A culture is a set of beliefs, habits, behaviors, values, mores, traditions and artifacts that distinguish one people group from another. Whether it’s how people greet each other, eat or celebrate, or business practices and religious beliefs, cultural differences are all around us. Understanding how these differences affect our interactions with each other can help to avoid miscommunications and make the world a more welcoming place for everyone.
A lot of people think that a single universal culture exists, but this is not the case. Human beings are social animals and live in societies, which means each society has its own distinct culture. This is why it’s common to talk about Seneca culture, Eskimo culture and North American Plains culture, etc. A person’s culture is the result of his or her family, community and educational background as well as personal preferences such as music, food, hobbies and vacation spots.
Cultural traits such as customs, tools, weapons, methods of transport and communication, ornaments, dietary patterns, music, folktales, art, symbols, values and religion can be transmitted between groups of people. However, some cultures remain isolated from outside influences because of geography or a physical barrier such as the ocean, a desert or mountain range. Nevertheless, some cultural features have diffused widely and easily. For example, amber from the Baltic region has been found in sites in Italy and Egypt; early coins of the Middle East have turned up in burial mounds of aboriginal North America; macaw feathers from Central America have made their way to northern Arizona.
When a person has an open mind and is willing to learn, it’s possible to gain an appreciation for other cultures and their unique traditions. For example, many of the world’s religions have a rich heritage that spans thousands of years and offer many perspectives on life and relationships.
Learning to understand and appreciate other cultures is an ongoing process that can be hampered by ethnocentrism, the tendency of people to think in terms of their own cultural norms and values. Ethnocentrism became a major issue in the past when Europeans looked at other cultures in the new world and characterized them as either having no culture (as did Sir John Lubbock) or having a prelogical mentality (as did Lucien Levy-Bruhl).
When people have a more diversified cultural exposure, they may find it easier to understand why someone of another cultural background acts differently. This is especially true for young people who grow up in multicultural communities. For older people, however, it can be more challenging to make the transition to a more open and accepting mindset.