Observe the images below and describe what you think they imply.

Prepared by: Rubylin R.

Senias
what is
culture?
• Culture is said to be the way of life of the
people, hence, all human societies have culture
ranging from the most primitive to the most
advanced culture.

• The classic definition of culture was given by

Edward Tylor, an English anthropologist, who
stated, “Culture is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, beliefs, art, law, custom,
and any other capabilities and
• habits acquired by man as a member of the
society.”
Characterist
ics of
Culture
Culture is learned

• Culture is not inherited

biologically but it is leant socially
by man in a society. It is not an
inborn tendency but acquired by
man from the association of
others, e.g. drinking, eating,
dressing, walking, behaving,
reading are all learnt by man.
Culture is social
• It develops in the society through
social interaction. It is shared by
the man of society. No man can
acquire it without the association
of others.
• culture does not exist in isolation
Culture is shared
Culture is something shared. It is
nothing that an individual can
passes but shared by common
people of a territory. For example,
customs, traditions, values, beliefs
are all shared by man in a social
situation. These beliefs and
practices are
adopted by all equally.
Culture is transmitted
Culture is capable of
transmitted from one
generation to the next.
Parent’s cultural traits to their
children and in return they
pass to their children and son
on. 
Culture is continuous

It is continuous process. It
is like a stream which is
flowing from one
generation to another
through centuries. “Culture
is the memory of human
race.”
Culture is accumulative
Culture is not a matter of month
or a year. It is the continuous
process and adding new cultural
traits. Many cultural traits are
borrowed from outside and these
absorbed in that culture which
adopt it, as culture is
accumulative and combines the
suitable cultural traits.
Culture is integrated

• The development of culture is the

integration of its various parts.
For example, values system is
interlinked with morality,
customs, beliefs and religion.

• a change in one part of culture

will usually affect the other part
(ex. The economy and family structure)
Culture varies from society
to society
Every society has its own
culture and ways of behaving.

It is not uniform everywhere

but occurs differently in
various societies. Every
culture is unique in itself is a
specific society. 
Culture is responsive

• Culture is responsive to the changing

conditions of a physical world. It
intervenes in the natural environment
and helps man from all dangers and
natural calamities
• e.g. our houses are responsible to give
us shelter and safety from storm and
heavy rains.
Culture is gratifying
• It is gratifying and provide all the
opportunities for needs and desires
satisfaction.
• These needs may be biological or social but it
is responsible to satisfy it.
• Our needs are food, shelter, clothing and
desires are status, fame, money, sex etc are all
the examples which are fulfilled according to
the cultural ways. In fact it is defined as the
process through which human beings satisfy
their need.
 KINDS OF CULTURE
Culture has two kinds, namely, material, and non-material.
MATERIAL CULTURE

Refers to the concrete and tangible things

that man creates and uses. Material culture
consists of objects that are related to the
material aspect of our life such as our dress,
food, and household goods.

Another examples of material culture

are: money, tools, weapons, utensils,
machines, clothing, ornaments, art,
buildings, and monuments
NON - MATERIAL CULTURE

Refers to non - material things or intangible

objects which the person uses, follows,
professes, or strives to conform. It includes
knowledge, laws, lifestyles, techniques, ideas,
customs, behaviors, among others

Non-material culture does not include any

physical objects or artifacts.

Another examples: languages and words,

etiquette, rituals, and social transactions,
and values. 
Some questions to ask about culture:
 What are the typical food served in Bicolano
culture?

 Are there any typical styles of dress?

 What do people do for recreation?

 How do people greet one another?

 How would a visitor be welcomed to

someone’s house?
Identifying Material and Non-
Material culture

1. Architecture
2. books of worship
3. Attitudes
4. Faith
5. Ethics
6. Ornaments
7. Rituals
8. Clothing
9. language
10. religious images
Reference:
http://studylecturenotes.com/what-is-culture-
definition-features-characteristics-of-culture/