Final answer:
Cultural systems in tension adapt and change in response to internal conflicts and external pressures while maintaining certain norms. Expressions of cultural stress appear in idioms of distress, and behaviors are understood differently through causal attributions in various cultures. The dynamic nature of culture encompasses stability and alteration, influenced by sociological perspectives and the fluidity of cultural norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a cultural system is in tension, it experiences a state of stress or strain among its elements. This can occur due to internal conflicts, such as disagreements over values or practices, or external pressures, such as sociopolitical changes. Cultural systems respond to these tensions with mechanisms of adaptation and change, while certain cultural norms are maintained and reinforced. Idioms of distress, such as the practice of hanging 'the evil eye' in Greece, express cultural tension indirectly within a particular context. Similarly, causal attributions explain behaviors that may seem unusual within a cultural context, such as attributing wandering in the streets to spirit possession in Haitian Vodou.
In the sociological understanding, culture acts as a stabilizing force yet encompasses forms of constant alteration and adaptation. The four paradoxes highlight how culture can be both a force for stability and a source of ongoing change. Different theoretical approaches in sociology, including functionalist, conflict, and interactionist perspectives, offer various interpretations of these cultural dynamics. Cultures can encourage or suppress certain behaviors, like competition or creativity, and are subject to reinterpretation or rejection over time, emphasizing the fluid nature of culture.