This document defines culture and society and discusses key aspects of culture from a social systems perspective. It notes that culture is a group phenomenon that evolves through the interactions of individuals with others and the externalization of beliefs and behaviors. A culture encompasses the manners, morals, tools and techniques that bind a society together. It also explores concepts like the family as a human universal, language and communication, territoriality, social roles and organizations, child rearing practices, and how cultures develop ways of caring and explaining the world.

1. Culture and SocietyCulture and Society
A Social Systems PerspectiveA Social Systems Perspective
HBSE IIHBSE II

2. DefinitionsDefinitions
 Culture:Culture:
 Those qualities and attributes that seem to beThose qualities and attributes that seem to be
characteristic of all humankind.characteristic of all humankind.
 Humans evolve and adapt primarily throughHumans evolve and adapt primarily through
culture rather than changes in anatomy orculture rather than changes in anatomy or
genetics.genetics.
 Culture survives if it can accommodate toCulture survives if it can accommodate to
changing conditions.changing conditions.
 Culture is viewed as a macrosystem.Culture is viewed as a macrosystem.
 Binds a particular society together, and includesBinds a particular society together, and includes
its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.its manners, morals, tools, and techniques.

3.  Society:Society:
 A group of people who have learned to liveA group of people who have learned to live
and work together.and work together.
 Society is a holon and within the society,Society is a holon and within the society,
culture refers to the way of life is followedculture refers to the way of life is followed
by the group (society).by the group (society).

4. Nature of CultureNature of Culture
 Culture is a group phenomenon.Culture is a group phenomenon.
 Cultures evolve from the interaction ofCultures evolve from the interaction of
person with others, and a person’s beliefperson with others, and a person’s belief
or behavior becomes part of the cultureor behavior becomes part of the culture
when it is externalized and objectified.when it is externalized and objectified.

5.  A culture evolves as each person encountersA culture evolves as each person encounters
four “poles”.four “poles”.
 One’s own body or somatic process.One’s own body or somatic process.
 Biological constitutionBiological constitution
 Genetic endowmentGenetic endowment
 Other persons or society.Other persons or society.
 Feedback cycleFeedback cycle
 The material world of nonhuman objects.The material world of nonhuman objects.
 The universe of social constructed meanings.The universe of social constructed meanings.

6.  According to Erikson, cultures changeAccording to Erikson, cultures change
through the action of persons whose ideasthrough the action of persons whose ideas
and behavior “fit” the culture.and behavior “fit” the culture.
 Change can also occur as a result ofChange can also occur as a result of
cataclysm, either physical as in famine,cataclysm, either physical as in famine,
war, epidemic, or disaster.war, epidemic, or disaster.
 It can also change as a result of aIt can also change as a result of a
“paradigm shift” in fundamental“paradigm shift” in fundamental
understandings by those in the culture.understandings by those in the culture.

7. Unique Aspects of the HumanUnique Aspects of the Human
SpeciesSpecies
 The capacity to think.The capacity to think.
 Sets humans apart from most other forms ofSets humans apart from most other forms of
life.life.
 Humans have the capacity to externalizeHumans have the capacity to externalize
the thought process.the thought process.
 ToolsTools
 Human reproductionHuman reproduction
 CloningCloning

8. The Family as Human UniversalThe Family as Human Universal
 The family is biologically based and is theThe family is biologically based and is the
primary social unit.primary social unit.
 Family is constant; the form of the family isFamily is constant; the form of the family is
variable.variable.
 The development of culture existsThe development of culture exists
because culture is transmitted from onebecause culture is transmitted from one
generation to the next through educationgeneration to the next through education
not through the genes.not through the genes.

9. Language and CommunicationLanguage and Communication
 Language is defined as any transfer ofLanguage is defined as any transfer of
meaning, but general usage refers only tomeaning, but general usage refers only to
spoken and written messages.spoken and written messages.
 It is essential to be attuned to unspokenIt is essential to be attuned to unspoken
and unwritten language.and unwritten language.
 Language structures realityLanguage structures reality
 Form and variability determine how membersForm and variability determine how members
of the culture will view reality and structureof the culture will view reality and structure
their thoughts.their thoughts.

10. TerritorialityTerritoriality
 Tendency of people to seek and maintainTendency of people to seek and maintain
a territory.a territory.
 The definition of spatial and interactionalThe definition of spatial and interactional
territories is paramount feature of anyterritories is paramount feature of any
culture.culture.
 Refers to the cultural ways people locateRefers to the cultural ways people locate
themselves in their universe and establishthemselves in their universe and establish
the boundaries of their various humanthe boundaries of their various human
systems.systems.

11. Qualities of a SocietyQualities of a Society
 Culture is that complex whole thatCulture is that complex whole that
includes knowledge, belief, art, law,includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilitiesmorals, custom, and any other capabilities
and habits acquired by a human being asand habits acquired by a human being as
a member of society.a member of society.
 Culture is viewed as the ways of doing,Culture is viewed as the ways of doing,
being, and explaining, as they exist inbeing, and explaining, as they exist in
each particular system.each particular system.

12. ToolsTools
 Amplifiers of human capacities:Amplifiers of human capacities:
 Sensory capacitySensory capacity
 Motor capacityMotor capacity
 Reasoning and thinking capacityReasoning and thinking capacity
 Include devices, objects, and procedures thatInclude devices, objects, and procedures that
are extensions of human natural capacities.are extensions of human natural capacities.
 Tools of a culture include not only understandingTools of a culture include not only understanding
their built-in purpose but, their purpose for thetheir built-in purpose but, their purpose for the
user.user.

13. Social Organizations:Social Organizations:
Society and RolesSociety and Roles
 All cultures, being social systems, haveAll cultures, being social systems, have
organization.organization.
 Three aspects operating to define social class:Three aspects operating to define social class:
 Economic statusEconomic status
 Social statusSocial status
 Political powerPolitical power
 Social class suggests a group consciousness onSocial class suggests a group consciousness on
the part of members.the part of members.
 Emergence of a permanent “underclass” inEmergence of a permanent “underclass” in
American society.American society.

14.  Role relates to and derives from status.Role relates to and derives from status.
 Total of the cultural expectations associated withTotal of the cultural expectations associated with
a particular status, including:a particular status, including:
 AttitudesAttitudes
 ValuesValues
 BehaviorBehavior
 Role expectation are defined by the culture andRole expectation are defined by the culture and
its components and incorporated by the personsits components and incorporated by the persons
filling the role.filling the role.

15.  All persons occupy a complex set of roles:All persons occupy a complex set of roles:
 ParentParent
 ChildChild
 WorkerWorker
 VoterVoter
 WorshipperWorshipper
 The total number of roles is influenced byThe total number of roles is influenced by
the quantity of networks they are involvedthe quantity of networks they are involved
in.in.

16. LanguageLanguage
 Transfer of meaning between systemsTransfer of meaning between systems
and between subsystems.and between subsystems.
 Composed of symbols and the meaningsComposed of symbols and the meanings
are learned and transferred through socialare learned and transferred through social
interaction.interaction.
 Communication of symbols and theirCommunication of symbols and their
meanings represents the major form ofmeanings represents the major form of
transaction between systems.transaction between systems.

17.  Mead stated that we do not simply respond toMead stated that we do not simply respond to
the acts of others; we act on our interpretationsthe acts of others; we act on our interpretations
of their intentions and judgments.of their intentions and judgments.
 A means of setting and maintaining culturalA means of setting and maintaining cultural
boundaries; also to organize the energies of theboundaries; also to organize the energies of the
system.system.
 The importance of screening and interpretingThe importance of screening and interpreting
symbols in working with people is quite clear.symbols in working with people is quite clear.

18. Child RearingChild Rearing
 A major task of any culture.A major task of any culture.
 As a culture becomes more complex andAs a culture becomes more complex and
differentiated, so too does child rearing,differentiated, so too does child rearing,
and other social provisions appear.and other social provisions appear.
 These new systems arise to realize moreThese new systems arise to realize more
effectively the complex values of a culture.effectively the complex values of a culture.
 Certain values are in conflict with certainCertain values are in conflict with certain
other values, leading to tension and strainother values, leading to tension and strain
within the culture.within the culture.

19. Human Urge to Explain the WorldHuman Urge to Explain the World
 Humans are congenitally compelled toHumans are congenitally compelled to
impose a meaningful order upon reality.impose a meaningful order upon reality.
 Religion, philosophy, science, andReligion, philosophy, science, and
superstition are some of the means.superstition are some of the means.
 Science continues to be the dominantScience continues to be the dominant
means of exploring, explaining, andmeans of exploring, explaining, and
changing our world.changing our world.

20. Social Relations:Social Relations:
CaringCaring
 Cultures are marked by the style in whichCultures are marked by the style in which
they conduct social relationships.they conduct social relationships.
 Caring involves both an emotionalCaring involves both an emotional
disposition and caring labor.disposition and caring labor.
 It is a practice in which both thought andIt is a practice in which both thought and
action are integrated around central aimsaction are integrated around central aims
or goals.or goals.
 Caring is a dimension of culture as muchCaring is a dimension of culture as much
as tools and language.as tools and language.

21.  A feminist critique states that caring is largelyA feminist critique states that caring is largely
delegated to women by a male-dominateddelegated to women by a male-dominated
society.society.
 Regardless of sex, individuals and groups whoRegardless of sex, individuals and groups who
occupy subordinate status display a responsiveoccupy subordinate status display a responsive
orientation to others characterized by deference,orientation to others characterized by deference,
attentiveness, awareness of needs,attentiveness, awareness of needs,
understanding of perspectives, moods,understanding of perspectives, moods,
intentions, and responsiveness.intentions, and responsiveness.

22.  An emphasis on autonomy as a basis forAn emphasis on autonomy as a basis for
caring may be more acceptable to men.caring may be more acceptable to men.