Understanding Culture,

Society and Politics

Lesson II - Culture
What is Culture?
Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics
La Salle Green Hills
2nd Term, S.Y. 2023-2024
Characteristics of a
Culture
 Characteristics of culture

1. Culture is learned.
 Culture is not genetically
inherited.

Enculturation is the process

where a person forms
meaningful thoughts and and
ideas from their surroundings.
How do we you think we transmit culture though?
Characteristics of culture

2. Culture is relative.
The details of culture vary across the world (e.g., the concepts of beauty,
love, strength, and even gender and race).
While culture is relative, there are some elements that are undeniably
universal (cultural universalism), like smiling.
Culture shock, meanwhile, happens when people get confused and fail to
understand alternative cultures.
Characteristics of culture

3. Culture is shared.
Culture is widely and consensually practiced by a group of people.
 Characteristics of culture

4. Culture is symbolic.
Culture is composed of symbols - objects, actions, or words that convey
deeper meanings.
 Characteristics of culture

5. Culture is adaptive and maladaptive.

Culture evolves as part of human adaptation and survival, but it can also
evolve in the harmful direction.
Characteristics of culture

6. Cultures change.
Innovation is a constant part of culture.
Subcultures are smaller cultural groups inside a wider culture.
Countercultures question and challenge the norms of the prevailing
culture.