Definition of Culture

Culture is a complex concept that encompasses the shared beliefs, values, practices, symbols, and
knowledge of a group of people. It is learned and transmitted through social interaction and is constantly
evolving.

Characteristics of culture
Culture has several key characteristics that help define it and make it a unique aspect of human societies.
Here are some of the most important ones:
1. Learned: Culture is not something we are born with; it is acquired through the process of learning and
socialization. We learn our culture from our families, peers, schools, and the media. This process of
learning and internalizing culture is called enculturation.
2. Shared: Culture is not an individual trait; it is shared by a group of people. This shared understanding
allows people to communicate and interact with each other effectively. It creates a sense of belonging and
identity within a group.
3. Symbolic: Culture uses symbols to represent ideas, concepts, and objects. Language is the most
important symbolic aspect of culture, but other symbols include gestures, rituals, and art. Symbols allow
people to communicate complex ideas and pass on knowledge from one generation to the next.
4. Integrated: The different aspects of culture are interconnected and influence each other. For example,
a society's economic system may affect its family structure, or its religious beliefs may influence its art.
This interconnectedness means that a change in one aspect of culture can lead to changes in others.
5. Dynamic: Culture is not static; it is constantly changing and evolving. Cultures change in response to
internal factors, such as new technologies or ideas, and external factors, such as contact with other
cultures. This dynamism allows cultures to adapt to changing circumstances and ensure their survival.
6. Adaptive: Culture helps people adapt to their environment. It provides them with the knowledge,
skills, and tools they need to survive and thrive in their surroundings. For example, cultures in cold
climates have developed ways to build warm shelters and make warm clothing.
7. Ethnocentric: People tend to view their own culture as the "right" way of doing things and to judge
other cultures by their own standards. This is called ethnocentrism. While it is natural to feel pride in
one's own culture, ethnocentrism can lead to prejudice and discrimination against people from other
cultures.

Function of Culture
Culture serves several important functions for both individuals and society. Here are some of the key
functions:
1. Provides a framework for behavior: Culture provides a set of norms, values, and beliefs that guide
behavior. It tells us what is considered acceptable and unacceptable in a society. This helps to maintain
social order and predictability.
2. Shapes our worldview: Culture influences how we perceive the world around us. It shapes our beliefs,
attitudes, and values. This means that people from different cultures may see the same event in very
different ways.
3. Creates a sense of identity: Culture provides us with a sense of belonging and identity. It connects us
to a group of people who share our values, beliefs, and practices. This can be a source of pride and self-
esteem.
4. Facilitates communication: Culture provides us with a shared language and set of symbols that allow
us to communicate with each other effectively. This is essential for social interaction and cooperation.
5. Transmits knowledge and traditions: Culture is a way of passing on knowledge, skills, and traditions
from one generation to the next. This ensures the continuity of a society and its culture.
6. Promotes adaptation and survival: Culture helps people adapt to their environment. It provides them
with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to survive and thrive in their surroundings.
7. Provides meaning and purpose: Culture can provide people with a sense of meaning and purpose in
life. It can answer fundamental questions about the nature of existence and our place in the world.
8. Fosters creativity and innovation: Culture can also foster creativity and innovation. By providing a
framework for understanding the world, it can inspire people to come up with new ideas and solutions to
problems.
In summary, culture plays a vital role in shaping our lives and societies. It provides us with a framework
for behavior, shapes our worldview, creates a sense of identity, facilitates

Elements of Culture
Culture is a complex system, but we can break it down into several key elements that work together to
shape a society's way of life. Here are some of the most important elements of culture:
1. Symbols:
• Symbols are the foundation of culture. They are anything that represents something else, and they
can be words, images, objects, gestures, or even colors.
• Symbols allow people to communicate complex ideas, emotions, and beliefs.
• Language is the most important symbolic aspect of culture, but there are many others, such as
flags, religious icons, and works of art.
2. Language:
• Language is a system of communication that uses symbols with shared meanings. It can be
spoken, written, or gestural.
• Language is essential for transmitting culture from one generation to the next and for facilitating
communication within a society.
• It shapes how we perceive the world and how we think about it.
3. Values:
 • Values are deeply held beliefs about what is good, right, and desirable. They guide people's
behavior and decision-making.
• Values can be abstract, such as freedom, equality, or loyalty, or they can be more concrete, such
as honesty, hard work, or family.
• Different cultures have different values, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
4. Norms:
• Norms are rules of behavior that are considered acceptable in a society. They can be formal, such
as laws, or informal, such as customs and etiquette.
• Norms help to maintain social order and predictability. They tell us how we are expected to
behave in different situations.
• Like values, norms can vary from culture to culture.
5. Beliefs:
• Beliefs are convictions that people hold about the world around them. They can be based on faith,
experience, or scientific evidence.
• Beliefs can be about anything, from the existence of God to the causes of illness.
• They shape how people understand the world and their place in it.
6. Material Culture:
• Material culture refers to the physical objects that a society creates. This includes everything from
tools and clothing to buildings and technology.
• Material culture reflects the values and beliefs of a society and can also shape how people live.
7. Arts and Literature:
• The arts, including music, dance, visual arts, and literature, are a way for people to express their
creativity and to share their cultural values and beliefs.
• They can also be a source of entertainment and inspiration.
These elements of culture are interconnected and influence each other. They work together to create a
complex and dynamic system that shapes the way people live and interact with the world.

Cultural Change
Cultural change refers to the modification or transformation of culture through time. It involves the
alteration of any aspect of culture, from specific artifacts to broad value systems.
Causes of Cultural Change:
• Invention: The creation of new technologies, ideas, or practices can significantly alter a culture.
For example, the invention of the internet has revolutionized communication and access to
information.
 • Discovery: The uncovering of existing but previously unknown things or phenomena can lead to
cultural change. For instance, the discovery of new medical treatments can change health
practices and beliefs.
• Diffusion: The spread of cultural traits from one culture to another can lead to changes in both
the borrowing and lending cultures. This can occur through trade, migration, or media.
• Acculturation: The process by which members of one culture adopt aspects of another culture,
often as a result of prolonged contact. This can lead to significant changes in the original culture.
• Social Movements: Collective efforts to promote or resist changes in a society can lead to
cultural shifts. Examples include the civil rights movement and the women's suffrage movement.
• Environmental Factors: Changes in the natural environment, such as climate change or natural
disasters, can force cultures to adapt and change their practices.
• Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of societies through trade, communication, and
migration has accelerated cultural change in recent times.
Consequences of Cultural Change:
• Social Integration or Disruption: Cultural change can either strengthen social bonds by creating
new shared experiences or lead to social disruption if different groups within a society embrace or
resist change differently.
• Cultural Revitalization: In some cases, cultural change can lead to a renewed interest in and
revival of traditional practices and values.
• Loss of Cultural Identity: Conversely, rapid cultural change can lead to a sense of loss and
alienation as people struggle to adapt to new norms and values.
• Cultural Hybridity: The blending of different cultural elements can create new and unique
cultural forms, enriching societies but also sometimes leading to tensions between traditional and
new ways.
Studying Cultural Change:
• Historical Analysis: Examining past events and trends to understand how cultures have changed
over time.
• Cross-Cultural Comparison: Comparing different cultures to identify similarities and
differences, and how they have responded to similar challenges.
• Fieldwork: Conducting research within communities to observe cultural practices and beliefs
firsthand.
Cultural change is a continuous and inevitable process. It is important to understand the causes and
consequences of cultural change to better navigate the challenges and opportunities it presents.
Cause of Cultural Change
It seems like you might be asking about the causes of cultural sense, which could refer to a few things:
1. A sense of cultural identity: This refers to an individual's awareness and understanding of their
own cultural background, including their values, beliefs, traditions, and practices. It's a sense of
belonging to a particular cultural group.
2. Cultural awareness: This is a broader understanding of different cultures, including one's own. It
involves recognizing and respecting the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.
3. Cultural sensitivity: This takes cultural awareness a step further, involving not only
understanding but also adapting behavior and communication to be respectful and appropriate in
cross-cultural interactions.
Here's a breakdown of the potential causes for each of these:
1. Sense of Cultural Identity:
• Family and upbringing: The primary source of cultural identity is often learned within the
family. Parents and other family members transmit cultural values, beliefs, and traditions to
children from a young age.
• Community and social environment: The community in which a person grows up also plays a
significant role in shaping their cultural identity. This includes schools, religious institutions, and
other social groups.
• Cultural experiences: Exposure to different aspects of one's culture, such as language, art,
music, and literature, can strengthen their sense of cultural identity.
• Historical and ancestral connections: Understanding one's family history and ancestral roots
can contribute to a deeper sense of cultural identity.
2. Cultural Awareness:
• Education: Formal education can play a significant role in developing cultural awareness by
exposing individuals to different cultures and perspectives.
• Travel and cross-cultural experiences: Interacting with people from different cultures through
travel or living abroad can broaden one's understanding and awareness of cultural diversity.
• Media and exposure to diverse perspectives: Books, films, documentaries, and other forms of
media can provide insights into different cultures and promote cultural awareness.
• Personal reflection and self-awareness: Taking time to reflect on one's own cultural background
and biases is essential for developing cultural awareness.
3. Cultural Sensitivity:
• Cultural awareness: A foundation of cultural awareness is necessary for developing cultural
sensitivity.
• Empathy and perspective-taking: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others,
particularly those from different cultural backgrounds, is crucial for cultural sensitivity.
 • Communication skills: Effective communication, including active listening and the ability to
adapt communication styles, is essential for navigating cross-cultural interactions with sensitivity.
• Respect and open-mindedness: Approaching other cultures with respect and a willingness to
learn is fundamental to cultural sensitivity.
It's important to remember that these aspects of cultural sense are interconnected and influence each other.
Developing a strong sense of cultural identity can contribute to cultural awareness, and cultural awareness
is necessary for cultural sensitivity.

Difference between civilization and culture

Culture and civilization are related concepts, but they are not the same. Here's a breakdown of their key
differences:
Culture:
• Definition: Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that
characterize a group of people. It is learned and passed down through generations.
• Scope: Culture is broader and more encompassing than civilization. It includes all aspects of a
group's way of life, from their art and music to their language and traditions.
• Focus: Culture focuses on the intangible aspects of a society, such as its values, beliefs, and
norms.
• Tangibility: Culture can be both tangible (e.g., clothing, tools) and intangible (e.g., beliefs,
values).
• Examples: The customs of a particular ethnic group, a nation's artistic traditions, a community's
religious beliefs.
Civilization:
• Definition: Civilization refers to a more advanced stage of social development characterized by
features like urban centers, complex social and political organizations, specialized labor,
technological advancements, and written language.
• Scope: Civilization is narrower than culture, focusing primarily on the development of complex
societies and their achievements.
• Focus: Civilization emphasizes the tangible and measurable aspects of societal progress, such as
infrastructure, technology, and institutions.
• Tangibility: Civilization is often associated with tangible achievements like cities, monuments,
and systems of governance.
• Examples: Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, the Aztec civilization.
Key Differences Summarized:
Feature Culture Civilization
Definition Shared beliefs, values, customs, Advanced stage of social
etc. development
Scope Broader, encompassing all Narrower, focused on societal
aspects of life progress
Focus Intangible aspects (values, Tangible achievements
beliefs) (infrastructure, technology)
Tangibility Both tangible and intangible Primarily tangible