Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in group and out group | MCAT | Khan Academy

Summary

This script explores the concept of cultural relativism and ethnocentrism through the lens of a hypothetical scenario involving crispy fried insects. It discusses how individuals might react differently based on their cultural backgrounds and introduces the terms 'in-group' and 'out-group' to describe social dynamics. The script also touches on in-group favoritism, out-group derogation, and group polarization, illustrating how group interactions can lead to extreme decisions and behaviors.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Cultural reactions to unfamiliar practices like eating fried insects can vary greatly depending on one's cultural background.
• 🤔 Ethnocentrism is judging other cultures from one's own cultural perspective, often assuming one's culture is superior.
• 🌐 Cultural relativism suggests that there is no absolute right or wrong in cultural practices; all cultures are valid in their own context.
• ⚖️ Cultural relativism can be problematic if it justifies activities that violate human rights or dignity, regardless of cultural differences.
• 👥 Groups form around shared psychological connections, such as food preferences, politics, or spirituality.
• 👪 The 'in-group' refers to the group with whom one feels a psychological connection, while the 'out-group' is those outside this connection.
• 🔗 Members of the 'in-group' tend to have stronger and more influential interactions with each other compared to the 'out-group'.
• 🎁 In-group favoritism is the tendency to be more friendly and supportive towards members of one's own group.
• 🚫 Out-group derogation involves being less friendly or even mean towards those in the 'out-group', especially if they are perceived as a threat.
• 📈 Group polarization is the phenomenon where group decisions become more extreme than the individual preferences of the group members.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is cultural perspectives and the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, using the example of eating fried insects.

How does the script suggest one might initially react to being served fried insects?

The script suggests that one might initially react with disgust or refusal, considering it wrong or unacceptable based on their own cultural norms.

What is ethnocentrism as described in the script?

Ethnocentrism is the viewpoint where one judges their own culture to be superior to others, often leading to negative judgments about other cultures' practices.

What is cultural relativism and how does it differ from ethnocentrism?

Cultural relativism is the concept that there is no absolute right or wrong, and that different cultures are valid in their own contexts. It differs from ethnocentrism by acknowledging and respecting cultural differences without judging them as superior or inferior.

Why might cultural relativism be problematic according to the script?

Cultural relativism might be problematic if it is used to justify activities that violate the rights and dignity of individuals, regardless of their cultural background.

What are 'in' groups and 'out' groups as mentioned in the script?

'In' groups are those with whom we feel a psychological connection and share common attributes, while 'out' groups are those who do not share these attributes and are perceived as different.

What is in-group favoritism as described in the script?

In-group favoritism is the tendency to favor and be more friendly towards members of one's own group, providing them with more benefits and positive treatment.

How does out-group derogation differ from in-group favoritism?

Out-group derogation involves not only not favoring the 'out' group but also potentially being unkind, discriminatory, or mean towards them, especially if the 'out' group is perceived as a threat.

What is group polarization and how does it relate to the group's decision-making?

Group polarization is a phenomenon where group decisions and actions become more extreme than what individual members would have chosen, leading to more intense viewpoints and potentially more extreme actions.

How does the script use the example of fried insects to illustrate the formation of groups?

The script uses the example of fried insects to show how groups can form around shared beliefs or practices, such as one group considering insects as pests and another considering them as food.

What is the significance of the semicircle drawn in the script?

The semicircle signifies the different cultural perspectives one can take when viewing a cultural practice like eating fried insects, emphasizing the subjective nature of such judgments.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Cultural Perspectives on Food

The paragraph discusses how cultural background influences one's reaction to food, specifically fried insects. It highlights two contrasting responses: one ethnocentric, where an individual judges the food as disgusting from their own cultural standpoint, and the other, more culturally relativistic, where the individual tries to understand the appeal from within the culture that serves it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not judging other cultures from a position of superiority (ethnocentrism) but rather understanding and respecting cultural differences (cultural relativism). The concept of cultural relativism is further nuanced by acknowledging its limitations when it comes to activities that violate human rights, regardless of cultural context. The paragraph concludes by introducing the idea of 'in' and 'out' groups and how they form based on shared psychological connections, such as food preferences.

05:02

👥 Group Dynamics and Intergroup Behavior

This paragraph delves into the dynamics within and between 'in' groups and 'out' groups. It explains that members of an 'in' group tend to have stronger, more frequent, and potentially more influential interactions with each other compared to those in the 'out' group. The concept of in-group favoritism is introduced, where members of an 'in' group are treated more favorably. Conversely, out-group derogation is discussed, where the 'out' group may be treated with less kindness or even hostility, especially if they are perceived as a threat. The paragraph also touches on group polarization, where group decisions can become more extreme than the individual preferences of the members, potentially amplifying the group's existing biases and viewpoints.

Keywords

💡Crispy Fried Insects

Crispy fried insects are the central metaphor in the video, representing a cultural dish that may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable to some viewers. The video uses this dish to explore reactions to cultural differences. The initial reaction to the dish, whether one finds it disgusting or intriguing, sets the stage for discussing ethnocentrism versus cultural relativism.

💡Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism is defined as judging other cultures based on the standards and customs of one's own culture, often considering one's own culture superior. In the video, this concept is illustrated by the initial negative reaction to the fried insects, which reflects a judgment from a culturally biased perspective without understanding the cultural context of the dish.

💡Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is the concept that different cultures have their own set of values and practices, and there is no universal 'right' or 'wrong.' The video suggests an alternative approach to ethnocentrism by encouraging viewers to understand and respect the cultural significance of the fried insects from the perspective of the culture that serves them.

💡In-Group

The 'in-group' refers to a social group with which an individual identifies and feels a strong psychological connection. In the video, the 'in-group' is exemplified by people who share the same cultural practices, such as eating fried insects, and they tend to have stronger interactions and favor each other over the 'out-group.'

💡Out-Group

The 'out-group' is a social group with which an individual does not identify and may feel less connected. In the context of the video, the 'out-group' is those who do not share the cultural practice of eating fried insects, and they may receive less favorable treatment or consideration compared to the 'in-group.'

💡In-Group Favoritism

In-group favoritism is the tendency to favor and be more friendly towards members of one's own group. The video uses this concept to explain why individuals might be more inclined to support or show kindness to those who share their cultural practices, such as the consumption of fried insects.

💡Out-Group Derogation

Out-group derogation is the act of demeaning or discriminating against members of an out-group. The video suggests that this phenomenon can occur when the 'in-group' perceives the 'out-group' as a threat, leading to negative attitudes or actions towards those who do not share their cultural norms.

💡Group Polarization

Group polarization is the phenomenon where group decisions tend to be more extreme than the individual preferences of the group members. The video uses this concept to illustrate how group dynamics can amplify opinions, potentially leading to more extreme views or actions regarding cultural practices, such as the treatment of insects as pests or food.

💡Cultural Perspective

Cultural perspective refers to the viewpoint from which one interprets and evaluates cultural practices. The video emphasizes the importance of considering cultural practices from within their own cultural context rather than imposing an external judgment, which is crucial for understanding and respecting diversity.

💡Psychological Connection

Psychological connection is the sense of affinity or shared identity within a group. The video discusses how this connection, whether based on food preferences, political beliefs, or other cultural aspects, forms the basis of 'in-group' and 'out-group' dynamics and influences how individuals interact with each other.

Highlights

Crispy fried insects can be a cultural delicacy, and reactions to it vary based on cultural norms.

Judging a culture from one's own cultural perspective is ethnocentric.

Understanding another culture from within their own context is cultural relativism.

Cultural relativism respects the validity of different cultures without imposing a universal right or wrong.

Cultural relativism should not be used to justify activities that violate human rights.

Groups form around shared psychological connections, such as food preferences or cultural beliefs.

The 'in' group refers to the group with which an individual identifies and feels connected.

The 'out' group consists of those outside the individual's primary group, with whom they have weaker connections.

In-group favoritism is the tendency to favor and be more friendly towards members of one's own group.

Out-group derogation involves being less friendly or even mean towards those not in one's group.

Out-group derogation can occur when the 'out' group is perceived as a threat to the 'in' group's success.

Group polarization is when group decisions become more extreme than the individual members' views.

Group polarization can amplify the group's existing viewpoints and behaviors.

The example of a potential 'fumigation society' illustrates how group polarization might lead to extreme actions.

Cultural perspectives and group dynamics play a significant role in how we perceive and interact with others.

Transcripts

- [Voiceover] Okay, so you go over to a friend's house

and you get served up a plate of crispy fried insects.

How do you respond to this?

How you respond really depends on whether

you normally eat crispy fried insects or not.

Is it part of your culture to have this dish?

If it isn't, let us think of the different

ways in which you can react.

One of the ways you can react is to say,

"Oh, my gosh, this is disgusting!

"This is wrong, I don't want anything to do with this."

One of the things that we're doing here

is that we're judging your friend's culture

from the position of your own culture.

What's the alternative way

that we can actually judge a situation?

One of the other things we can say is,

"Yeah, you know what?

"I can see why he likes this dish."

It might not be for me,

but I can see why he likes it.

What are we doing here?

We are actually, again, assessing and judging

our friend's culture, but from a different viewpoint.

We're judging and understanding their culture

from within their culture.

These different perspectives outlined ...

That's why I drew this semicircle

that you can see here,

because, really, how we view these fried insects,

how we view them is down to our own,

the kind of cultural perspective that we take.

These different cultural perspectives

actually have their own terms.

One term that I want,

if we're going to judge another person's culture

from our own culture,

and really say things like, this is disgusting,

this is right or this is wrong,

whether it's to do with food, religion,

politics, or any customs or rituals, or anything else,

what we're doing is we're becoming very ethnocentric.

What being ethnocentric means

is that we are really judging our own culture

to be superior to that of others.

On the opposite side,

as we start to look at cultural events,

whether it's the food or any other cultural event,

or cultural phenomenon,

from a perspective

of the other person's culture,

we start to move into the concept

of cultural relativism.

What cultural relativism means,

is that there's no right, absolute right or wrong,

but we have different cultures

who are themselves valid.

Cultural relativism can somewhat falter

if someone uses it

to conduct activities

that really violate the rights and dignity

of our fellow human beings,

no matter what culture they are in or from.

That's something important for us to also consider.

Now, based on our insect dish,

I want to talk to you a little bit about groups.

What I want to do is

talk to you about groups by mentioning ...

I want to talk to you about groups

and how groups are formed.

So, let us take this first group over here.

This group will think that insects are pests

and they're not to be eaten.

Let's draw a few different people

that could be part of this group.

The second group really thinks of insects as dinner.

Let's draw a few of them over here.

The reason why groups form

is that people within groups share

some kind of psychological connection with their peers,

so that could be related to their love of insect dishes

or it could be related to politics,

it could be related to spirituality,

any other cultural issues.

It could relate to anything at all, in fact.

Let us label these groups.

If we are actually in this group ourselves,

let's label this "Us"

and let's label the dinner group "Them."

Let's use some more formal titles.

Instead of saying "Us" we can actually

refer to this as the "in" group,

the group that we are in,

and the group that we are kind of psychologically

most connected with.

"Them" becomes something called the "out" group.

What we know is that people in the "in" group

demonstrate a lot stronger interactions

than people who are in the "out" group,

then their interactions with people who are in

a different, in the "out,"

so these interactions are weaker.

The other thing is that not only are these

interactions stronger, or more common,

but they may potentially be more influential as well.

But certain funny things can kind of happen in groups.

One of the things that can happen

is we can have something happen called

in group favoritism.

What do I mean by that?

In in group favoritism, we tend to favor

people who are in our group,

who share whatever this psychological attribute is

that we feel connected to.

In this circumstance, we are very friendly

towards the people in our "in" group.

But what about the people outside?

What about the "Them," the "out" group?

What do we do towards them?

With the people in the "out" group,

we are actually dead set neutral.

We don't extend them the favor.

We don't go out of our way to help.

We're not nasty or horrible or unkind,

we just don't give them the favors

that we do to our "in" group.

Now, there's another phenomenon

where we might be a little bit nastier to the "out" group,

and that's called out group derogation.

In out group derogation what we find

is that, again, we are super-friendly

and super-nice to

our "in" group, but when it comes to

the "out" group, we are not so friendly.

We're actually mean.

We might actually discriminate.

This tends to happen,

out group derogation can actually happen

if we feel that

the "out" group is in some way threatening

to undermine or stop our "in" group

from achieving success.

One last thing I wanted to mention

is the idea of group polarization.

This is a phenomenon where

the decision-making machine, that is the group,

makes decisions that are more extreme

than any of the individual members

would be inclined to make.

The group's opinions and actions

and decision-making may actually become

more extreme than what their individual members wanted.

This can effectively turbo charge

any of these other processes that are going on,

and also turbo charge the groups' viewpoints.

For example, if the group thinks insects are pests,

are they going to set up a fumigation society

for the local neighborhood?

I mean, I'm saying that in jest,

but, you know, I hope the point is made.