Key Features of Culture

Learning Objectives

• Determine the key features, concepts of culture

• Recognize how culture is accumulated.
Key Features of Culture

• ...is learned
• ...is social
• ...is shared
• ...is transmitted
• ...is continuous
• ...is accumulative
• ...is integrative
• ...is changing
• varies from society to society
Culture is
Learned
• It is learned through constant practice, reminder and action. The element
of culture such as belief, ways of life and language can be learned and
shared together and create lasting and powerful relationship.
Culture is Social

• A person needs to interact with other people for culture to be

transmitted. The more you interact with other people, the wider your
appreciation for things, values, and concepts will be, and the more it
will live on. Through interaction with other people, you will see how
other people behave act and make decisions.
Culture is Shared

• Various elements such arts, language, religion, values, and beliefs are all
shared by one person to another such members of the family or
community. A group of people, several house hold, a barangay, a district or
province may share some elements of culture.
• This shared culture is what transmitted to other members of the society
throughout the succeeding generations.
Culture is Transmitted

• The transmittal of culture can be done through practice, written form, or

verbal form. What is important is that there is a means or method used
wherein the elements of culture are passed on to other persons and other
generations.
• The patriarch or matriach of the family is the holder of family practices. All
these elders band together to ensure there is continued practice of unique
culture whether it is formal or informal designation.
Culture is Continuous

• The transmission of cultural elements of one group must be continuous from

one generation to the next. This ensure that there is a common understanding
of the practices, history, and origin. Understanding the basis of practice is
critical it explains the rationale for the practice.
• In some communities there are attempts to revive certain element of culture
after its absence in some years. Its revitalized version may not authentic but it
restored the achieved practices.
Culture is
Accumulative
• With so much history in any society, there is bound to be changes in
culture as compared to when it was initially practiced. As a result of
culture being transmitted to several people, through several years,
there will be changes due to the current situations in community.
Culture is Integrated

• Common practices bring people together. It is a way of sharing with

others and making it easier for people to understand or give preference to
others who share common practice. There are many practices that are
uniquely undertaken by a group of people.
Culture is Changing

• With the intersection of many variables across time and people, culture is
bound to change. Developments in technology, government structure,
laws and other lemenets and even in people will give rise to changes in
culture.
Culture varies from
Society to Society
• Of the many sub-groups in a society, each one brings their own cultural
mindset to a bigger community. Expect that there will be similarities and
many unique practices within a given community and among different
countries also.