CHARATERISTICS/

PROPERTIES OF CULTURE

MAHREEN IFTIKHAR
CULTURE
WHAT IS CULTURE
E. B. Tylor, the first professional anthropologist, proposed a definition of culture that
includes all human experience:
“culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law,
custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
society”
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
In the past, anthropologists attempted to make a simple distinction between society
and culture. Society was said as patterns of relationships among people within
a specified territory, and culture was viewed as the by-products of those
relationships
ASPECTS/ TYPES OF CULTURE
Material culture consists of the physical products of human society (ranging from
weapons to clothing styles), whereas Nonmaterial culture refers to the intangible
Cultural anthropologists/Sociologists investigate the material
culture of the societies, they also examine the relationship between
the material culture and the nonmaterial culture that represent the
thinking patterns of a society
Ideal culture: it is the goal of society. It can never be achieved
fully because some part of it remain out of practice. This culture is
explained in books, speeches. Islam is our ideal culture, we claim to
be true Muslims and this claim is our idea culture but how far we
are Muslims in practice is real culture
Real culture: the part of the culture which people adopt in their
culture. The whole of the culture is never followed. We all are
Muslims but we don’t follow if fully so the part of Islam which we
follow is real culture
 PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
CULTURE IS LEARNED

Social animals (human beings) learn from other members of their group on the basis of “human
capacity to learn", in other words unique ability of human species is “learning”
We do not inherit our culture through our genes in the way we inherit our physical characteristics(like
sex, color, height). Instead, we obtain our culture through the process of enculturation
Enculturation is the process of social interaction through which people learn
and acquire their culture
Animals also may learn from experiences; for example, they avoid fire after discovering that it hurts

For instance, Wolves learn hunting strategies from other pack members
Such social learning is particularly important among monkeys and apes as well
Our cultural learning depends on the “human capacity to use symbols”, (signs that have no natural
connection to the things). People gradually internalize the established/defined system of meanings
and symbols to express their feelings throughout the lives
Human acquire their culture both consciously (through formal learning) and
unconsciously (through informal interaction
Culture is taught directly, as when parents tell their children to say “thank you” when
someone gives them something or does them a favor
Culture is transmitted through observation. Children pay attention to the things that go
on around them. They modify their behavior not just because other people tell them to
do it, but as a result of their own observations or growing awareness of what their
culture considers right and wrong
Culture is absorbed unconsciously For example, North Americans acquire their culture’s
notion of standing apart while talking to each other, they are not being told directly to
maintain a certain distance but through a gradual process of observation and
experience they have learnt it. On the flip side, no one tells Latins to stand closer
together, but they learn it as part of their cultural tradition
Anthropologists also accept “a doctrine” (principle, rule) “the psychic unity of
man” It means that although all individuals differ in their emotional and
intellectual capacities, but have equivalent capacities for culture’ learning
Regardless of their genes or physical appearance, people can learn any cultural
tradition as well
To understand this point, see the following Example
Americans and Canadians, that are genetically mixed descendants
of people from all over the world. As our ancestors are lived in different
countries, continents and participate in hundreds of cultural traditions. This is the
main reason that how immigrants easily adapt a new culture and adjust
themselves in a new ecology
In other words, we can see the glimpse of many cultures (like Spanish, Indian,
Pakistani) on American and Canadian’ culture
 CULTURE IS SHARED

The main attribute of the culture is, It is not individuals’ oriented rather than groups’
oriented. In other words, culture is based on shared meanings that are to some extend
“Public”. In this way, such shared beliefs, values, memories, expectations link all the
people who grow up in the same culture
Today’s parents were yesterday’s children as they grew up, they absorbed certain values
and beliefs and then transmitted it to the next generations. Thus, People become the
agents of enculturation for their children, just as their parents were for them
Although a culture constantly changes but certain fundamental beliefs, values,
worldviews and child-rearing practices endure (exist, sustain, stand)
Example of Enduring Shared Enculturation: As children, when we didn’t finish a meal,
our parents may have reminded us of starving children in some foreign country, just as
our grandparents might have done a generation earlier
American culture places the idea of Individual, American are
fond of saying that everyone is unique and special in some
way. However in American culture, individualism itself is a
distinctive shared value
Despite the American notion that people should “make up
their own minds” and “have a right to their opinion”, people
share their views and beliefs with others (we mostly agree
and feel comfortable with people who are socially,
economically and culturally similar to ourselves). This is one
reason why humans tend to socialize with each other
 CULTURE IS SYMBOLIC
According to Leslie White culture is originated, when our ancestors
acquired the ability to use symbols, to bestow meaning on a thing or
event, and to grasp such meanings
A symbol stands for something else within a particular language or
culture. There is no obvious or natural connection between the symbol
and what it symbolizes
Holy water is a potent (strong/powerful) symbol in Roman Catholicism.
The association between a symbol (water) and what is symbolized
(holiness) is arbitrary (ordinary/ illogical). Water is not intrinsically
holier than milk, blood, or other natural liquids nor holy water is
chemically different from ordinary water
Holy water is a symbol within Roman Catholicism, as it has particular meaning for
Catholics. They share such common belief on the basis of their learning or transmit it
across the generations
A symbol is something verbal or nonverbal, Symbols are usually linguistic (verbal)
while there are also nonverbal symbols, such as flags that stand for countries’ freedom
For hundreds and thousands of years, humans have shared
“Abilities”. These abilities are to learn, to think symbolically,
to manipulate language, to use tools or other cultural
products in organizing their lives or in coping with their
environments
Every contemporary human population has the ability to use
symbols for maintaining the culture. Our nearest relatives
(chimpanzees and gorilla) have rudimentary (basic/simple)
cultural abilities. However, no other animal has possessed
such cultural abilities; to learn, to communicate, to store, to
process, and use information—to that extent as Homo has
 CULTURE IS INTEGRATED
Cultures are not haphazard (chaotic) collections of customs and beliefs.
Integration means “organization of traits” into one another to make a complex
whole(society). The institutions, values, norms, roles, status all are organized
together in a culture
A heap of bricks is not a house, The pieces of wood are not called a
table, The parts of watch can not called a watch until they are fitted into one
another
All the institutions and groups of people are organized together/ interrelated to
form a unified social system in society ( the different parts of the culture are
fitted together to make function as a whole)
In family: the role of father, mother and their children are specified
and they perform their roles according to their social status in a culture. Such
system of relationship among the members is called family integration
Similarly all social systems, like education, family(marriage,
kinship), religion, political and recreation are culturally
integrated
In a Culture, all parts are fitted in such a way that one
depends upon the other and withdrawal on one part will
dysfunction the whole culture. Like If one part of the system
changes (e.g. the economy), other parts change as well. (e.g.
family, marriage, political, education)
For example, during the 1950s, most American’ women
planned domestic careers as homemakers and mothers. Work
competes with marriage and family 'responsibilities and
reduces the time available to invest in child care and family
If a trait in a culture fails to function, there is disintegration in the culture (by
disintegration means failure of the part to function). This leads to social
disorganization which causes the social problems in any society

All Cultures train their individual members to share the certain personality traits
(honesty, hard work, truth, generosity). central or core values of each culture
distinguish it from others
For instance, the “work ethic” and “individualism” are core values that
have integrated in American culture for generations. While “respect for elders”
and “collective conscious” are core values of Pakistani culture
Respect for the teacher is an important trait (core value) of Pakistani
educational system
Nikkah is the central complex (core value) in the institution of Muslim
Marriage
 CULTURE IS ADAPTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE

Humans have both biological and cultural ways of coping with environmental stresses.
Besides our biological means of adaptation, we also use “Cultural Adaptive kits,” (which
contain customary activities and norms etc.)
In this discussion, let’s begin with the point that what’s good for the individual isn’t
necessarily good for the group. Sometimes adaptive behavior that offers short-term
benefits to particular individuals may harm the environment/culture and threaten the
group’s long-term survival
For example, being an immigrant in any foreign culture to adopt or practice such norms
which are against to his own religion, ethics or culture, just to get material gains or to be
the part of that culture.
Another example, the association (links) of few Muslims with the MAFIA (culture of
Terrorism) is causing countless problems for the rest of Muslims across the world
Sometimes cultural traits, patterns and inventions also can be
maladaptive, threatening for the group’s existence/survival
Air conditioners help us to deal with heat, as fires and furnaces
protect us against the cold. Automobiles permit us to make a living by
getting us from home to workplace. But the byproducts (results/side-
effects) of such “beneficial” technology often create new problems.
Chemical emissions (release/discharge/secretion) increase air
pollution, deplete the ozone layer, and contribute to global warming.
Many cultural patterns (practices), such as overconsumption and
pollution, appear to be maladaptive in the long run
 CULTURE AND NATURE
Culture takes the natural biological urges that we share with other animals and teaches us how
to express them in particular ways. People have to eat, but culture teaches us what, when, and
how. In many cultures people have their main meal at noon, but most North Americans prefer a
large dinner. Midwesterners dine at 5 or 6 p.m., Spaniards at 10 p.m. English people may eat
fish for breakfast, while North Americans may prefer hot cakes and cold cereals. Brazilians put
hot milk into strong coffee, whereas North Americans pour cold milk into a weaker brew.
Cultural habits, perceptions, and inventions mold “human nature” in many directions. People
have to eliminate wastes from their bodies. But some cultures teach people to defecate
squatting, while others tell them to do it sitting down. A generation ago, in Paris and other
French cities, it was customary for men to urinate almost publicly, and seemingly without
embarrassment. Our “bathroom habits” including waste elimination, bathing, and dental care,
are parts of cultural traditions that have converted natural acts into cultural customs.
Our culture and cultural changes—affect the ways in
which we perceive nature and human nature. Through
science, invention, and discovery, cultural advances
have overcome many “natural” limitations. We prevent
and cure diseases such as polio and smallpox that felled
our ancestors. Culture, of course, has not freed us from
natural threats. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and
other natural forces regularly challenge our wishes to
modify the environment through building, development,
and expansion.
CULTURE IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING, CUMULATIVE ,
GRATIFYING & SUPER-ORGANIC
All-encompassing: For anthropologists, culture includes much more
than refinement, taste, education sophistication and appreciation of
the fine arts. Not only college graduates but all people are
“cultured.” The most interesting and significant cultural forces are
those that affect people 'every day life, particularly those that
influence children during enculturation.
Culture, as defined anthropologically, encompasses features that are
sometimes regarded as trivial or unworthy of serious study, such as
“popular” culture. To understand contemporary North American
culture, we must consider television, fast-food restaurants, sports,
and games. As a cultural manifestation, a rock star may be as
interesting as a symphony conductor, a comic book as significant as
Cumulative: Culture is growing whole, which includes in itself the
achievements of past and present to make provision for the future
achievements of mankind.
Gratifying: Culture provides proper opportunities and prescribes mean for
the satisfaction of our needs and desires. These needs may be biological
and social in nature. Our need for food, shelter, and clothing are on the on
hand and our desire for status, name, fame, money, mates etc. all are
fulfilled according to cultural ways.
Super organic: culture is sometimes called super organic , Herbert spencer
meant that culture is neither organic nor inorganic in nature but above
these two. For example the social meaning of national flag is not just piece
of cloth, it represents a nation. Similarly, priests, doctors, professors,
soldiers and farmers are not just biological beings. Their social role and
status can be understood only through culture