Culture
CULTURE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO SOCIOLOGY
STUDENT ID: 2057434
DATE: 3/12/2012
Culture is the way of life of a certain group of people. It simply describes what different groups of people believe, think and the values of life unto which the strongly hold on. It consists of the beliefs, behaviours, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society. Culture includes many societal elements apart from the above mentioned, they are: language, values, customs, costumes, norms, rules, technologies, products, organizations, and even institutions. Different cultures exist in different parts of the world, the major ones which include; Western culture, Eastern culture, African culture, Latin culture, Middle Eastern culture. There also exists material and non material culture. Non-material culture which involves cultural practices for example ideas, values, perception etc. whilst material culture has to do with clothing, arts, telephones etc. Culture is basically what differentiates a group from other groups of people as they all have their own cultural beliefs and distinctive values or ideas. Through culture, people and groups can define and identify themselves, conform to society's shared values, and contribute to their society. The diversity in the cultures around the world is also a result of the mindsets of people inhabiting different regions of the world.
Culture is often viewed as an integrated system that controls the society. Haven said that, people coming from a particular culture display distinguished standards and behaviours. Moreover, these cultural values and beliefs highly influence one’s principles and philosophies of life and thus their way of living, which automatically verifies the statement that; “a culture is significant in affecting a human being’s social life.” {Ref-websites (ii) 2012} Also culture is said to be learned and arbitrary which means it is passed on from generation to generation, which
STUDENT ID: 2057434
DATE: 3/12/2012
Culture is the way of life of a certain group of people. It simply describes what different groups of people believe, think and the values of life unto which the strongly hold on. It consists of the beliefs, behaviours, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society. Culture includes many societal elements apart from the above mentioned, they are: language, values, customs, costumes, norms, rules, technologies, products, organizations, and even institutions. Different cultures exist in different parts of the world, the major ones which include; Western culture, Eastern culture, African culture, Latin culture, Middle Eastern culture. There also exists material and non material culture. Non-material culture which involves cultural practices for example ideas, values, perception etc. whilst material culture has to do with clothing, arts, telephones etc. Culture is basically what differentiates a group from other groups of people as they all have their own cultural beliefs and distinctive values or ideas. Through culture, people and groups can define and identify themselves, conform to society's shared values, and contribute to their society. The diversity in the cultures around the world is also a result of the mindsets of people inhabiting different regions of the world.
Culture is often viewed as an integrated system that controls the society. Haven said that, people coming from a particular culture display distinguished standards and behaviours. Moreover, these cultural values and beliefs highly influence one’s principles and philosophies of life and thus their way of living, which automatically verifies the statement that; “a culture is significant in affecting a human being’s social life.” {Ref-websites (ii) 2012} Also culture is said to be learned and arbitrary which means it is passed on from generation to generation, which