Culture and Identity
Culture and Identity Basics
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Culture is a shared system of beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artefacts that members of a society use to cope with the world and each other.
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Identity refers to our concept of self and how we perceive ourselves. It’s influenced by various factors, such as social class, gender, ethnicity, age, and disability.
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Culture is a central influence in shaping an individual’s identity.
Elements of Culture
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Material culture includes physical objects or goods, such as the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, the technology we use.
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Non-material culture refers to intangible elements such as customs, traditions, norms, rules, laws, languages, knowledge, beliefs, and values.
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Symbols are a vital part of non-material culture. They are things that stand for or represent something else.
Cultural diversity and variation
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Individual cultures vary greatly across the world, but all share some basic elements. This is known as cross-cultural variation.
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Subcultures refer to cultural patterns that set apart some segment of a society’s population.
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Multiculturalism is a societal approach or policy that embraces, respects and is tolerant of cultural diversity.
Cultural Norms and Values
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Norms are informal understandings that govern individuals’ behaviour within a society, while laws are formally written and enforced rules.
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Values define what is considered good or bad, desirable or undesirable within a culture.
Theories of Identity
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Social Identity Theory suggests that people identify and categorize themselves and others.
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Symbolic Interactionism posits that identity is created and shaped through social interactions.
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The Looking Glass Self Theory proposes that our self-image is shaped by how we think others perceive us.
Identity Variables
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Social Class often shapes a person’s identity by determining the opportunities and resources available to them.
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Ethnicity and race influence identity as they often link to a shared language, religion, and customs.
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Gender plays a critical role in shaping our identity and influences the norms, roles, and expectations for individuals based on their perceived sex.
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Age and Generation can affect identity by grouping individuals with shared experiences and social trends.
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Disability and physical impairment can have a profound impact on people’s identity, as society often treats disabled people differently.