Culture Meaning and Characteristics 2

8/8/2019 Culture Meaning and Characteristics 2

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THE CONCEPT OF CULTURETHE CONCEPT OF CULTURE

ONCEPT OF CUTURE WAS DEVELOPED FIRST BYONCEPT OF CUTURE WAS DEVELOPED FIRST BY

ROPOLOGISTS.ROPOLOGISTS. SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AT THIS TIME WESOCIAL SCIENTISTS AT THIS TIME WE

ING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR OBJECTIVELY THE WORLD OING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR OBJECTIVELY THE WORLD OLOOKING FOR A TERM TO COVER HUMAN CUSTOM.LOOKING FOR A TERM TO COVER HUMAN CUSTOM.

NTHROPOLOGISTNTHROPOLOGIST KEESINGKEESING STATED THAT THERE IS OSTATED THAT THERE IS O

NFUSION BETWEEN THE SCIENTIFIC USAGE AND THENFUSION BETWEEN THE SCIENTIFIC USAGE AND THE

LAR USAGE OF THE TERM CULTURE.LAR USAGE OF THE TERM CULTURE.PULAR USAGEPULAR USAGE, THE TERM IS OFTEN REFERRED TO A, THE TERM IS OFTEN REFERRED TO A

EMENT OR DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN QUALITIES.EMENT OR DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN QUALITIES.

TIFICALLY, THE TERM IS USED TO DENOTE CULTIVATTIFICALLY, THE TERM IS USED TO DENOTE CULTIVAT

VIOUR I.E. THE TOTALITY OF MANS LEARNED,VIOUR I.E. THE TOTALITY OF MANS LEARNED,

MULATED EXPERIENCE WHICH IS SOCIALLY TRANSMMULATED EXPERIENCE WHICH IS SOCIALLY TRANSM

BEHAVIOUR ACQUIRED THROUGH SOCIAL LEAR BEHAVIOUR ACQUIRED THROUGH SOCIAL LEAR

SIMPLY STATED, CULTURE IS ALL THAT IS LEARNEDSIMPLY STATED, CULTURE IS ALL THAT IS LEARNED

ED BY THE MEMBERS OF A SOCIETY.ED BY THE MEMBERS OF A SOCIETY.


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THE CLASSIC DEFINTION OF CULTURE WASTHE CLASSIC DEFINTION OF CULTURE WAS

FRAMED BY THE WELL KNOWNFRAMED BY THE WELL KNOWN

ANTHROPOLOGIST EDWARD TYLOR [in 1871].ANTHROPOLOGIST EDWARD TYLOR [in 1871].

HE DEFINED CULTURE ASHE DEFINED CULTURE AS That complex whole which includes knowledge,That complex whole which includes knowledge,

belief, art, morals, law, customs and any otherbelief, art, morals, law, customs and any other

capabilities and habits acquired by man as acapabilities and habits acquired by man as a

member of society.member of society.


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ER DEFINITIONS OF CULTURE CAME MUCH LAER DEFINITIONS OF CULTURE CAME MUCH LA

40,40, RALPH LINTONRALPH LINTON DEFINED CULTURE AS DEFINED CULTURE AS

sum total of the knowledge, attitudes andsum total of the knowledge, attitudes andtual behavior patterns shared and transmittetual behavior patterns shared and transmitte

e members of a particular society.e members of a particular society.

TON AND HUNTTON AND HUNT DEFINED CULTURE AS DEFINED CULTURE AS totality of what is learned by individuals astotality of what is learned by individuals as

bers of society.bers of society.

52,52, KROEBER AND KLUCKHOLNKROEBER AND KLUCKHOLN UNCOVEREDUNCOVEREDY AS 160 DEFINITIONS OF THE TERM CULTURY AS 160 DEFINITIONS OF THE TERM CULTUR


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CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

OFOF

CULTURECULTURE


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ULTURE IS LEARNEDULTURE IS LEARNED

living in groups, man acquires skills, habits,living in groups, man acquires skills, habits,

as and knowledge. This is generally dependeas and knowledge. This is generally depende

the type of society that one is born in andthe type of society that one is born in andditioned to live in.ditioned to live in.

y man has the knowledge and the techniquesy man has the knowledge and the techniques

urvive in an environment, to adjust and tourvive in an environment, to adjust and to

trol it.trol it.n survives by virtue of what he learns. Animan survives by virtue of what he learns. Anima

vive on instinct. Man can learn more becausevive on instinct. Man can learn more because

is tremendous capacity for symbolicis tremendous capacity for symbolic

munication.munication.


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2)2) CULTURE IS SHARED AND TRANSMITTEDCULTURE IS SHARED AND TRANSMITTED

Culture is inculcated. Each generation learnsCulture is inculcated. Each generation learns

from its predecessors. This learning takes placefrom its predecessors. This learning takes place

through rewards, punishments, imitation.through rewards, punishments, imitation.

Only man can transmit culture to the futureOnly man can transmit culture to the future

Generations. Animals do not have the capacityGenerations. Animals do not have the capacity

to share and transmit culture.to share and transmit culture.

The learned and shared character of CultureThe learned and shared character of Culture

makes it SUPER ORGANIC i.e. it is a Social Productmakes it SUPER ORGANIC i.e. it is a Social Product

and is subject to change. The term super organicand is subject to change. The term super organic

has been coined by the sociologist Herberthas been coined by the sociologist HerbertSpencer.Spencer.


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3)3) CULTURE IS ORGANISEDCULTURE IS ORGANISED

Culture has a definite structure,Culture has a definite structure,

comprising of culture traits, and culturecomprising of culture traits, and culture

patterns.patterns.Trait is the smallest single unit of aTrait is the smallest single unit of a

culture.culture.

Complex is a set of related cultureComplex is a set of related culture

traitstraits

Pattern is a set of related culturePattern is a set of related culture

complexes.complexes.

All these elements are interrelated.All these elements are interrelated.


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5) CULTURE IS SYMBOLIC 5) CULTURE IS SYMBOLIC

Culture attaches meanings to allCulture attaches meanings to all

Artifacts and manmade objects. AllArtifacts and manmade objects. Allthe signs and symbols are betweenthe signs and symbols are between

persons who know the meaning.persons who know the meaning.

Through this there emerges aThrough this there emerges a

Common tradition, languageCommon tradition, language

( jargon ) and a symbol system.( jargon ) and a symbol system.


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6) CULTURE IS IDEATIONAL 6) CULTURE IS IDEATIONAL

All the cultural norms learned areAll the cultural norms learned are

Conceptualized as Ideal Norms. E.g.Conceptualized as Ideal Norms. E.g.Ideals of honesty, integrity etc. However,Ideals of honesty, integrity etc. However,

these are not the Actual Norms followed.these are not the Actual Norms followed.

there are always grey areas with respectthere are always grey areas with respect

to honesty etc.to honesty etc.


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ULTURE IS GRATIFYING ULTURE IS GRATIFYING

ure satisfies biological needs and otheure satisfies biological needs and othe

ds derived from these also. Thus, itds derived from these also. Thus, it

sfies mans impulses in his interactionsfies mans impulses in his interactionworld around him.world around him.

tification reinforces habits andtification reinforces habits and

ngthens them. If there is a lack ofngthens them. If there is a lack ofification it can lead to the extinction oification it can lead to the extinction of

ms. Elements of culture continue to exis. Elements of culture continue to exi

n individuals derive satisfaction fromn individuals derive satisfaction from..


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ULTURE IS INTEGRATIVE ULTURE IS INTEGRATIVE elements of culture tend to form anelements of culture tend to form angrated whole. There are differentgrated whole. There are different

points here points here e Functionalists (Robert Merton)e Functionalists (Robert Merton)tain that cultures are integratedtain that cultures are integrated

ems wherein the parts are inems wherein the parts are inlibrium.librium.Other Sociologists (Sumner)Other Sociologists (Sumner)

tain that culture is subject to straitain that culture is subject to straiinconsistency. This can lead toinconsistency. This can lead toCulture lag.(Ogburn). This is a timCulture lag.(Ogburn). This is a tim

rval between the introduction of arval between the introduction of aure and its acce tance.ure and its acce tance.

Culture Meaning and Characteristics 2

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