What is Culture: Videos & Practice Problems

Culture encompasses the values, norms, beliefs, and material goods characteristic of a group, shaping how individuals interpret the world. It includes material culture—tangible items like clothing and technology—and nonmaterial culture, such as customs and social norms. Culture is dynamic, evolving over time while preserving traditions, and often exists within multicultural societies featuring subcultures. Understanding culture involves recognizing cultural relativism and the role of socialization in transmitting cultural values, which is essential for analyzing social interaction, social structure, and the diversity within societies.

What is Culture?

Culture encompasses the values, norms, common practices, and material goods that define any given group, serving as a lens through which individuals interpret the world. This lens shapes how people perceive other cultures, influenced by the cultural environment in which they are raised. Culture is not static; it is dynamic and evolves over time while simultaneously preserving traditions across generations. For instance, language and slang can change rapidly, especially with the influence of the internet and social media, whereas traditional celebrations like Thanksgiving in the United States often remain consistent over decades.

Culture can be divided into two main categories: material and non-material culture. Material culture includes all tangible objects created and used by members of a society, such as clothing, food, technology, sports equipment, and games. These physical items reflect the lifestyle and technological advancements of a culture. In contrast, non-material culture consists of intangible elements like values, attitudes, ideas, and beliefs. These shape social norms and behaviors, such as the customary handshake at the end of a business meeting in the U.S., which is an unspoken cultural norm. Different societies may have distinct non-material cultural practices that guide social interactions.

Modern societies, especially industrialized nations, are often multicultural, meaning they contain multiple subcultures and microcultures within a broader cultural framework. This diversity means that no single uniform culture perfectly represents every individual’s experience. Understanding culture in this way highlights the complexity and richness of social life, emphasizing the importance of recognizing both shared traditions and diverse cultural expressions within any society.

What is Culture Example 1

Material culture consists of tangible objects that people create and use, reflecting their cultural identity. Examples include items like apple pie, a country's flag, and a wedding ring, all of which are physical and can be touched or seen. These objects represent the physical manifestations of culture.

In contrast, non-material culture encompasses intangible elements such as beliefs, values, customs, and social norms. For instance, greeting a stranger with a handshake is a practice rooted in social interaction and etiquette, making it part of non-material culture despite the physical act involved. Similarly, valuing fairness and equality or believing that a person should honor their parents are conceptual ideas that guide behavior and social expectations, highlighting the importance of non-material culture in shaping societal values and traditions.

Which of the following are true about culture?
I. Culture acts as a lens through which people understand the world.
II. Most cultures around the world are quite similar.
III. Culture includes the beliefs, norms, values, and material goods of a group.

• A. I & II
• B. I & III
• C. II & III
• D. I, II, & III

Answer: (B)

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What is the definition of culture in sociology?

In sociology, culture is defined as the values, norms, common practices, and material goods characteristic of any given group. It acts as a lens through which individuals learn to view and interpret the world. Culture includes both tangible items, known as material culture (such as clothing, food, and technology), and intangible elements, called nonmaterial culture (such as beliefs, attitudes, and social norms). This comprehensive understanding helps sociologists analyze how societies function and how individuals interact within them.

How does culture evolve over time?

Culture is dynamic and evolves over time while still preserving traditions across generations. For example, language and slang can change rapidly, especially with influences like the internet and social media. However, some cultural traditions, such as celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S., remain relatively stable over time. This balance between change and preservation allows cultures to adapt to new circumstances while maintaining a connection to their historical roots.

What is the difference between material and nonmaterial culture?

Material culture consists of the physical, tangible objects created and used by members of a society, such as clothing, food, technology, and sports equipment. Nonmaterial culture, on the other hand, includes the intangible aspects like values, beliefs, attitudes, and social norms. For example, shaking hands after a business meeting is a nonmaterial cultural norm in the U.S. Understanding both types is essential for grasping how culture shapes social behavior and identity.

Why is it important to recognize multiculturalism within societies?

Recognizing multiculturalism is important because most modern, especially industrialized, nations are composed of multiple subcultures and microcultures rather than a single uniform culture. This diversity means that individuals within the same society may follow different cultural norms and practices. Understanding multiculturalism helps sociologists and students appreciate the complexity of social interactions and avoid oversimplifying cultural identities, which is crucial for studying social stratification, interaction, and cohesion.

How does culture influence the way individuals interpret the world?

Culture shapes the lens through which individuals perceive and interpret the world around them. When people grow up within a particular culture, they internalize its values, norms, and beliefs, which guide their understanding of social reality. This cultural lens affects how they view other cultures, often leading to cultural relativism—the idea that one should understand another culture based on its own standards rather than judging it by one's own cultural norms. This perspective is fundamental in sociology for promoting empathy and reducing ethnocentrism.