Throughout the course, we have discussed many topics and points about Sociology. The key point of sociology is that we are all products of our societies. Personal life experiences shape who we become. From culture, social class, ethnic backgrounds to the neighborhoods we grew up in, we have be molded into who we are today. These things teach us who we are in society and how society functions. Culture, values, and society go hand in hand in making up who we are and who we will become.
Culture has a big impact on how we fit in as individuals in society. Culture is ideas that shape the way a group lives. Television and internet shape the way we live; because of the Internet information is right there for us. The easy access makes us believe this is the way we should live life and that this is how everyone is living. Material Culture is a physical component; it reflects ideas of our nonmaterial culture. Our nonmaterial culture has no physical component; it connects to the ideas we live by. Ideas help us to understand the physical products. Also, physical products shape our ideas. An important component of culture is language. We can communicate and share experiences with each other through language and culture is our shared experiences. We are able to understand our experiences through language and it reflects and represents our experiences. Technology is also a vital part of culture. Technology is the ability to get results and change environments. It is not just the capability but getting the results from the technology. It changes the way we live and the way we understand time and space. The reliance on cars changes what we view as close and far and last minute today is different than what was last minute back then. Culture has a way of shaping us as individuals and a group. .
Values are what is important to a person and to a society. Common values in American Society are family, education, religion.