Culture refers to the shared ways of thinking, behaviors, and objects that together form a people's way of life. It includes both material and nonmaterial aspects that are learned and shared within a group. The main components of culture are values, norms, symbols, and language. Culture is transmitted between generations and helps shape human behavior and society. Cultural beliefs and practices can influence health by impacting behaviors and perceptions of wellness.

1. CULTURE, BELIEFS AND
PRACTICES IN RELATION TO
HEALTH
DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL LAB/PHA
AYO NELSON
TEL: 0783367422/785250447

2. Lesson objectives
• Introduction and definition of common terms
• Types of culture
• Characteristics of culture
• Components/ Elements of culture
• Functions of culture
• Effects of culture on health

3. Introduction
• The word "culture" was derived from the Latin word "colere,“ which means
to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture” (Cristina De Rossi)
• In this sense culture is the man-made environment and the people living in a
society actually grow their way of life over time.
• In other words, the expression would refer to the cultivation of the human
character.
• Western culture, European culture, Pakistani culture, Pakhtoon culture etc

4. Definition
Culture
• Is the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together
form a people’s way of life (Macionis, 2012)
• It may also refers to systems of shared beliefs, customs, values, norms, knowledge
that help people to cope up with the world and one another and that is transmitted
from one generation to another through learning.
• Culture is NOT society-culture is a blueprint for how we live, think and act, while
society is a group of people within a geographic area.

5. Common terms and concepts
Ethnocentrism
• The tendency to judge other cultures according to the norms and values of our own
culture.
• Ethnocentrism is based on the assumption that one’s own way of life is superior to
all others.
Ethnocentrism, in general, is an attitude of taking one's own culture and ways of life
as the best and the center of all and on the other hand, regarding other ethnic groups
and cultures as inferior, bad, full of errors, etc

6. CONT…..
Xenocentrism
This is the opposite of ethnocentrism. It is the feeling that one’s culture
is inferior to that of others. A person tends to view one’s own culture as
being less valuable or less important as compared to others

7. CONT…..
Culture relativism
This refers to understanding of other cultures in their own context only
as opposed to one’s own cultural standard. It is an attempt to understand
other cultures the way they are not opposing ,looking at it as strange,
criticizing, or less civilized

8. CONT….
Cultural Lag
A gap between the technical development of a society (material culture)
and its moral and legal institutions (nonmaterial culture) is cultural lag.
• The term cultural lag refers to the notion that nonmaterial culture takes
time to catch up with technological innovations, and that social
problems and conflicts are caused by this lag

9. CONT….
• Culture shock
Is a kind of social experience that an individual goes through when he or
she comes into contact with new ways of life. Example, new digging
styles and tools, new housing, new dressing styles.

10. Types of culture
Material culture a component of culture that consists of the physical or
tangible creations (such as clothing, shelter, and art) that members of a
society make, use, and share.
Nonmaterial culture a component of culture that consists of the
intangible human creations of society (such as attitudes, beliefs, and
values) that influence people’s behavior.

11. Characteristics of Culture
• Culture is learnt; Culture is not inherited biologically, but learnt
socially by man. It is not an inborn tendency.
• Culture is social; Culture does not exist in isolation. Neither is it an
individual phenomenon.
• Culture is shared; Culture in the sociological sense, is something
shared. It is not something that an individual alone can possess.

12. CONT…
• Culture is transmissive; Culture is capable of being transmitted from one
generation to the other
• Culture is dynamic and adaptive; Though culture is relatively stable it is
not altogether static. It is subjected to slow but constant changes.
• Culture varies from society to society and unique in their ways
• Culture is cumulative and continuous. It is the social heritage of man. It
is linked with the past.

13. Components of Culture
1. Values
2. Norms
3. Symbols
4. Language

14. 1. Values
• What is good, bad , desirable, proper ,and improper and that serve as broad
guidelines for social living.
• Values indicate what people find important and morally right (or wrong)
• Respect for parents, elders
• Cleanliness
• Generosity

15. 2. Norms
• Rules developed by a group of people that specify how people must,
should, may, should not and must not behave in various situations.
• These are rules and expectations by which a society guides the
behavior of its members.

16. TYPES OF NORMS
1. Folkways: are informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated
without serious consequences within a particular culture. (ex. Shaking hands,
eating styles, saying excuse me)
2. Mores: norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance.
Often breaking norms lead to being outcast or imprisonment (ex. Incest,
rape, murder) are strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior.

17. 3. Symbols
• A symbol is an object, word, or action that stands for something else.
• Symbol is anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by
people who share a culture (a flag, a word, a flashing red light, a raised
fist, an animal etc)
• Symbols help us communicate ideas.

18. 4. Language
• Culture is the social heritage of the humans that is transmitted to the future
generation mainly through language.
• Language is a system of words and symbols used to communicate with
other people. Language is a set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables
people to think and communicate with one another.
• Verbal (spoken) language and nonverbal (written or gestured)
• Language help us describe reality

19. FUNCTIONS OF CULTURE
• Important in transmitting, preserving, accumulation and diffusing
knowledge from one generation to another
• Culture shapes and moulds society
• Creates new needs and interest
• Defines conditions and determine social situation
• The general pattern of behavior is determined by culture
• Broaden the vision of the individuals
• Provide solution to complicated situations as it provide traditional
interpretation to the situation

20. Guiding questions
1. Define the term "culture".
2. List and discuss the elements of culture.
3. Discuss the main characteristics of culture.
4. Why do cultures vary between societies?
5. Explain the effects of cultural beliefs on health

21. 1. Define the following terms as used in culture
a. Ethnocentrism
b. Xenocentrism
c. Cultural lag
d. Cultural shock
e. Cultural relativism