Characteristics of Culture

Culture includes all that man acquires in his social life, from the attitudes he learned in childhood to those that are later internalized in adult-hood. The current period of globalization is causing us to make adjustments and adopt new attitudes. Understanding basic characteristics of culture helps us make adjustments and accommodations.

Culture Is Learned: All of the values, attitudes and rules of a culture are not inherited, instead, they are learned and passed down from generation to generation. 

Cultures Are Inherently Logical: The rules that are enforced in each culture originated to reinforce that culture's values and beliefs. They act as normative forces. 

Culture Is The Basis of Self-Identity and Community: We use culture as the basis to tell people how we feel, who we are and what we believe. Using their primary culture, people build their identities through cultural overlays to the same. 

Culture Combines the Visible and Invisible: The way we act, mostly the things we do in daily life and work, are the most visible parts of our culture. The actions we perform based on our culture may be outward symbols of deeper values that are invisible but that affect strongly everything we think and do.

Culture Is Dynamic: Culture goes through ongoing change. Over time, it is affected by advancements in technology and communication, migration, natural disasters, and wars. These events change attitudes, behaviours, and beliefs which change more quickly in open societies that in closed societies.