Culture is a system of beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by members of a group of people. It is also a collection of behaviors, artifacts, and symbols that define a people’s way of life. Although culture is often viewed as a set of fixed traits, it can vary between groups within a society and across time. Throughout history, cultural evolution has been driven by the interplay between genetic, environmental, and sociohistorical factors.
A key question for psychological scientists is how to define culture for the purpose of scientific study. One approach has been to focus on the observable activities and objects that constitute a people’s culture. This has led to a broad array of definitions that range from a narrowly focused view of “ethnocentric” cultures, as defined by American anthropologist Clifford Geertz in his The Interpretation of Cultures, to a broader societal perspective, encompassing the culture of a whole nation (sociocultural systems theory).
Another important issue is how to analyze and evaluate culture. This is particularly important for psychological researchers who seek to understand the role of culture in development, as recent years have seen a growing recognition that culture plays an essential developmental role—although it may not be fully understood or appreciated by many people.
An important step in this analysis is to distinguish between beliefs and values, which are a common aspect of most cultures. While it is easy to identify and list the characteristics of beliefs and values, there is a more difficult challenge to understand how these aspects show up in people’s behavior and development.
Moreover, it is important to recognize that different individuals may have very different belief and value systems. This is especially true of teenagers, whose values and beliefs are often influenced by the culture of their peers. A further challenge is to determine how beliefs and values evolve over the course of a lifetime.
A good way to explore the role of culture in human development is to reflect on your own cultural experiences and compare them with those of your friends. A great way to do this is to attend cultural events with a friend and then write about your shared experiences. Taking this comparison approach can help you see how your own views about culture have changed over time and can serve as a valuable tool for finding new cultural experiences in the future. This will also help you learn more about the world around you.