Culture

Outline
What is culture?
 Definition
 Do animal have a culture?
 Early History of Culture
Types of Culture
 Nonmaterial culture
 Material culture
Difference between Culture, Nation and Society
 Culture
 Nation
 Society
How Many Cultures?
Elements of Culture
 Symbol
 Language
 Values
 Beliefs
 Norms
 Proscriptive norms
 Prescriptive norms
 Mores and Folkways
Ideal and Real Culture
 Ideal culture
 Real culture
Characteristics of Culture
 Universalism
 Variability
 Learned
 Shared
 Transmitted
  Change
Functions of Culture

 Culture Defines Situations

 Culture Moulds personality
 Culture defines Attitudes, Values and Goals
 Culture defines Myths, Legends, and the Supernatural
 Culture provides Behavior Patterns
Culture and Society
Important Cultural Concepts
 Cultural Diversity
 Culture by social class
 Sub-Culture
 Multiculturalism
 Counter-Culture
 Cultural Change
 Cultural Lag
 Causes of Cultural Change
 Ethnocentrism
 Xeno-centrism
 Cultural relativism
 A Global Culture
 Culture and Human Freedom
 Culture as Constraint
 Culture as freedom
Salient features of Pakistan culture.
What is Culture?
Culture can be categorized as a way of thinking; combination of mental, spiritual and physical
activities and acting or combination of both tangible (literature, art and architecture, dress,
Jewelries, government, economy, agriculture) and intangibles (ideas, values, and perceptions
religion, music, faiths, knowledge, modes of manners, customs, morals, law, language, beliefs,
rules, regulations, music, sports, diet, recreation, work ethics, etiquettes).
Definitions;
According to Allama Iqbal “Culture encompasses all the mental, spiritual and physical
activities of a nation. It includes the basic beliefs and faiths, values and literature, art
and architecture, music, and modes of dress, manners, and customs prevalent in a given
society.
Culture is the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together
form a people’s way of life.
“a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values, and perceptions, which are
used to make sense of experience and generate behavior and are reflected in that
behavior.”

Does animal have a culture?

Behavior of animals is guided by their instincts (when feel hunger eat food). They have a
biological programming over which the species have no control. A few animals—like
chimpanzees—have the capacity for limited culture. Because they can learn limited skills
through observing human. Like monkey do some acts of human.
In contrast humans rely on culture rather than instinct to create a way of life and ensure our
survival. For-example: Chinese eat through sticks and Pakistani eat through hands.

Types of Culture
Nonmaterial culture is Thoughts or ideas that make up a culture are called the non-material
culture. Examples of non-material culture include any ideas, beliefs, values, norms that may help
shape society.
Material culture, Material culture, tools, weapons, utensils, machines, ornaments, art, buildings,
monuments, written records, religious images, clothing, and any other ponderable objects
produced or used by humans.
real culture, refers to practices and norms a culture actually follows.
ideal culture, refers to norms, values, and ethics that a culture claims to profess. Sometimes
there is a gap between the culture society profess to have and the culture that a society actually
follows.

Difference between Culture, Nation and Society

Culture refers to a shared way of life.
Nation is a political entity, a territory with designated borders, such as the Pakistan, India, and
United States.

Society is an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural,
scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. “Man is not made for society, but society is
made for man. Human beings are social beings; they cannot satisfy even their basic needs except
in society, Since the formation of any society relies upon the many needs and the different talents
of people, it is the division of labour that keeps people together in society. The division of labour
is a necessary feature of any society.
Nation; Pakistan is both a nation and a society. But like many other nations Pakistan too has a
multicultural society; that is, their people follow various ways of life that blend (and sometimes
clash for example Muslims and Qadianis).
How Many Cultures?
One indicator of culture is language. There are between 70 and 80 languages spoken in Pakistan
by both native and immigrants.
Globally, experts document almost 7,000 languages, suggesting the existence of just as many
distinct cultures. Yet with the number of languages spoken around the world declining, roughly
half of those 7,000 languages now are spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.

The Elements of Culture

Although cultures vary greatly, they all have common elements, including symbols, language,
values, norms, Rituals, work ethics, artifacts.
Symbol
Every culture is filled with symbols to evoke various reaction and emotion of peoples. Some
symbols consist of non-verbal communication and other symbols are in fact material objects.
Examples: Non-verbal symbol is shaking hands which convey message of friendship. If we
shake our head up and down, we mean yes. And if we shake head back and forth, we mean no.
while in Bulgaria the meaning of both gestures are taken opposite. Star and crescent in Islam.
And Minar-e-Pakistan is a symbolization of commemoration of Lahore Resolution.
Language
Language, the key to the world of culture, is a System of symbols that allows members of a
society to communicate with one another. Language is the major means of cultural transmission.
Values (What ought to be)
 Values are culturally defined standards of desirability, goodness, and beauty that serve as
broad guidelines for social living. In short it means, What ought to be?
 Value help shape society by suggesting what is good and bad, beautiful and ugly, sought
or avoided.
 A cultural value shapes its norms. For-example: Harmony, order, and self-development
are three of the most important values that underlie Japanese social interaction.
 Honour (Izzat), Patriotism, Respect, Dignity, Faith, Generosity.
 People value medical field instead of engineering.
 People who share a culture use values to make choices about how to live. Sometimes
there could be inconsistency in the values which can lead to conflict.
Beliefs
Beliefs are specific statements that people hold to be true. Values are broad principles that
underlie beliefs.
Values are abstract standard of goodness, while beliefs are particular matters that individuals
consider to be true or false.
Norms
Norms are Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. These
are the shared expectations of the people that govern their behavior.
 Proscriptive norms: Mandating what we should not do or forbidden actions.
 Prescriptive norms: What we should do.
Sociologists divide norms into four types; Folkways, Mores, taboos, and laws.

Mores are a society’s standards of proper moral conduct. Such standards have been considered
as essential to maintaining a way of life. These are the notions of right or wrong developed by
society. Violation of mores brings a strong reaction from others. Powerful instrument of social
control.
According to Gillin and Gillin;
Mores are those customs and group routines which are thought by the members of
society to be necessary to the group's continued existence.
common mores found in all societies; Prohibition of robbery, abusing, murder etc.

Folkway is the Society’s customs for routine, casual interaction. These are of less moral
significance. Examples can be proper dress, appropriate greetings, and common courtesy. People
usually ignore the violation of folkways.
Taboos is a social or cultural banning of an act. For-example: In many Jewish and Muslim
communities, people are forbidden from eating pork.

Law is a formal or informal rule or standard (mores) enacted by a political entity and enforced
by agents with recognized authority such as the police and the courts.

Characteristic of Culture
Universality
There is no society without culture. And there some aspects of culture that are common to almost
every culture of any society. For-example the institutions like marriage and family, religion,
education, economy, and sports are found all over the world.
Variability
Cultures always vary from one another. For-example: Marriages in different cultures. Ritual and
traditions of a typical north area’s marriages is very much different from the marriages in interior
Sindh.
Kingship, dictatorship, democracy, parliamentary form of democracy or presidential form, adult
franchise or selective voting rights, voter age are all variations in the political systems followed
by different nations. Economic systems also vary from the extremes of socialism and capitalism
to any variation on the scale.
Learned
Culture is learned through the process of interaction with others. It is not inherited through the
biological process. We learn to talk, to walk, and to act as our elder’s train us.
Shared
Culture is not the property of one individual or of a group. It is shared with other members of
society. You are sharing your language with others, sharing dressing style with others, sharing
the road with others, and sharing the knowledge with others. You are sharing culture with others
because you are a social being.
Transmitted
Generally, there are three types of cultural transmission;
 Vertical refers to the passing on of cultural knowledge from parents/caregivers to
children.
 Enculturation is gradual process by which people learn the culture of their own group by living
in it, observing it, and being taught things by members of the group. how to behave in certain
situations by watching television. Example: Pakistani will not eat meet of cow in India.
he will enculture it in himself.
  Socialization is the process of internalizing the norms and ideologies of society. institutions
that can impress social norms upon an individual, include the family, religion, peer
groups, economic systems, legal systems, penal systems, language, and the media.
Example: Dressing in accordance with society.
The main difference between socialization and enculturation is that socialization is basically the
process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society, whereas enculturation is the
process of being socialized into a certain culture.
Culture does not end with the death of a person or a group. During its lifetime that individual or
group tries to pass on its culture to the future generation.
Changing
Culture is made up of customs, attitudes, and beliefs that are unique to each group of people. ...
cultures change in two ways, through local invention or through cultural diffusion. Cultural
change can also occur through diffusion, when contact with other cultures and ideas are
transferred. This is occurring more in the world today as communication, travel, and the Internet
are creating a global society. With the increase in the contact between different societies the
cultures are changing very fast and may be moving toward some kind of global culture.

Functions of Culture.
Culture Defines Situations; Each culture has many subtle cues which define each situation. It
reveals whether one should prepare to fight, run, laugh or make love. For example, suppose
someone approaches you with right hand outstretched at waist level. What does this mean? That
he wishes to shake hands in friendly greeting is perfectly obvious – obvious, that is to anyone
familiar with our culture.
Each society has its insults and fighting words. The cues (hints) which define situations appear in
infinite variety. A person who moves from one society into another will spend many years
misreading the cues. For example, laughing at the wrong places.
Culture Moulds personality
Social psychologists, argue that a large part of personality of an individual is shaped by the
society and its culture. Personality comes from a Greek word ‘persona’ which means mask.
Macionis defines personality as “a person’s fairly consistent pattern of acting, thinking and
feeling”. The way we think, act and feel are all shaped by cultural forces.
For example, if you come to know that the meat you just eat was a donkey, the way you will
think, act and feel about it will all be shaped by culture you belong to. 01:20
Culture defines Attitudes, Values and Goals
Attitudes (tendencies to feel and act in certain ways), values and goals are defined by the culture.
Individual normally learns them as unconsciously as he learns the language.
Examples: when Pakistani ask the manager of the restaurant in china what is in lunch. He
answers snake meat. Then what will be the attitude of the person, illustrate it is not liked in his
culture.
Example: In Pakistani society students give more value to medical fields as compare to social
sciences.
Culture defines Myths, Legends, and the Supernatural
Myths and legends are important part of every culture. They may encourage motivation, sacrifice
and encouragement and belief. Whether they are true or not, is sociologically unimportant.
Ghosts are real to people who believe in them and who act upon this belief. Legends also
influence the culture of any society, because then people who are inspired, follow him in every
aspect.
Culture also provides the individual with a ready-made view of the universe. The nature of
divine power and the important moral issues are defined by the culture. The individual does not
have to select, but is trained in a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or some other religious
tradition. This tradition gives answers for the major (things imponderable) of life, and fortuities
the individual to meet life’s crises.
Culture provides Behavior Patterns
The individual need not go through painful trial and error learning to know what foods can be
eaten (without poisoning himself), or how to live among people without fear. He finds a ready-
made set of patterns awaiting him which he needs only to learn and follow. The culture maps out
the path to matrimony. The individual does not have to wonder how one secures a mate; he
knows the procedure defined by his culture.

Important Cultural Concepts

Cultural Diversity
Existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. There are many ways of life;
hence there are differences in culture. In one society there could be differences in patterns of
marriage and family, patterns of education, patterns of worship, and patterns of earning a living.
One finds cultural difference within the province and across the provinces in Pakistan. Countries
like Canada, which are inhabited by immigrants, display a big cultural diversity. People have
migrated from all over the globe to Canada and brought cultural differences with them and in
many cases are trying to continue with them.
Culture by social class
People from lower classes have fundamentally different ways of thinking about the world than
people in upper classes. People from lower-class backgrounds are better at reading other people’s
emotions. They give more and help more. as people rise in the classes, they become less
empathetic.
Sub-Culture
A subculture is a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the parent culture
to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Subcultures develop their
own norms and values regarding cultural, political, and sexual matters. For-example:
Environmentalist.
Multiculturalism
the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those of minority groups, deserve
special acknowledgment of their differences within a dominant political culture. A policy
followed by some governments whereby they recognize cultural diversity in the society and
promote the equality of all cultural traditions. Canadian government is following such a policy.
Counter-Culture
It is a subculture, which is in active opposition to the dominant culture. Cultural patterns that
strongly oppose widely accepted patterns within a society. Example could be of hippies, and
drug users.
Cultural change
Cultural change is the process of alteration of culture over time. Any difference in a particular
pattern between two points in time may be called cultural change. This may be a change in the
family pattern, which is changing from ‘joint family system’ to a ‘nuclear family system’ in
Pakistani society. 3:10.
Cultural Lag
Difference between material culture and non-material culture is known as cultural lag. All parts
(elements) of culture do not change at the same rate; some of them change faster than the other.
For-example material culture may change faster than the non-material culture. technology can
spread through society in a matter of months, but it can take generations for the ideas and beliefs
of society to change. Or rate mobile spread is more than education.
For-example as we see an increase in number of too many automobiles on the road. There is an
increase in their speed as well. Let us look at another related aspect; these automobiles need a
similar change in the quality of roads, which has not changed accordingly or you can say that it
has lagged behind. It also create gap of traffic education.
Causes of cultural change
Three factors bring change in the culture of a society. These are:
Inventions
Inventions may shape a culture when people use them in place of older ways of carrying out
activities. For-example: Modern does not have to use the wheel as old people used. Cars,
airplanes, vacuum cleaners, lamps, radios, telephones, and televisions were all new inventions.
Inventions may shape a culture when people use them in place of older ways of carrying out
activities and relating to others, or as a way to carry out new kinds of activities.
Discovery
Discovery refers to the finding of new knowledge within an existing realm. Generally, it relates
to discovering new understanding of a particular behavior or ritual.
Diffusion
It means the spread of cultural traits from one society to another. For purposes of diffusion
contact between the two groups or societies is necessary. In the olden times, due to the lack
development of means of transportation and communication, contact between different societies
was limited. Therefore, the diffusion was also limited. But in the modern times there is a
revolution in the means of transportation and communication. Presently people don’t have to be
in physical contact with other societies for knowing about each other’s culture and for borrowing
from each other. With the help of electronic media people get exposure to other cultures and may
like to borrow their cultural traits. With the facilitation of diffusion process cultural change is
quite rapid now days.
Ethnocentrism
The practice of judging other’s culture by the standards of one’s own culture. People consider
their own culture as superior to others and apply their standards for evaluating the patterns of
behavior of others. The whole judgment is centered on one’s own culture.
For-example: mostly women do Pardah in Pakistan. And in west women do not give importance
to it. So, they would not be regarded as good and modest woman according to our measuring rod.
Xeno-centrism
Xeno-centrism is considering other’s culture as superior to one’s own. Pakistani society is
importing the elements of western culture from dramas, movies, social media, etc. They are
adopting this culture at the expense of their own culture. ... For instance, people from Asia
mostly prefer to live in western countries owing to their cultural superiority.
Cultural relativism
Cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong,
strange or normal. Instead, we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its
own cultural context. For-example: Chinese eating anything on planet is considered wrong here
not there.
A global culture
Today, more than ever before, we can observe many of the same cultural practices being
followed the world over. We find people wearing jeans, hear the familiar music, and see
advertising for many of the same products in different countries. People learn some international
language for purposes of communication.
Are we moving toward the single global culture? Societies now have more contact with one
another than ever before, involving the flow of goods, information, and people. We are globally
connected through:
 The global economy: the flow of goods.
 Global communication: the flow of information.
 Global migration: the flow of people.
These global links make the cultures of the world more similar. But there are three limitations to
the global culture thesis.
First, the global flow of goods, information, and people is uneven. Generally speaking, urban
areas have stronger ties to one another, while many rural villages remain isolated. Then the
greater economic and military power of the Western society means that this society influences
the rest of the world more than happens the other way around.
Second, the global culture thesis assumes that people everywhere are able to afford various new
goods and services. That is not so as the poor countries cannot afford it.
Third, although many cultural practices are now found throughout the world, people everywhere
do not attach the same meaning to them. People have to interpret the other’s cultural practices
from their own perspective.
SALIENT FEATURES OF PAKISTAN CULTURE.
a rough diamond needs a lot of cutting and polishing to sparkle hundreds of colour similarly as a
person is like diamond then he will sparkle like diamond.
 Religious Uniformity: Pakistan came into existence to provide its people with a system of
life based on Islam. The people, in spite of some differences in languages, customs, and
traditions commonly follow one religion of Islam. This is the religion, which is practiced
by all people of Pakistan.
 Language: A number of languages are spoken in Pakistan. Some of them are Punjabi,
Sindhi, Pushto, and Balochi. But Urdu is spoken and understands in all parts of Pakistan.
Being the official language, it is the media of communication between all regions of
Pakistan.
 Literature and Poetry: Literature is an important aspect of our cultural life. Most of our
poets reflect the Islamic code and trends in their poetry. They gave the message of love
and brotherhood. The similarity of thought amongst poets and writers of all regions is an
important factor of our cultural life. Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu,
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baruhi, Baluchi and Kashmiri languages. Urdu literature boasts
of the masterpieces of Maulana Azad, Iqbal, Shibli, Hali, Ghalib, Agha Hashar, Manto
and Faiz whereas the Punjabi literature stands out with great names like Waris Shah,
Sultan Bahu, Ghulam Farid, Bulhay Shah and Shah Hussain etc. Similarly, Sindhi
literature glitters with the masterpieces of Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Shah Qadir
Bakhsh, and Faqir Nabi Bakhsh. The Pushto literature also boasts of names like Sheikh
 Saleh, Raghoon Khan, Akhund dardeeza, Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba. The
Baluchi literature comprises of masterpieces of Jam Durk, Muhammad Ali, Zahoor Shah
Hashmi, Ghani Parvez, Hasrat Baluch, Abbas Ali Zemi and Aziz Bugti etc.
 Dress and Diet: Dress is an important manifestation of culture. The regional dresses of
Pakistan undergo changes in the light of local traditions, economic conditions, way of
living, and wealth in the region. But in all provinces people generally wear Shalwar
Kameez.
 Family bonds are strong in Pakistan: Family comes first in Pakistan due to religious,
cultural, economic and societal values. Pakistani society is not led by individualism but
rather by collectivism, where family and other relationships stand strong.
 Mixed Culture: Pakistani culture is mixed culture although the majority of people are
Muslims by birth and faith. But there is a great influence of Hindus and British culture on
the present Pakistani society.
 Male-Dominated Society: In Pakistani culture, the male member of the family enjoys the
key position. Family is headed by a male member and in most cases, he is the sole source
of income for other members of the family.
 Arts and Architecture: The iconoclasm of Islam has given a characteristic form and
pattern in the use of elegant designs, based on geometric figures and floral forms
borrowed from nature. The Shah Jahan Masjid, Shalimar Garden, Badshahi Masjid,
ShahiQila, and many such graceful buildings are living proof of the excellent Mughal
architecture.
 Handicrafts: Embroidery, leather works, glazed pottery, woodwork, carpet making, metal
crafts, and ivory are the essential parts of our culture. Pakistani craftsmen are considered
the best in their craftsmanship. They are known for high-quality works which are very
popular in foreign countries.
 Recreational Activities – Sports and fares
 Education:
 Rituals
 Ulema, Mushaikh, and Sufi Poets
 Tribalism culture
 Feudal lords
 Joint family system
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.
Ethnocentric individuals judge other groups relative to their own ethnic group or culture,
especially with concern for language, behavior, customs, and religion. These ethnic distinctions
and subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity's unique cultural identity. Ethnocentrism may be
overt or subtle, and while it is considered a natural proclivity of human psychology, it has
developed a generally negative connotation.
• Movement for creation of Hazara province
• Movement for creation of Saraiki province
• Movement for creation of Bahawalpur province
• Issues and controversy between religious groups specially in Sunni and Shia
• Abomination between the people of different provinces for example: Punjabi and Sindhi
• Punjabi, Pashtun and Baloch want their own power and rules in their tribes.
• Muhajir (MQM) in Karachi has started movements for their protection.
ADVANTAGES :
devotion to society
solidarity within society enhanced through ethnocentriam
it creatws high levels of self esteem
ethnocentriam creates like minded togetherness/ modus vivindi
it allows society to remmember past traditions
complex = cooperation
• Ethnocentrism encourages Patriotism and loyalty to one’s own society and culture.
Without ethnocentrism, a vigor national consciousness is probably impossible.

Xeno-centrism
devaluing of culture
• Conflicts among individuals / society / groups/ nations and Civilizations:
• Change of Styles, Architecture, Dresses, and Foods:
• Destruction of Family System:
• Destruction of National Language:
• Loss of businesses in the home country

• Loss of jobs in the home country

• Degraded economic situation

• Overall reduction of morale within the nation

• A loss of population to emigration

• Negative impact on the identity of others in relation to culture

• colonial mentality a cause of Xenocentrism

• sir , who do you think is responsible for destruction of national language ?
1. Institutional Role:
2. Ideological education:

advantage of Xenocentrism

• brain drain,
• cultural development,
• communicate internationally,
• cultural diffusion,
• communication,
• recreation,
• learning new things,
• global partnership,
• social control,
• occupation,
• diversification,
• business and economic solidarity,
• social cohesion,
• neighborhood,
• Technology transfer,
• transportation and ease in communication,
• cultural sharing ,
• tolerance of opinion, ,
• lesser Extreme nationalism,
• Aware about different culture,
• no extremism,
• adjustment,
• social mobility,
• inter faith harmony
ANTICIPATED AND PAST QUESTIONS ON CULTURE:-
1) What is the role of culture in socialization of an individual to become a useful member of
society? Discuss with examples.
2) Short note – Ethnocentrism and Xenocentrism
3) Discuss the role of culture and social group in the formation of personality.
4) Ethnocentrism leads to sectarianism. Is it so? How both are number one problems of
Pakistan? What are the remedies?
5) Define and corroborate – Culture and sub-culture
6) Short note – Ethnocentrism
7) Short note – Value and norm
8) Define culture. Use this definition as a framework and discuss the salient features of
Pakistani culture.
9) Prove that “individual is a social produce”. Highlight the contribution of culture and
society in this process.
10) Culture is everything which is socially learned and shared by the members of a society.
Discuss by giving examples from Pakistan society.
11) 11) “The cultural deception of the West and the cultural diffusion of the East lead to
anomic.” Elucidate.
12) Often social change results in social disorganization. What cultural prerequisite can avoid
such situation?
13) Why is culture indispensable to human society and what part do norms and values play in
social life.”
14) It has been said that a person raised in one culture may learn to act like people in an
adopted culture, but will never be able to think and feel like a person of adopted culture. Do you
agree?
15) Discuss the role of media in social and cultural change in Pakistan. What type of social
planning/policy is needed to direct this change in the context of our own social and cultural
values? Discuss with examples.
An individual is the product of a culture, what is role of neighbor
• Ethnocentric group seems to survive better than tolerant groups.
• It justifies sacrifice and sanctifies martyrdom and soldier.
• It reinforces nationalism and patriotism.
• It encourages social solidarity in societies.
• Forces of cooperation become stronger.
• It helps to keep the nations tied to the concept of national sovereignty.
DISADVANTAGES
 It creates rifts within societies: Think about someone who is different than you right now.
There’s a good chance that the first thing you thought about was something you dislike about
that person. When we embrace ethnocentrism, we’re embracing negativity. We look at what
another person or culture offers and attempt to rip it apart. This is done because we want our own
experiences and perspectives to be superior when compared to others. Because of this process,
societal conflicts begin between various cultural groups because everyone sees themselves as
“right” and everyone else as “wrong.”
 It drives people away from a culture.
 Since no culture is static, every culture must change if it is to survive, but ethnocentrism
do not support change in culture.
 It creates tight boundaries among various groups.
 It creates Prejudice is created.
 Process of social relations get slower.
 Conflict is created among various groups.
 It limits a person to a particular group, to which he belongs.
 Ethnocentric people are not influenced by social changes taking place around them.
 It discourages cultural change and due to this, it creates backwardness.
 National development is hampered due to ethnocentrism.