Culture is the accumulated patterns of human behavior, ideas and values, as well as material things that give meaning to these ideas and values. It includes language, beliefs, customs, norms and mores, traditions, products, and tools. It is a strong part of human life, influencing people’s views, humor, hopes and loyalties. It is what makes humans unique.
A person’s ancestors and environment strongly influence the culture in which he is raised. It also changes over time. New beliefs, values, customs and traditions are constantly replacing older ones. This is especially true in societies that are open to outside influences (such as through international travel, study abroad programs or hosting foreign students) or that have a high rate of immigration.
Cultural events bring a community together to celebrate its heritage and tradition. It is important for children to be exposed to these events, as it helps them bond with their family and understand the importance of their culture. They also serve to educate individuals on a wider range of cultures. This education can be invaluable in a globalized world.
The cultural process is the human species’ most advanced means of promoting the security and continuity of life. It evolved out of instinctive behaviour, through learned behaviour, and then into a pattern that is the sum total of the behaviours of the entire population in a given area. It is the reason why certain cultures have a lower death rate than others.
It is also why some groups of people are better adapted to their environments, as demonstrated by the development of tailored fur clothing and igloos. In addition, the development of farming by early humans enabled them to produce food and survive in ways that were not possible for their ancestors.
Every sociocultural system, however, exists within a natural habitat, which exerts some control over it. It is why, for example, some Eskimo groups reverted from the horticultural agriculture of their ancestors to the nomadic hunting lifestyle once they found it necessary to protect themselves against the elements by wearing their tailored fur clothes and living in hemispherical snow houses, known as igloos. The degree to which a culture trait can be diffused depends upon the nature of its utility, or its appeal, and on the barriers that are in the way of its spread.