CULTURE

AND BEHAVIOR
A Perspective for
A Common Platform
Rahim Jabbar
2003

1
 CULTURE
Symbolic aspects:
•Systems of distinctions
(classification, histories,
knowledge coded in symbolic
ideas or beliefs)

•Culture is accumulation of symbolic (a. o.

scientific, artistic), behavioral (including social) ,
and physical characteristics of a community or
society or an autonomous group.
•Culture incorporates individual and collective
responses to environmental conditions. As such,
contents of a culture is continually subjected to
historical and evolutionary forces.
•Therefore, culture is generally a heritage as the
results of inter-generational communication of
information other than genetic/
biological information.

Behavioral aspects: Physical aspects:

•Distinctive forms of behavior •Material artifacts
(songs, rituals, institutions, (tools, weapons, buildings,
organizational forms) Works of art)

2
 FOUNDATIONS OF CULTURE
•Morality
•Work
•Leisure
Logic & General
Religion attitudes
•Property
Philosophy •Crime
•Authority
•Government
Maintained through •Human rights &
privileges
•Places of
residence
Perspectives &
World Views
Influences
Spiritual
practices

Medium
Of Expressions Modes of •Division of labor
•Age roles
Social •Family organizations
interaction •Child rearing practices
•Social status
•Degree of formality
•Gender roles
Language Visual Arts Music •Manners
•Verbal communications
•Non-verbal communications
Recorded in

Literature

3
 HUMAN BEHAVIOR

OVERT BEHAVIOUR:
•External/observable/visible
acts/actions/behavior

COVERT BEHAVIOUR:
• Internal dispositions:
3. Values
4. Beliefs
5. Attitudes

4
 VALUES

Values are general central

principles concerning the patterns
of behavior within a particular
culture or society which its
members hold in high regards.
Around those values, individual and
social goals can be integrated.
Values are transmitted and adopted
through socialization process.

5
 BELIEFS

Beliefs are emotional acceptance

of some proposition, statement, or
doctrines. Beliefs are learned
expectations about the values of
people, events and objects in the
environment and the roles they play
with respect to one’s behavior.

6
 DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR:
VALUES, BELIEFS AND ATTITUDES

Actions

“Evaluative component”
(positive or negative)
Attitudes The Self
“Cognitive component”
(Consciously held belief )

Beliefs “Affective
component”
(Emotional
Tone or feeling)

Emotional acceptance
Of values

Values Emotion

Instigating Physiological Cognitive Motivational

stimuli correlates appraisal properties
7