Non-material culture

Short description: Thoughts or ideas that make up a culture

Culture consists of both material culture and non-material culture. Thoughts or ideas that make up a culture are called the non-material culture.[1] In contrast to material culture, non-material culture does not include any physical objects or artifacts. Examples of non-material culture include any ideals, ideas, beliefs, values, norms that may help shape society.

## Contents

* 1 Language
* 2 Symbols
* 3 Behavior
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Language

Language and culture are closely tied together and can affect one another. One example of culture shaping language is the case of the Pirahã people. Their lack of words for numbers makes it impossible for them to have complex mathematical systems in their culture.[2] This could be a result of their cultural requirements: because they have no need for extensive mathematics, there would be no need for them to form number words.[2] The formation of American slang can also serve as a reflection of culture and has changed as American culture developed. For example, as people began speaking out in defense of homosexuality in the 1960s, vulgar language and slang became more acceptable to use and began to be included in dictionaries. The theory based on the works of Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf holds that language actually limits and shapes how people see the world around them. This theory of linguistic relativity would indicate that language influences the way people understand the world.[3]

## Symbols

In his 1973 book, The Interpretation of Cultures, anthropologist Clifford Geertz refers to culture as "a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life,"[4] expressing the importance he placed on symbols in culture. Just like language, symbols form as a culture grows. People in a particular society attribute meaning to specific objects, and that imbued meaning transforms that object into a widely recognized symbol in that society. There can be symbols that cross cultural boundaries. For example, a cross is a universal symbol of Christianity, and is so universally known due to the prevalence of Christianity in different cultures. Though the first stop sign first appeared in Michigan in the United States,[5] the physical attributes are so well known in many different cultures due to its use in so many different countries. Some symbols have meaning only to a particular culture. In American culture, a white picket fence is a widely recognized symbol for a successful and happy suburban life.[6]

## Behavior

The culture that an individual is part of influences several aspects of that individual, including behavior. Through socialization, an individual will learn the values and norms inherent in their society and, in most cases, will behave according to those values and norms. Behavior is important because it can convey the values of a society. For example, in Japanese culture, which depends on the "fundamental relatedness of individuals"[7] it is important to fit in with those around you and maintain harmonious personal relationships. Individuals in Japanese culture behave to avoid exclusion from society, putting flexibility, empathy, and self-restraint above expression of personal thoughts and opinions. Behavior can also influence a culture. This can be seen in the caste system in India. In higher caste levels, it is customary for an individual to follow Sanskritic customs.[8] Those in the lower caste levels take on this behavior in order to move up in the caste system. This type of behavior has had an influence on Indian culture: the numerous lower caste individuals participating in Sanskritic customs helped spread those customs all throughout India.[8]

## See also

* Intangible cultural heritage

## References

1. ↑ Gerber, Linda (2011). Sociology. Toronto: Pearson. pp. 54. ISBN 978-0-13-700161-3.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Everett, Daniel L. (2012). Language: The Cultural Tool. New York: Pantheon Books. ISBN 9780307473806.
3. ↑ Lucy, John A. (1997). "Linguistic Relativity" (in en). Annual Review of Anthropology 26: 291–295. doi:10.1146/annurev.anthro.26.1.291. ISSN 0084-6570. https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.anthro.26.1.291.
4. ↑ Geertz, Clifford (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, Inc.. pp. 89. https://archive.org/details/interpretationof00geer_1.
5. ↑ "The Evolution of MUTCD - Knowledge - FHWA MUTCD". https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-history.htm.
6. ↑ "White picket fences appease homeowners | TuscaloosaNews.com". 2015-09-02. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080303/NEWS/116283318?p=all&tc=pgall.
7. ↑ Markus, Hazel R.; Kitayama, Shinobu (1991). "Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation.". Psychological Review 98 (2): 224–253. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.98.2.224.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Srinivas, Mysore Narasimhachar (1952). Religion and society among the Coorgs of South India. Oxford, Clarendon Press. pp. 30.

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Culture

Outline

Sciences|

* Cultural anthropology
* Cultural astronomy
* Cultural ecology
* Cultural geography
* Cultural neuroscience
* Cultural studies
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* Neuroculture

Subfields|

* Bioculture
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Types|

* Constructed culture
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Politics|

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Religions|

* Buddhism
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Related|

* Animal culture
* Archaeological culture
* Bennett scale
* Cannabis culture
* Circuit of culture
* Civilization
* Coffee culture
* Cross-cultural
* Cultural center
* Cultural competence
* Cultural critic
* Cultural Detective
* Cultural determinism
* Cultural diversity
* Cultural encoding
* Cultural evolutionism
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* Cultural institution
* Cultural jet lag
* Cultural lag
* Cultural literacy
* Cultural mosaic
* Cultural movement
* Cultural mulatto
* Cultural probe
* Cultural relativism
* Culture speculation
* Cultural tourism
* Pop-culture
* Cultural translation
* Cultural turn
* Cultural sensibility
* Culture and menstruation
* Culture and positive psychology
* Culture and social cognition
* Culture gap
* Culture hero
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* Culturgen
* Children's culture
* Culturalism
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* Death and culture
* Disability culture
* Deaf culture
* Emotions and culture
* Intercultural communication
* Intercultural competence
* Languaculture
* Living things in culture
* Media culture
* Oppositional culture
* Participatory culture
* Permission culture
* Rape culture
* Remix culture
* Tea culture
* Transformation of culture
* Urban culture
* Welfare culture
* Western culture

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