When you hear the word “culture”, what comes to mind?
Do you think of languages, clothing, folklore music, holidays, or food? Well, you’re not alone! My tendency is still to think of culture as these things. However, I have grown to see that languages (i.e. languages that have masculine or feminine nouns which then result in that person seeing that noun differently or choosing an adjective according to its gender), cuisine (common recipes of a region that have specific ingredients that shed light on the agricultural history of the region), and art are all expressions of one’s culture.
This response doesn’t truly answer what culture is… so, what is it?
Culture is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been the subject of extensive study and debate by anthropologists, linguists, and academics for decades. Its definition is seldom fully understood because it changes depending on what one seeks to describe- an organization, a community, or a national society.
Similar to what we said before, in some cases, culture can mean a refinement of taste in art, literature, humanities, and science acquired through academic training, thus describing a person of culture ("Culture"). Similarly, one can claim culture is 'the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic' ("Culture"). Both definitions are similar in that they embrace the root of the word culture, the Latin infinitive colere, meaning to cultivate or to worship. Yet, they are also quite different.
With over 160 definitions compiled by American anthropologists Clyde Kluckhohn and Alfred Kroeber alone, it is clear that arriving at a universal definition of culture is nearly impossible. However, despite the challenges, many experts have significantly contributed to our understanding of culture. Anthropologists like Sir Edward Burnett Tyler, Clyde Kluckhohn, Alfred Kroeber, Israeli sociologist Shalom Schwartz, and Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede have all created widely accepted definitions of the word culture. These definitions share certain common denominators.
"Culture is the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from others". - Geert Hofstede
One of the critical characteristics of culture is that it requires the consideration of more than one individual, a group of individuals. While everyone has individualistic traits, they must share some characteristics that give them membership into a social group. Often, certain artifacts, behaviors, values, or beliefs, or a combination of each, bind individuals together to form a society.
Because culture impacts one's behavior, it is essential to note and ensure you understand that it also affects one's interpretation of behaviors. Different perceptions and interpretations of behaviors result in subjectivity. It raises the question of who is to judge and determine what behavior is ethical in cultural interactions.
Another important aspect of culture is time. The shared attitudes, knowledge, and rituals must stand the test of time, transferring with little evolution from generation to generation.
Finally, culture is learned. This fact is hard for many to believe because embracing certain behavioral conventions, basic assumptions, and beliefs appears to be so ingrained in the individuals that it almost seems these traits are genetic.
Culture is learned.
Despite the complexity of culture, gaining a solid foundational understanding of our own culture and the culture of others can benefit people globally. There are exceptional gains to be made from having a foundational knowledge of other cultures because it affects businesses across all industries, trade, politics, and military strategies, to name a few examples. There are exceptional gains from enhancing one's cultural intelligence (CQ) and incorporating CQ into daily decision-making.
In fact, I would argue that cultural intelligence has become an essential skill in today's globalized world. By developing cultural intelligence, individuals can build stronger relationships, increase cultural awareness, and work more effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, businesses that embrace and consider their CQ are better positioned to succeed in global markets and build relationships with customers and clients from different cultures.
While culture is a complex and multifaceted concept, it is clear that gaining a better understanding of it is vital for individuals and organizations to succeed in today's globalized world. We can build a more inclusive and harmonious society by embracing cultural intelligence and striving to create and nurture understanding with those from different cultures.
Let's start a conversation by commenting what "culture" means to you.
Feel free to ask questions, add your own insights, or provide any advice for others in the comments section. As always, Like. Comment. Share. Subscribe.
References:
“Culture.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture#synonyms.