Beliefs and Material Culture

Beliefs and Physical Objects

Nonmaterial culture involves beliefs, ideas, and

knowledge while material culture is about how we
relate to physical objects.

Beliefs are ideas about the nature of reality and

they can be true or false.

Beliefs are important because people base their

behavior on what they believe, regardless of
whether their beliefs are true or false.

Beliefslike traditions, roles, and cultural

expectationsprovide a sense of continuity to a
community.

The cultural meaning of physical objects is not

determined by their physical characteristics, but
based on the beliefs, norms, and values people hold
with regard to them.