Which concept involves assessing another culture without using one's own culture as a standard?

Cultural relativism is the concept that emphasizes understanding and evaluating a culture based on its own values and practices rather than comparing it to one’s own culture. This perspective encourages an appreciation of cultural differences and helps to avoid ethnocentric bias, which can occur when one’s own cultural norms and values are seen as the standard against which all other cultures are measured.

By utilizing cultural relativism, sociologists and anthropologists can better understand the complexities and richness of diverse cultural practices. This approach promotes an open-minded view that recognizes the validity of different cultural beliefs and practices, allowing for a more nuanced and respectful understanding of how various societies operate.

In contrast, ethnocentrism involves viewing one’s own culture as superior and using it as a benchmark for judging other cultures. Social normativity suggests adherence to social norms prevalent in a society, whereas cultural assimilation refers to the process whereby individuals or groups from one culture adopt the practices of another culture, often at the expense of their original cultural identity.