Culture: Meaning and Characteristics
(General Sociology – Culture: Meaning and Characteristics – Variable, Learned, Social, Shared, Transmissive, Dynamic, Adaptive)
Culture is one of the most fundamental and fascinating concepts in sociology. It shapes how we live, think, behave, and interact. Whether it’s our beliefs, traditions, language, or dress codes, culture forms the backbone of our social identity. Understanding the meaning and characteristics of culture is essential to developing a solid grip on General Sociology.
What is Culture?
In simple terms, culture is the way of life of a particular group of people. It includes everything that defines human life within a society, such as language, religion, customs, laws, morals, food habits, rituals, dressing styles, tools, technologies, art, and beliefs.
Renowned anthropologist E.B. Tylor described culture as:
“That complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.“
Culture is learned, shared, and passed from generation to generation. It not only helps people adapt to their surroundings but also provides a sense of identity and belonging.
Key Characteristics of Culture
1. Culture is Learned
Culture is not inherited biologically. No one is born with a built-in culture. Instead, individuals learn culture through a process known as enculturation. From the moment a child is born, they begin absorbing cultural values, language, behaviors, and traditions from their family, peers, media, and institutions. Even simple acts like greeting someone or using cutlery reflect learned cultural behavior.
2. Culture is Shared
One of the most important features of culture is that it is shared by members of a society. The shared culture people possess fosters social cohesion. It helps individuals function within society and expect others’ actions. While cultures tend to be common, this does not mean that they are identical for everyone. There are subcultures; members of the same society can possess diverse manifestations of the cultural norms and values.
3. Culture is Transmissive
Culture is passed down from one generation to the next. Cultural transmission aids in the preservation of culture. Parents bestow upon children’s specific values, norms, and traditions, which they also pass down to their offspring. This transmission process is automatic and unending. Societies can retain their identity while still changing with the help of this mechanism.
4. Culture is Dynamic
Culture is not static; it constantly evolves. Culture changes in response to societies interacting with one another and facing new problems. A society’s culture can be influenced by things such as technology, globalization, or migration. This ability is what ensures that culture remains essential and agile in relation to social and environmental changes.
5. Culture is Adaptive
Culture enables humans to adapt to their social and physical environments. Cultural practices shift in response to new societal conditions such as urbanization, climate change, or economic change. It modifies civilization while increasing the chances of survival. An example of this is how remote work became integrated into work culture after the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. Culture is Variable
Culture varies across societies and even within a single society. Every society or country has its own set of cultural practices, including traditions, values, and norms. Additionally, as time progresses, culture evolves; things that were seen as stylish or acceptable in one period may no longer be the case in a different period. Such differences provide tremendous diversity to culture and humans in general.
7. Culture is Social
Culture is created and sustained through social interaction. Culture cannot be developed on its own. From social interactions, people learn to internalize and express cultural practices, enabling them to internalize cultural norms. From this perspective, society is the fundamental prerequisite of culture.
Conclusion
Culture is more than just customs and traditions; it is the soul of any society. Its characteristics, such as being learned, shared, transmissive, dynamic, adaptive, variable, and social, make it a powerful force in shaping human life. A clear understanding of these traits provides a strong foundation in sociology and enhances one’s ability to interpret social phenomena critically.
