The Meaning Of Culture

Culture refers to shared products of human groups, including both physical objects and the beliefs, values, and behaviors shared by the group.

Material culture refers to physical objects created by human groups. Sociologists and anthropologists use the term artifacts to refer to the physical objects of material culture. - Physical objects

A nonmaterial culture refers to abstract human creations - Ideas/belief systems

Society refers to a group of mutually interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and have a feeling of unity.

A culture trait is an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need.

Culture complexes are clusters/groups of interrelated culture traits.

Culture patterns are a combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole.

- Values, beliefs, behavior and material objects shared by a group - What we think, how we act, what we own - Includes shared products of human groups

Physical objects that people create and use such as books, buildings, clothing, computers and cooking

Abstract human creations such as language, ideas, beliefs, rules, skills, family patterns, work practices, and political and economic systems.

Combination of objects and rules

Anything that carries meaning recognized by people who share a culture

Written or spoken symbols organized into a communication system

Shared beliefs about what is good/bad, right/wrong, desirable/undesirable

Shared rules of conduct; expectations

Focus on common customs of everyday life

Strong moral significance

Written laws of conduct enforced by the government

* Ceremonies and rituals * Shrines devoted to the avoidance of disease * "Magical potions", Medicine men

Societies have established punishments for violating mores in order to protect the social well-being. These serious mores are formalized as laws. Laws are the written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government. Most laws enforce mores essential to social stability, such as those against murder and rape. Laws, however, may also enforce less severe folkways, such as not parking in spaces reserved for drivers with disabilities.

The features of a culture can be divided into three levels of complexity: traits, complexes, and patterns.

The culture trait is the simplest level of culture. A culture trait is an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need. For example, using knives, forks, and spoons when eating is a culture trait.

The use of symbols is the very basis of human culture. It is through symbols that we create our culture and communicate it to group members and future generations. Although specific examples vary from culture to culture, all cultures communicate symbolically.

Individual culture traits combine to form the next level—culture complexes. A culture complex is a cluster of interrelated traits.

A culture trait is an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need, such as using a specific greeting when meeting someone. Individual culture traits combine to form the next level—culture complexes. A culture complex is a cluster of interrelated traits. The game of football is a culture complex that involves a variety of traits. Culture complexes combine to form larger levels called culture patterns. A culture pattern is the combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole. For example, the separate complexes of baseball, basketball, and other sports combine to form the American athletic pattern.

These components are technology, symbols, language, values, and norms.

A society's culture consists of not only physical objects but also the rules for using those objects. Sociologists sometimes refer to this combination of objects and rules as technology.

The physical objects that people create and use form a group's material culture, such as automobiles and computers. Abstract human creations form a group's nonmaterial culture, such as beliefs, rules, and family patterns.

Students' responses might include automobiles, books, buildings, clothing, computers, or cooking utensils.