Understanding Culture and Its Complexity

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Questions and Answers

What does Schwartz (1992) suggest about culture?

Culture is solely influenced by environmental factors.

Culture is static and unchanging.

Culture is exclusively inherited from past generations.

Culture consists of learned or created experiences. (correct)

Which characteristic of culture indicates its ability to change over time?

Culture is Shared.

Culture is Integrated.

Culture is Symbolic.

Culture is Dynamic. (correct)

According to Matsumoto (1996), what aspect of culture may vary between individuals?

The rituals performed during celebrations.

The shared attitudes within the culture.

The values communicated through generations.

The beliefs and behaviors of the group. (correct)

How is culture primarily acquired according to the characteristics of culture?

Through social interactions within the community. Signup and view all the answers

What does the characteristic of culture being 'symbolic' imply?

Culture employs objects that convey meaning in context. Signup and view all the answers

What role does culture play in providing stability to a social system?

It establishes shared rules and norms. Signup and view all the answers

In what way is culture considered 'integrated'?

Different segments of culture are interrelated and interconnected. Signup and view all the answers

Which definition of culture emphasizes high art and special activities?

Arnolds' definition Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered an element of culture?

Political systems. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect did Tylor's definition of culture encompass that was distinct from Arnolds' view?

Social actions of all people Signup and view all the answers

How did Boas view the categorization of culture?

As subjective and varying by social group Signup and view all the answers

According to Krober & Kluckhohn, culture includes patterns of behavior acquired through what?

Symbols and artifacts Signup and view all the answers

What concept contributed to the cultural gap among social groups as discussed by Tylor?

Categorization into civilized and savages Signup and view all the answers

What shift occurred in the understanding of culture due to the contributions of prominent anthropologists?

From aesthetic high culture to a scientific discipline Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is NOT included in Tylor’s definition of culture?

Social media interactions Signup and view all the answers

What was a common theme in the views of both Arnolds and Tylor regarding culture?

Culture has an aesthetic hierarchy Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Culture

Culture encompasses human thinking, behavior, beliefs, and social actions; complexity in definition exists.
Arnolds (1867) viewed culture as "high culture," emphasizing artistic activities and creating a hierarchy between types of culture.
Tylor (1870) defined culture as a shared quality in social groups, comprising knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, and customs.
Cultural gaps arise from classifications of social groups as "savages" versus "civilized," reflecting early anthropological perspectives.
Boas challenged high/low culture distinctions by advocating for context-specific respect for each culture.

Diverse Perspectives on Culture

Krober & Kluckhohn (1952) described culture as behavior patterns conveyed through symbols and embodied in artifacts, highlighting its traditional values and future actions.
Schwartz (1992) emphasized culture as an organized accumulation of experiences, including meanings transmitted through generations.
Matsumoto (1996) identified culture as shared attitudes, values, and beliefs that are individually expressed and transmitted across generations.
Harris (1975) depicted culture as the collectively acquired lifestyle of a group with characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Functions of Culture

Defines roles within society, influencing gender expectations and family responsibilities.
Fosters a sense of identity, shaping self-perception and how others perceive cultural group membership.
Facilitates commitment to community roles and responsibilities amidst societal changes.
Provides stability within social systems through leadership, rule-following, and maintenance of social order.

Characteristics of Culture

Culture is learned, stemming from social interactions and experiences within the community.
Culture is shared, establishing common attributes through processes of socialization.
Culture is symbolic, utilizing objects and gestures that hold specific contextual meanings.
Culture is integrated, with interrelated segments that connect various aspects of social life.
Culture is influenced by the environment, leading to variations based on geographic and situational factors.
Culture is dynamic, evolving over time due to internal and external influences.
Culture is idealistic, reflecting the ideals and values of the social group, which in turn shapes behavior.

Elements of Culture

Culture can be categorized into non-material aspects (beliefs, values) and material aspects (artifacts, tools).

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Description

Explore the multifaceted concept of culture, as discussed by various experts and thinkers. This quiz delves into different interpretations of culture, highlighting the distinctions between 'high culture' and other social actions. Join us to deepen your understanding of what constitutes culture in human society.