Social - Of or relating to society or its organization
- Concerned with the mutual relations of human beings or of classes of human beings.
- Living in organized communities.
Psychology - Study of human mind and its function especially those affecting behaviour in a given context.
- Mental characteristics or attitude of a person or group.
Psychological - Relating to or arising in the mind.
Rapoport defines culture (1980,9)
- A way of life typical of a group.
- A system symbols, meanings and cognitive schemata transmitted through symbolic codes.
- A set of adaptive strategies for survival related to ecology and resources.
Tradition - custom, opinion, or belief handed down to all succeeding generations posterity especially - orally or by practice - process of handing down.
Traditional - based on or obtained by tradition.
Terms in culture
Culture
- Customs, civilization and achievements of a particular time or people
- The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
System of ideas/feelings and survival strategies for a particular group.
Culture is acquired rather than biologically predetermined.
Culture includes - beliefs, feelings
Beliefs
What people hold as true
Means as to how people make sense of their experiences.
People can conform to particular beliefs e.g. God exists
- Often gives specific orientation e.g. of houses or other facilities
- Breaking a pot gives bad luck
- Animals mean prosperity
Beliefs give a sense of identity to the group.
Feelings
Emotions - certain ways of behaving in certain circumstances e.g. at funerals, weddings
Attitudes
Statement of our preferences, our likes and dislikes.
Values
Ideas about what is good and what is bad, these values differ between different cultures.
Intercultural Influences
Contact between different cultures can bring hostility and cultural subordination of one culture over another. Some have resulted in wars or animosity, sometimes even extinction/eradication of some communities.
Cultural subordination of one way of life by another can be a shattering experience both psychologically and culturally.
There is also animosity between richer and more powerful societies and poorer and weaker societies - This animosity can lead to forms of deviance such as addictions to alcohol and suicide.
Intercultural prejudices
When cultures meet and have little understanding of the others, or sometimes look down on some of the cultural practices of the others. This may lead to behavior that shows disapproval of the others.
