CHAPTER+2+-+Culture


 * Culture** (Latin: cultura, lit. "cultivation") is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:
 * Excellence of taste in fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
 * An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
 * The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization, or group

Culture is something that is completely and distinctly human. Culture usually is referred to as a way of life, transmitted through learning. This models a persons beliefs and behavior. The process of learning culture is called, **//Enculturation//**. //**LEARNING:**// Everyone grows up with a set of rules and expectations that have been and are transformed across generations. Culture is mainly transmitted through learning and language, and is mainly learned at a young age. The learning is started immediately after the birth of a child, with observation and interaction. //**SHARED****:**// Culture is transmitted and transformed across generations; not only within communities, societies, and nations, but can also cross national boundaries. Enculturation is the process from which the learner can learn from common experiences and knowledge. Sometimes when a culture is shared with someone, something could happen called Culture Shock (the disturbed feelings that arise when one comes into contact with an unfamiliar or shared culture) //**SYMBOLIC:**// Culture learning is mainly based through the unique human capacity to use symbols. A symbol is something verbal or nonverbal, in a language or culture, that comes to stand for something else. //**ALL-ENCOMPASSING:**// All people have culture and culture is all-encompassing. Culture is more than elite education, taste, refinement, sophistication, and appreciation of fine arts. The most effective pieces of culture are the ones that effect everyday life. //**INTEGRATED:**// Culture is not just a collection of customs and beliefs but integrated, patterned systems. //**Culture Trait**//( is an individual item in a culture, such as a particular belief, tool, or practice) //**Culture Pattern**//( Is a coherent set of interrelated traits) Most customs become integrated by key factors of culture like, themes, values, and attitudes. //**Core Values**// (key, basic, or central values) may integrate each culture and help distinguish it from others.

Adam Henry