15 FEATURES OF

CULTURE
Sit Dolor Amet
#1. A social product

The participation of society forms a culture. Therefore, we can say that culture can never exist in isolation. A culture develops in society with the
participation of people.

A culture will lose its existence with no people to practice it and teach it to the coming generations, and an individual cannot learn about the culture by
being isolated from society.

As per a common saying, a man can become a man only by being among the men. The culture of an individual plays an important role in forming the
character and the human qualities of an individual.

A person finds himself related and secure among people of the same culture, and there are many incidences in the past, which caused altercations
among people of different cultures and social beliefs. Therefore, culture is a social product that requires people to exist.

#2. A learned product

Culture is something that no one has learned by birth. There are a few characteristics that are inherited by culture is not one of them. The basic habits
of an individual are formed and influenced by the people with whom he spends his life.
For example, a child who is brought up in a traditional Indian family will learn to eat his food using a hand and if the same
child is born in a British family will learn to eat his food using forks and knives. The individual unconscious learns cultural
habits.

A child will learn to pray in a particular way if he watches his parents doing it in a specific way. It is common to see people
of the same culture dressing in the same way as they have been taught from their elders. Therefore, another important
feature of a culture is that it is learned.

#3. Culture is abstract

Culture is not a thing. It is formed of ideas, behaviors, and customs of the people of a society. It exists in the
mind of the people and influences their habits. In simple words, we can say that culture can’t be seen; it is
only reflected in the behavior, dressing sense, a n d habits like eating, walking, talking, greeting, etc. of
people.

#4. Culture is important

Culture provides identity to an individual. People we live with history, literature, and other cultural values make our personality and give us a basis to
form our beliefs. Culture influences us in many ways which also decides whether we will be respected or not in society.

A cultured person is given more respect and easily accepted in society than an uncultured person. Our values are formed based on what we see our
parents or the people around us doing. We are taught to speak a particular language and follow particular religious beliefs, and other values and norms.

#5. Culture can’t be formed in a

day

Culture forms people and people form culture. It is not a written set of rules that an individual is given to follow. It takes a year to form a culture. With
time, people change, and the norms and values of culture also change and develop.

In addition to this, culture is also influenced by climatic conditions and geographical location. For example, people living in a cold climate have different
food and clothing habits. There are some aspects of a culture which are created for political purposes such as holidays, rituals, beliefs, festivals, etc.

These events are important for a culture and are taught to people from one generation to another generation. Even the history of a country also
plays an important role in the formation of the culture of that country.

#6. Culture changes

 Culture keeps changing with time. The basic elements of a culture such as language, beliefs, religion, traditions, rituals, and values, etc. change with
time or when people migrate from one place to another, and the people of different cultures starts living with one another.

There are some values that are changed or eliminated from the culture. Some traditions are dropped from the culture as they are harmful to society.
For example, in Hindu culture, there was a tradition called “Sati pratha,” where a woman is supposed to burn alive with the dead body of her husband.

This was considered a sacred tradition of Hindu Culture, but it was dropped from the culture as it was a dangerous tradition. Moreover, culture is also
influenced by the education and awareness of people.

As people become educated and become learned, they start questioning the beliefs followed by their culture and eliminates the beliefs that they
think are wrong. In present times, globalization plays an important role in the change of the culture.

All culture changes but the rate of change of two cultures can never be the same. There is some culture that changes at a fast speed, and there are other
cultures that take years even to change a small tradition.

#7. Culture is adaptive

Even though culture is stable, it is not static. It is adaptive. It adapts to the physical environment it exists. It keeps changing and keeps making
adjustments as per the changes in the environment.

#8. Culture is accumulative

One important feature of culture is its accumulative nature. The rituals, values, and traditions become part of a culture with time.

The celebration of a particular event in the history of culture becomes an important part of the culture.

For example, the celebration of Christmas day becomes an important festival for Christians. As it is celebrated worldwide.
#9. Culture is a
symbol
Culture is a symbol. It defines the people that belong to that religion; you can guess to which a particular person belongs just by observing his habits,
dressing sense, language, etc.
#10. Food and eating habits

Food is an important element of a culture. Different cultures have different eating habits. For example, some cultures allow people to consume non-
vegetarian food. However, there is some culture in which consuming non-vegetarian food is restricted. In other region/places some foods is only
allowed to be cook and eaten on a festivity or certain tradition base by their beliefs.

Along with food, the habits of eating food or the way food is eaten also vary from culture to culture and also influenced by the physical environment.

#11. Literature and music

Every culture has different literature and music. The literature and music of culture are formed based on the historical events taken in the culture or
by the people who are part of that religion.

For example, In India, several cultures exist together, and each culture has its vast literature and music (folk music).

#12. Beliefs in raising a child

Each culture has different child-raising beliefs. Children are raised differently in different religions. They are taught different ethical and cultural values
which forms their personality and the way they lead their life.

A child should manifest good education that s t a r t s from home, school, communities, and society; it also how the parents raise their children to
become good individuals knowing right and wrong. Learning a child must continue through beliefs, traditions, and customs. A should be a God-fearing one.

#13. Marriage

Marriage and its traditions and rituals are important elements of a culture. Different cultures have different rituals and traditions to perform a
marriage. A culture considers a marriage valid if it is performed as per the rituals and traditions of that culture.
The couple should love each other according to their will; not an arranged marriage by the parents that they want for their son or daughter.
#14. Culture is inescapable

That means culture touches every part of an individual’s life. The actions and responses of an individual are influenced by the culture he belongs to.

Culture not only influences the emotional actions of an individual but also influences his rational actions. An individual is easily recognized by his/her
emotion through facial expression, tone of voice, or by just an action. That’s why culture is inescapable in human beings. ( controlling emotions )

#15. Culture is made and developed by human

Like nature, culture doesn’t operate on its own. It is created by humans and humans are responsible for the operation and development of a culture.
Culture develops when humans interact in a society.

ACTIVITY 1
a. State two example that Culture is Important

b. Research 3 case study related to the 15 Features of Culture