Components of Culture
Culture
The values, beliefs, behaviour and material objects that form a people’s way of life.
- Nonmaterial culture
Ideas created by members of a society
- Material culture
Tangible things created by members of a society
- Only humans rely on culture rather than instinct to ensure survival.
The Components of Culture
- Although culture vary, they all have five common components:
a) Symbols
b) Language
c) Values
d) Beliefs
e) Norms
A) Symbols
- Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture
- Example : Tattoos
• Not understanding the symbols of a culture leaves a person feeling lost and isolated
• Symbolic meaning may also vary within a single society
B) Language
- A system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another
- Language allows for the community of culture
- Cultural transmission – the process by which one generation passes culture to the next
- Every society transmits culture through speech
C) Values
- Culturally defined standards by which people assess desirability, goodness and beauty and that serve as broad guidelines for social living.
D) Beliefs
- Values are abstract standards of goodness.
- Beliefs are particular matters that individuals consider true or false
E) Norms
- Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members.
- Most important norms in a culture apply everywhere and at all times
• Mores: Norm that carries greater moral significance, closely related to the core values of a group and often involves severe repercussions for violators.
• Folkways: Loosely enforced norm that involves common customs, practices or procedures that ensure smooth interaction and acceptance.
• Taboo: norm engrained so deeply that even thinking about violating it evokes strong
The values, beliefs, behaviour and material objects that form a people’s way of life.
- Nonmaterial culture
Ideas created by members of a society
- Material culture
Tangible things created by members of a society
- Only humans rely on culture rather than instinct to ensure survival.
The Components of Culture
- Although culture vary, they all have five common components:
a) Symbols
b) Language
c) Values
d) Beliefs
e) Norms
A) Symbols
- Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture
- Example : Tattoos
• Not understanding the symbols of a culture leaves a person feeling lost and isolated
• Symbolic meaning may also vary within a single society
B) Language
- A system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another
- Language allows for the community of culture
- Cultural transmission – the process by which one generation passes culture to the next
- Every society transmits culture through speech
C) Values
- Culturally defined standards by which people assess desirability, goodness and beauty and that serve as broad guidelines for social living.
D) Beliefs
- Values are abstract standards of goodness.
- Beliefs are particular matters that individuals consider true or false
E) Norms
- Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members.
- Most important norms in a culture apply everywhere and at all times
• Mores: Norm that carries greater moral significance, closely related to the core values of a group and often involves severe repercussions for violators.
• Folkways: Loosely enforced norm that involves common customs, practices or procedures that ensure smooth interaction and acceptance.
• Taboo: norm engrained so deeply that even thinking about violating it evokes strong