous semester. Sanai had been forced to flee war-torn Bosnia with her family when she was fifteen. Synonyms for ethnocentricity in Free Thesaurus. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. We relate to others through a shared set of cultural norms, and ordinarily, we take them for granted. In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is common to stand close to others in conversation. People with the best intentions sometimes travel to a society to help its people, because they see them as uneducated or backwardessentially inferior. Why It Matters: Work and the Economy, 202. There was new food to digest, new daily schedules to follow, and new rules of etiquette to learn. But bit by bit, they became stressed by interacting with people from a different culture who spoke another language and used different regional expressions. The LibreTexts libraries arePowered by NICE CXone Expertand are supported by the Department of Education Open Textbook Pilot Project, the UC Davis Office of the Provost, the UC Davis Library, the California State University Affordable Learning Solutions Program, and Merlot. Ethnocentrism can be a contributing factor to prejudice, racism, and xenophobia.

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