Dr.

Abdul Baqee
Adjunct Faculty
1
Hum 2101-2020 – Perceiving Culture Session 05
 Culture survives if it can
Culture refers to accommodate to
those qualities and changing conditions.
attributes that seem
to be characteristic Culture is viewed as a
of all humankind. macrosystem.

Humans evolve and adapt Binds a particular society

primarily through culture together, and includes its
rather than changes in manners, morals, tools,
anatomy or genetics. and techniques.

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Culture is the Culture is an umbrella
characteristics and term which encompasses
knowledge of a the social behavior and
particular group of norms found in human
people, societies, as well as the
encompassing knowledge, beliefs, arts,
language, religion, laws, customs, capabilities
cuisine, social and habits of the
habits, music and individuals in these
arts. groups.

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Sir Edward Burnett Tylor was an
English anthropologist, the
founder of cultural anthropology.
What CULTURE means to us?
According to Edward Tylor,
“Culture refers to that complex
whole which includes
knowledge, beliefs, art, morals,
law, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired
by man as a member of
society”.
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 (1897-1958)

According to Robert Redfield Robert Redfield was

an American
anthropologist.
“Culture is an
organized body of
conventional
understanding
manifest in art and Types of CULTURE
artifacts, which, Basically there two types of culture.
persisting through (a) MATERIAL CULTURE (physical
tradition, things produced by a society)
characterizes a (b) NONMATERIAL CULTURE
(intangible things produced by a
human group”.
society)
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Material Cultural range from
the prehistoric stone tools of
-- the behavior that
primitive man to the most
any society
advanced computer of the
professes and to
modern man.
which they strive
to conform.
• Non-Material culture consists
of; -- Laws, techniques,
-- words people use lifestyle, and
-- the habits they follow knowledge are
-- the ideas they share included, too.
-- the customs they follow
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Characteristics
of CULTURE
• Culture is learned and acquired.
• Culture is shared and transmitted.
• Culture is social.
• Culture is ideal.

• Culture gratifies human needs.

• Culture is adaptive.
• Culture tends toward integration.
• Culture is cumulative.
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Elements
of CULTURE
2. Values -- values
1.Norms -- these are represent the
guides or models of standards we use to
behavior which tell us evaluate the
what is appropriate or desirability of things.
inappropriate, a. Achievement and
what is right or wrong Success
a. Folkways b. Activity and work
b. Customs
c. Laws
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3. Language -- it refers to
a system of symbols 4. Fashion and Craze --
that have specific and these are other
arbitrary meaning in a elements of culture
given society. that are short-lived
social norms with
which people are
expected to comply
with

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Functions
of CULTURE
Culture as a Category
-- As a general category
for the classification of
phenomena
-- Culture as a tool of
prediction.
• Some cultures are distinct
in social institutions;
1. Culture serves as
trademark or special
feature that distinguishes
one society from one
another.
2. Culture brings together,
contains, and interprets
the values of a society in
a given manner.
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3. Culture provides
important bases 5. The culture of any society is
for social largely responsible for
solidarity. producing a social personality.
4. Culture provides 6. The culture of a society
a blueprint of provides behavioral patterns.
social structure.
7. Culture provides individuals
with the meaning and
direction of their existence.

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Points to Ponder
 The world around
us profoundly  It is the job of the
shapes and sociologist to
influences; understand how
such process works
-- who we are
and its impact in a
-- how we behave given society.
-- how we think
-- what we think

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Make some sense from the following quarries.
Take out a small piece of paper and answer the following questions.

1. Which of the
2. Sociology is defined as;
following is NOT an
a. the scientific study of humans.
example of a SOCIAL
b. the study of ancient cultures and
SCIENCE? Use tick marks
behavior.
a. biology c. the study of how the brain works.
b. political science d. the study of human society and
c. psychology social behavior.
d. economics
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