This document defines culture and its basic elements. Culture is defined as the totality of learned behaviors, beliefs, knowledge, and customs shared by a group. It includes both tangible aspects like language, art, technology, as well as intangible aspects like values, norms, and beliefs. Culture is socially learned and transmitted between generations. It varies across societies and is constantly changing in response to social and environmental factors. Key elements of culture include material objects, non-material beliefs and practices, language, norms, values, roles, and status.

1. CultureCulture
Basic ElementsBasic Elements

6. Definition of CultureDefinition of Culture
 “…“… is the totality of learned, socially transmittedis the totality of learned, socially transmitted
customs, knowledge, material objects andcustoms, knowledge, material objects and
behaviour.” Schaffer, RT (2003)behaviour.” Schaffer, RT (2003)
 It is the allIt is the all learnedlearned customs, beliefs, values,customs, beliefs, values,
knowledge, artifacts, and symbols that areknowledge, artifacts, and symbols that are
constantly communicatedconstantly communicated among a set of peopleamong a set of people
who share a common way of life.who share a common way of life.
 Tangible and intangible aspects: language, morality,Tangible and intangible aspects: language, morality,
dancing, books.dancing, books.

7. Definition of cultureDefinition of culture
 Sir Edward Tyler in his book ‘PrimitiveSir Edward Tyler in his book ‘Primitive
Culture’ defined it “Culture is thatCulture’ defined it “Culture is that
complex whole which includes knowledge,complex whole which includes knowledge,
belief, art, morals, law, custom and anybelief, art, morals, law, custom and any
other capabilities and habits acquired byother capabilities and habits acquired by
man as a members of society.”man as a members of society.”

8. Features of CultureFeatures of Culture
 Socially learnt, not biologically inherited.Socially learnt, not biologically inherited.
 Develops through shared social interactions.Develops through shared social interactions.
 Transmitted between generations: language.Transmitted between generations: language.
 Cumulative: “social heritage”.Cumulative: “social heritage”.
 Dynamic & Adaptive: responsive to changes inDynamic & Adaptive: responsive to changes in
social and physical world.social and physical world.
 Varies from society to society: cultural diversity.Varies from society to society: cultural diversity.

9. Culture vs. SocietyCulture vs. Society
 Culture refers to things
that a given group of
people have created
and to which they
attach similar meaning.
 People use culture to
guide and give
meaning to their social
relations.
 Society refers to
network of social
relationships among
those who share a
common culture.
 Culture is the product
of people interacting in
a social system.

10. Elements ofElements of
Culture:Culture:
a. Materiala. Material
CultureCulture
 Consists of all the physical objects orConsists of all the physical objects or
artifacts that people make and attach meaningartifacts that people make and attach meaning
to.to.
 Technology is an important source ofTechnology is an important source of
material culture.material culture.
 E.g. TV, machine gun,E.g. TV, machine gun,
banks, mosque, flag.banks, mosque, flag.

11. b. Non-material Cultureb. Non-material Culture
 Ways of utilizing material objects, as well asWays of utilizing material objects, as well as
customs, beliefs, philosophies, governments, andcustoms, beliefs, philosophies, governments, and
patterns of communication.patterns of communication.
 Internal beliefs people hold,Internal beliefs people hold,
language they speak, ritualslanguage they speak, rituals
and practices they observe,and practices they observe,
ways of acting etc.ways of acting etc.
 More resistant to change than material culture.More resistant to change than material culture.

12. Culture Lag
 period of maladjustment when nonmaterial
culture is still struggling to adapt to new
material conditions
 Does Cultural lag resist social change?

13. Development of
Culture
Around the World
 Innovation:
 Process of introducing new idea or object
to a culture
 Discovery: making known or sharing
existence of an aspect of reality
 Invention: when existing cultural items
are combined into a form that did not
exist before

14. Development of
Culture
Around the World
 Globalization, Diffusion, and Technology
 Diffusion: process by which a cultural
item spreads from group to group or
society to society
 McDonalization: process through which
the principles of the fast-food industry
have come to dominate certain sectors of
society

15. Culture and the
Dominant Ideology
 Dominant Ideology:
 Describes the set of cultural beliefs and
practices that help to maintain powerful
social, economic, and political interests

16. Cultural Variation
 Aspects of Cultural Variation
 Each culture has unique character
 Subculture: Segment of society that shares
distinctive pattern of mores, folkways, and
values that differs from the larger society
 Argot: specialized language that distinguishes
a subculture from the wider society

17. Dominant Culture &Dominant Culture &
SubculturesSubcultures
 Dominant cultureDominant culture is the cultureis the culture
practiced by the majority in a grouppracticed by the majority in a group
 When perspective and life-style of certainWhen perspective and life-style of certain
subordinatesubordinate group differ significantly fromgroup differ significantly from
the dominant culture and when theythe dominant culture and when they
identify themselves as different they areidentify themselves as different they are
said to form asaid to form a subculturesubculture

18. Cultural Variation
 Aspects of Cultural Variation
 Counterculture: subculture that
conspicuously and deliberately opposes
certain aspects of the larger culture
 Hippies
 Terrorist cells

19. Cultural Variation
 Aspects of Cultural Variation
 Culture shock: Feeling disoriented,
uncertain, out of place, or fearful when
immersed in an unfamiliar culture

20. Cultural Variation
• Aspects of Cultural Variation
 Ethnocentrism: Tendency to assume
that one’s own culture and way of life
represent the norm or is superior to all
others
 Cultural relativism: people’s behaviors
from the perspective of their own culture

21. Elements ofElements of
CultureCulture
LanguageLanguage
NormsNorms
ValuesValues
RolesRoles
StatusStatus

22. LanguageLanguage
 It is an abstract system of word meanings andIt is an abstract system of word meanings and
symbols for all aspects of culture.symbols for all aspects of culture.
 Foundation of every culture.Foundation of every culture.
 Culturally determined universal. LanguageCulturally determined universal. Language
precedes thought.precedes thought.
 Non-verbal communication: gestures.Non-verbal communication: gestures.