Concepts, Characteristics, and Aspects of Culture and Society

What is culture?

• A system of shared knowledge

• A group or community that shares common experiences

• A collection of social norms

• A political system

What is society?

• A collection of cultural symbols

• • A group of individuals sharing the same spatial or social territory

• A community of different nations

• A political structure

Which of the following is NOT a major element of culture?

• Symbols

• Language

• • Economy

• Norms

What do cultural symbols represent?

• Laws

• Shared meanings attached to objects, gestures, or sounds

• Economic systems

• Religious beliefs

Which of these is a characteristic of language in culture?

• It only refers to written words

• It includes body language and slang

• • It is not essential for communication

• It is unrelated to cultural identity

What are cultural norms?

• Rules that guide behavior within social groups

• Laws created by governments

• Unchangeable practices

• Optional guidelines

What are cultural values?

• Objects of economic value

• Culturally defined standards for what is good or desirable

• • Symbols of a nation

• Social hierarchies

What are artifacts in culture?

• Non-tangible ideas

• Material objects that constitute a society’s material culture

• • Values shared by society

• Historical documents

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of culture?

• Culture is learned

• Culture is complex and related to society

• Culture does not change over time

• Culture is shared

Culture is continuous and cumulative because

• • It remains the same over time

• It builds upon past knowledge and experiences

• It is entirely based on material objects

• It rejects past traditions