Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Whats the difference between cultural determinism and cultural relativism?

lydiafoof

Can anyone please explain, I'm confused

Reply 1

iammichealjackson

Original post by lydiafoof

Can anyone please explain, I'm confused

WIKI:
Cultural relativism is the principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual's own culture

WIKI:
Cultural determinism is the belief that the culture in which we are raised determines who we are at emotional and behavioral levels. This supports the theory that environmental influences dominate who we are instead of biologically inherited traits.

So they are related. You can't have cultural relativism if you believe that all human behaviour is controlled by genes. The former focuses on HOW WE INTERPRET behaviour, for example one might note that having multiple wives might make sense among hunters than herders, because of the different social structures. the latter focues on THE CAUSE OF BEHAVIOUR. So they are related, but subtly different.

I'm not 100% sure im correct, but thats my best guess :P