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Societal attitudes

Definition

Societal attitudes refer to collective opinions, beliefs, values, and behaviors held by members of a particular society towards specific subjects or issues like politics, religion, or advancements in science.

Analogy

Think of societal attitudes as different fashion trends popular among high school students. Just as fashion trends change over time reflecting shifting preferences within a community; societal attitudes also evolve based on cultural influences and historical events.

Related terms

Social norms: Social norms are unwritten rules or expectations established within a society regarding acceptable behavior or conduct for individuals in various situations.

Cultural relativism: Cultural relativism is the principle that suggests all cultural beliefs should be understood and evaluated within the context of their own culture, rather than using one's own cultural norms as a standard.

Intellectual resistance: Intellectual resistance refers to individuals or groups challenging prevailing ideas, beliefs, or practices through critical thinking, alternative theories, or social movements.