Cultural is the collective patterns of learned behavior and beliefs that form a specific social, ethnic, or age group. It can also refer to a structured stage of civilization that is unique to a particular nation or time period. The word culture was first used in this context by pioneer English anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in 1871. The concept has since become widely accepted in the fields of biology, linguistics, and psychology, among others.
The field of psychology has embraced the concept of culture because it can be helpful in understanding human behavior, both individual and global. When individuals are viewed as having a number of different cultures, they can be seen to have differences in values, attitudes, choices and behaviors that may be influenced by their environment, their birth ecology, their ethno-national group membership, and so on. The goal of psychological research is to gain valid insights into the nature of these influences, and how they affect individual functioning. This is generally accomplished by integrating cultural factors into models of individual personality, and studying how people’s “encultured” responses differ across cultures.
There are many ways to understand culture, but one way is to consider the meanings that certain symbols or practices have for members of a specific culture. Symbols can be words, gestures or pictures that have a special meaning within a given culture. They can be new or old, and they often evolve or disappear as the culture changes. The core of a culture is its values, and these are broad tendencies for preference of some states of affairs over others (good-evil, right-wrong, natural-unnatural).
Another part of a culture is its traditions or rituals, which can be carried out in the most mundane and everyday activities (ways of greeting or paying respect to one another, daily habits, oaths, songs or dances). These can be performed on a local, family or community level or at the national level.
It is important for governments and organizations to be aware of the role that culture plays in their work. When the cultures of all groups involved in a program or policy are not fully understood and appreciated, problems can arise. This is why it is important that all individuals be included in decision-making, whether they are the beneficiaries of a government program or a member of an organization. It is also important that companies working in a global context build their understanding of the diverse cultures that they encounter. This can help to ensure that the work they do is effective, and that it meets the needs of everyone involved. In addition, it can help to promote a more equitable society.