Understanding Culture: A Deep Dive into Human Behavior
Culture
The study of anthropology, which began in the nineteenth century, is responsible for exploring the science of human cultures.
Definition
Tylor defined culture as “a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morality, law, customs, and other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society.” However, not all anthropologists agreed. Mosterín defines culture as the “information transmitted between animals of the same kind through social learning.”
Culture and Instinct in Animals
Animals have developed instincts that allow them to survive. Their behavior is largely programmed by their genetic code. However, some animals, especially at younger ages, learn through imitation. This is known as protoculture and should be distinguished from human culture. This learned behavior is often lost in adulthood.
The Human Need for Culture
Humans lack inherent instincts but possess a fundamental need for culture. This need is evident in our ability to survive in diverse environments. One of the dangers humans face is attack from other humans, against which there is no innate survival instinct. Lacking instincts, we create strategies to overcome challenges. From birth, humans rely on others for survival and acquire these strategies as they grow. Neoteny, the extended period of human development and learning, allows us to continue learning throughout our lives.
Socialization
Humans are born incomplete and require social interaction to survive and learn. Among the first things we learn are thought and language, which enable us to understand the world and develop survival strategies. This lifelong learning process is called socialization.
Stages of Socialization
Primary Socialization
This stage encompasses the first five years of life. During this time, a human learns the most important lessons in a familiar environment. Demonstrations of affection and interaction with significant others are crucial. A key characteristic of this stage is role-playing, such as playing with dolls, which prepares children for future roles.
Secondary Socialization
This stage lasts for the rest of a human’s life. Learned behavior patterns can be modified during this phase. It includes all types of learning and growth as individuals become part of new social sectors, such as school or work. Peer groups (friends) have a significant influence during this stage.
Resocialization
This involves re-internalizing another culture, effectively adopting a different way of understanding the world. This learning process restructures previously learned behaviors. Individuals undergoing personal crises or adapting to new lifestyles (e.g., migrants) often experience resocialization.
Socialization occurs within groups or through media known as agents of socialization. The family teaches behavior patterns and values, while friendships explore the rules of conduct. Other agents include schools and mass media.
Cultural Diversity
In contrast to human nature, which is universal, different cultures are unique. Even universal traits common to all cultures are interpreted differently depending on the specific culture. However, cultures are not isolated; they mix, influence each other, and change. This leads to multiculturalism, the coexistence of multiple cultures in one space, a phenomenon prevalent throughout history and increasingly common today.
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to all others. This has been a common attitude among imperialist cultures throughout history. Ethnocentric views often portray other populations as barbaric or less developed. A clear example of ethnocentrism is the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Ethnocentrism leads to identifying cultural development exclusively with one’s own culture, viewing anything foreign as irrational and primitive.