What is Culture?

What is Culture?

1. A learned meaning system that consists of patterns of... passed from one generation to the next & are shared to varying degrees by interacting members of a community

   • Traditions
   • Beliefs
   • Values
   • Norms: collective expectations of what constitutes proper/improper behavior
   • Symbols: a sign, artifact, word(s), gesture, or nonverbal behavior that stands for or reflect something meaningful (ex. language)
   • Meanings: interpretations we attach to a symbol (cues both objective & subjective reasoning) Ex. flag, gesture

2. How is culture an iceberg?

   • Figure of speech that includes shallow to deep levels

3. Functions

   • Identity meaning: who am I?
   • Group inclusion: in-group vs. out-group; need of membership & belonging
   • Intergroup boundary regulations: shapes our attitudes; what group is not part of me?
   • Ecological Adaptation: reward & punishment process; btw self, cultural community & environment
   • Cultural com: coordination btw culture & com culture & vice versa

4. Com Model

   • Management of messages w/ obj to create meaning
   • Can't take back what u say
   • Ongoing/constantly in motion/irreversible

Images and files in the map