Culture - Meaning, Characteristics and Importance | Sociology

Culture is one of the fundamental concepts in sociology. Every society has its own way of living, thinking and behaving, and this distinctive way of life is expressed through its culture. Language, food habits, dress, customs, traditions, beliefs, values, art, knowledge and social practices are all parts of culture. Culture is therefore not limited to art, literature or religion; it encompasses the broader way of life shared by members of a society.

Meaning of Culture

The word culture is derived from the Latin word cultura, meaning cultivation or tending. In sociology, however, culture has a much wider meaning. It refers to the learned and shared way of life of the members of a society.

Culture includes the beliefs and values people hold, the norms they follow, the customs and traditions they observe, the language they use, and the material objects and technologies they create and use. Thus, the way people eat, dress, greet one another, celebrate festivals, marry, mourn, worship and communicate are all influenced by culture.

Culture is acquired through social interaction and socialisation. A person is not born knowing the language, customs or values of his or her society. These are learned gradually through family, school, peer groups, religion, media and other social institutions.

Definitions of Culture

E.B. Tylor gave one of the most widely cited definitions of culture.

• According to E.B. Taylor, “Culture is 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.”

This definition shows that culture encompasses almost every aspect of the learned social life of human beings.

• Bronislaw Malinowski has defined culture as the ‘cumulative creation of man’. He also regarded culture as the means through which human beings satisfy their needs and achieve their purposes. He described culture as “the handiwork of man and as the medium through which he achieves his ends.”

Thus, culture may broadly be understood as the learned, shared and transmitted way of life of a society.

Characteristics of Culture

Culture has several important characteristics which distinguish it from biological or purely individual behaviour.

1. Culture is Learned – Culture is not biologically inherited. A person is born with certain biological characteristics but learns the language, values, customs, beliefs and patterns of behaviour of the society in which he or she grows up. This learning takes place primarily through the process of socialisation. Family, school, peer groups, religion and mass media are important agencies through which culture is learned. For example, a child does not naturally know how to greet elders, which language to speak or how a particular festival is celebrated. These behaviours are learned from society.
2. Culture is Social – Culture is a product of social life. It develops through interaction among people and exists within a society or social group. Individual habits may be personal, but when a particular pattern of behaviour is shared and accepted by a group, it becomes part of its culture. Culture therefore connects individuals with the wider society and provides them with common patterns of behaviour.
3. Culture is Shared – Culture is not merely an individual’s personal possession. Its elements are shared by members of a social group. For example, members of a community may share a language, religious practices, festivals, customs or forms of greeting. Such shared patterns create a sense of belonging and facilitate social interaction. However, not every member of a society follows every cultural practice in exactly the same manner. Culture may contain considerable diversity and variation.
4. Culture is Transmitted – Culture is transmitted from one generation to another. Language, symbols, stories, traditions, customs and institutions act as important means of cultural transmission. Parents teach children certain customs and values; schools transmit knowledge; religious institutions transmit beliefs; and literature and mass media help preserve and spread cultural patterns. Thus, culture provides a link between generations.
5. Culture is Dynamic – Culture is not static. It changes with changing social, economic, political and technological conditions. For example, developments in communication technology have changed patterns of communication, work, education and social interaction. Similarly, changing ideas about marriage, family, gender roles and education have transformed many traditional practices. Therefore, culture continuously adjusts to changing circumstances.
6. Culture is Adaptive – Culture enables human beings to adjust to their social and physical environment. People develop different forms of housing, food habits, clothing, occupations and technologies according to their circumstances. At the same time, cultural practices themselves change when existing patterns, no longer adequately respond to changing needs and conditions.
7. Culture Satisfies Human Needs – Culture helps people satisfy both material and social needs. Food habits, technology and economic practices address material needs, while family, religion, customs, traditions and social relationships help satisfy social and emotional needs. Cultural patterns that continue to serve important social purposes are generally maintained, while others may gradually change or disappear.
8. Culture is Symbolic – Human beings communicate and preserve culture through symbols. Language is perhaps the most important cultural symbol, but gestures, signs, objects, dress and ceremonies may also carry cultural meanings. For instance, a particular flag may symbolise national identity, while a religious symbol may represent particular beliefs shared by a community.
9. Culture is Cumulative – Culture accumulates over generations. Each generation does not have to begin from the beginning; it inherits knowledge, skills, traditions and institutions from previous generations and may modify or add to them. Scientific knowledge, technology, literature, art and social institutions are examples of this cumulative nature of culture.

Types of Culture

Sociologist William F. Ogburn distinguished between material and non-material culture.

• Material Culture – Refers to the objects which satisfies the material needs of human beings like houses, means of transport, factories, food items, etc. They are tangible aspects of society.
• Non-Material Culture – Refers to non-tangible aspects of culture like customs, ideas, beliefs, patterns of communication, etc.

According to Ogburn, the elements of non-material culture are more resistant to change than the material culture.

Importance/Functions of Culture

1. Culture is a Treasury of Knowledge – Culture preserves and transmits the knowledge accumulated by society over generations. Language plays a particularly important role in this process. Through language, knowledge, experiences, traditions and ideas can be preserved, communicated, accumulated and passed from one generation to another. Thus, culture enables each generation to benefit from the knowledge and experiences of earlier generations.
2. Culture Defines Social Situations - Culture provides individuals with established ways of understanding and responding to different social situations. It influences what people consider appropriate or inappropriate in particular circumstances. For example, cultural practices influence what people eat and wear, how they greet others, how they celebrate occasions, how they express grief or happiness, and how they behave towards elders and other members of society. Thus, culture provides a framework for interpreting everyday social life.
3. Culture Shapes Attitudes, Values and Goals – Culture has an important influence on people’s attitudes, values and goals.

• Attitudes refer to relatively enduring tendencies to think, feel or act in particular ways.
• Values are standards by which people judge what is desirable, good or important.
• Goals represent the objectives that individuals consider worth pursuing. Ideas concerning morality, religion, family, education, work and social responsibility are all influenced by the culture in which individuals are socialised.

4. Culture Influences Career and Life Choices – Culture influences the occupations and careers that individuals consider desirable or appropriate. Family traditions, social expectations, gender roles, social status, community values and ideas about success can all influence occupational choices. For example, in some families or communities, particular professions may be traditionally encouraged or regarded as prestigious. However, culture does not completely determine an individual’s career. Education, personal interests, abilities, economic circumstances and available opportunities also play an important role.
5. Culture Provides Patterns of Behaviour – Culture provides individuals with established patterns of behaviour. Through norms, values, customs and traditions, it indicates how people are expected to behave in different situations. It also provides socially recognised goals and acceptable means of pursuing those goals. In this way, culture helps individuals understand their expected statuses and roles and makes social interaction more predictable.
6. Culture Facilitates Socialisation – Culture is the principal content of the process of socialisation. Individuals learn the language, values, norms, customs and behavioural expectations of their society through interaction with family, school, peer groups, religious institutions and other agencies. Through this process, individuals become capable of participating effectively in social life.
7. Culture Promotes Social Integration – Shared cultural elements provide a basis for social unity. Common language, traditions, values, symbols, customs and collective practices create a sense of belonging among members of a society. Culture therefore helps integrate individuals into the larger social group, although societies may also contain considerable cultural diversity and disagreement.
8. Culture Provides Social Control – Culture exercises an important form of informal social control. Norms, values, customs and traditions establish standards of acceptable behaviour. Conformity may receive social approval, while violation of important cultural expectations may result in criticism, disapproval, ridicule, exclusion or other informal sanctions. In this manner, culture helps regulate behaviour without relying exclusively on formal law.
9. Culture Provides Identity and Continuity – Culture contributes to both individual and collective identity. Language, traditions, religion, customs, art and shared historical experiences help people understand who they are and the social groups to which they belong. At the same time, cultural transmission provides continuity between generations and preserves important elements of a society’s heritage.

In short, the importance of culture can therefore be understood through five broad functions, viz., it preserves knowledge, defines situations, shapes attitudes and goals, provides patterns of behaviour, and facilitates socialisation and social control. It also contributes to social integration, identity and continuity.

Conclusion

Culture is much more than customs, festivals or artistic activities. It represents the learned and shared way of life of a society. It includes both material objects and non-material elements such as values, beliefs, norms, language and traditions.

Culture provides individuals with patterns of behaviour, assists in socialisation, promotes social integration and exercises social control. At the same time, it is dynamic and continually changes as societies encounter new circumstances. The study of culture is therefore essential to understanding how individuals behave and how societies maintain continuity while undergoing change.