Question

Discuss the differences between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism and give an example of each (in sociology)

Answer 1

Judging another culture purely on the basis of values and standards of one’s own culture is called ethnocentrism. Thus in this view, one’s own view is the center of everything and all others are scaled with reference to it. For example one’s view of one’s religion and then viewing all other religions based on this view.

Cultural relativism is basically the viewing of people’s behavior from the perspective of their own culture. Thus it involves understanding the cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context. For example, food, clothing, language, and driving rules are different within cultures and we should cherish the differences.