7f4912.Concept of Culture

Culture Brainstorm: What do you consider “culture”?

Physical aspects (Materialist) (Tangible, Observable) Objects Actions

Mental aspects (Idealist) (Intangible) Thoughts Beliefs Values Inventions Rules

What is Culture? Culture

Socially transmitted knowledge shared by some group of people

Everything that people have, think, and do as members of society.

The non-biological means of human adaptation.

All cultures are made up of material objects, ideas, values and attitudes and patterned ways of behaving.

In 1873, Edward Tylor, sometimes called the "father of anthropology" introduced the concept of culture as an explanation of the differences among human societies

Tylor defined culture as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society." He defined anthropology as the study of culture

Culture A complex system of knowledge, values,

customs and beliefs that are shared by a society

Scupin’s Definitions1. Culture includes tools, weapons, fire, agriculture, animal

domestication, metallurgy, writing, the steam engine, glasses, airplanes, computers, penicillin, nuclear power, rock and roll, video games, designer jeans, religion, political systems, subsistence patterns, science, sports, and social organizations.

2. Culture includes all aspects of human activity, from the fine arts to popular entertainment, from everyday behavior to the development of sophisticated technology. It contains the plans, rules, techniques, design, and policies for living.

3. Culture is a shared way of life that includes values, beliefs, and norms transmitted within a particular society from generation to generation through symbolic learning and language.

4. Culture is the historical accumulation of symbolic knowledge that is shared by a society.

5. Culture is based on shared meanings that are beyond the mind of any individual; culture is also within the mind of individuals.

Made up of three interrelated elements:

Physical environment – natural geography

Social environment – political, educational, family, class structures

Training environment – formal and informal socialisation

Core Elements of Culture Culture has Normative Value: Do’s

and Dont’s. Norms

Shared values or ‘rules’ These outline acceptable behaviour of

that culture Includes legal norms - laws

Values Shared social ideals – which are a

reflection of social norms

Culture is group Phenomenon: Applies to members of society. Society's normative values are binding on each member and vice versa

Cultural practices are passed on from generation to generation: Society and socialisation- By interacting within a society we learn from them

Primary tool for socialisation is our family Also learn from

School Peer groups Media

Assumptions of Culture/Characteristics

Culture is based on symbol Symbol-something verbal or nonverbal Language is most important symbol

primary means by which culture is transmitted from one generation to another

language is a symbolic replacement for meanings

*i.e. symbols-wedding rings

Culture is learned We learn what the symbols are for, not born with

cultures, we learn it from our parents, surroundings, & friends through enculturation enculturation is the process by which a

society's culture is transmitted from generation to another

acquiring culture after we are born, everyone acquires culture-this is enculturation

Children learn about their culture through observation of their parents, teachers, friends, TV

learn correct value systems and appropriate modes of behavior

Humans are the learning animals beyond all others. We have more to learn, take longer, and learn it in more complex ways.

*i.e. how did you learn to speak English or other native language? What other things have you learned without being conscious of it?

Culture is Shared We share the same meanings for symbols to be a

part of a culture, it's a way of thinking and interacting results in a certain amount of regularity, predictability people can predict how others will behave But-culture does not determine behavior, does not imply

we lack free will *i.e. We get confused when someone doesn't act

predictably-murder, violence, dressing differently

There is variability in the sharing of culture

a. age variation-generation gaps

b. sex variation-males and females are different

c. subcultures-a system of values and beliefs that are different from main stream. There success varies from society to society

Culture is Integrated All aspects of culture function as an inter-related

whole. If one part of a culture changes it tends to affect

another part. *i.e. Most American women in the 1950s

expected to have domestic careers as homemakers and mothers, today college women expect to get jobs when the graduate. As women enter the work force their attitudes toward marriage, family, and children change.

Also related to economic changes and families not being able to make it on one income.

Culture is Adaptive: to both the physical & social environment culture is the primary means of human

adaptation different cultures select different ways of

adapting to their particular environments Humans are the only animals that mainly

depend on their culture for survival animals such as dogs, large cats get meat

by using teeth, etc. while humans use weapons

Cultures are Dynamic They are ever-changing, non-static,

referred to as cultural evolution Many cultures today are very different

from what they were years ago some aspects of culture change little but

can have larger effect relationship between people and the sun

mediated by culture *i.e. In early 20th century people stayed out

of sun, then became "sun worshippers"

Culture change can come from outside (domination of other culture) or inside (women entering work force) American Indian cultures are very different

from what they were 200-300 years ago-due to outside forces

Culture Change by invention and diffusion Invention (internal)-new thing or idea. Diffusion (external)-spreading of cultural

elements from one culture to another