Prepared By: Ms.Izah P.

Cornelio
 Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors,
objects, and other characteristics common
to the members of a particular group or
society. Through culture, people and
groups define themselves, conform to
society's shared values, and contribute to
society.
 Culture is essential for our individual survival and
communication with others

 We are not born with the information we need to

survive

 Culture is essential for the survival of societies

 It establishes our laws and rules for interaction

  Nature is our biological and genetic makeup
 Nurture is derived from our social
environment
 We are not born knowing kindness or hatred
 Humans do not have instincts but we do have
reflexes

An instinct is A reflex is Drives are biologically

biologically biologically determined impulses
determined determined common to all members
behaviour patterns involuntary of a species that satisfy
common to all response such needs such as food,
members of a as sneezing water, safety, and
species shelter
Since humans
cannot rely on
instincts for
survival,
culture is a
‘tool kit’ for
survival

Our ‘tool kit’ is divided into two parts

 Consists of the physical or tangible creations that
members of a society make, use, and share

 Items begin as raw materials and transformed into

usable items through technology

 We use these items first for survival such as shelter

 Beyond survival, we make use and share objects

that are interesting and important to us
 Consists of the abstract or intangible human
creations of society that influence people’s
behaviour

Family
Language Values Patterns

Political
Systems Rules of
Beliefs Behaviou
r
 Central component of nonmaterial culture is
beliefs

 Beliefs are the mental acceptance or conviction

that certain things are real or true

 May be based on faith, tradition, experience,

scientific research, or a combination of these

 We also have beliefs in our material culture

 Allhuman beings face the same basic
needs such as food, water, and shelter
 Thus we engage in similar activities

that contribute to our survival

 Cultural universals are customs and

practices that occur across societies

 The universal categories created by

anthropologist George Murdock are

present in all cultures
Appearance
such as
bodily
adornment
and
hairstyles
 Activities such
as sports,
games,
dancing, and
jokes
e f is h so
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 Social
institution
such as
religion, law,
and family
 Customary
practices such
as cooking,
folklore, gift
giving, and
hospitality
 Thesegeneral customs and practices
may be present in all cultures in one
form or another

 Specificforms may vary and could be

misinterpreted between cultures such
as telling a joke
 Considered useful because they ensure a smooth
and continual operation of society

 Society must satisfy its basic needs and degree of

safety in order to survive

 Children and other new members of society must

be taught the ways of the group

 Society must settle disputes between its members

 May not be the result of functional necessity for a
society
 The practices of one society may be imposed

over members of another

 A conquering nation may use its power to impose

its behaviours and beliefs on those defeated

 Assimilation and conformity of indigenous

peoples by those who hold economic, political,

and religious power