There is no standard definition of the term culture in the context of social sciences such as psychology. Several alternative explanations seek to describe what culture is and its influence on human behavior. However, most descriptions point to the potential impact of culture on humans. I will explain some definitions of culture and their importance in the field of psychology.
Culture can be described as the distinctive human tactic that ensures survival in the world. Culture is the ingredient of the social aspect which is found within the natural world. It makes humans different from other species in that it makes them form social relations unique to them. Human beings create artifacts, concepts, and institutions that must be maintained to ensure their survival (Ratner, 2008). Culture, therefore, is their adaptive organ and the primary mode of existence in the world. It is essential to continually advance culture to ensure it remains relevant to guarantee human survival.
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Also, culture can be described as a collective product that includes emotions, common behavior, and perceptions of individuals. This means that culture influences an individual’s behavioral outcomes in a significant way. The influence of culture on behavior helps to unify individuals within a particular cultural setup ensuring commonness among different people. This unification helps in the realization of cultural advantages in that specific setup (Ratner, 2008). Culture has its dynamics and structure as well as principles and content that characterize a particular society. Individuals are, therefore, a product of these cultural systems.
In my opinion, the view of culture as a set of behavior, traditions, and attitudes that exist within a particular social setting most resonate with me. This is because these traditions, common behavior, and perceptions within society have a significant impact on human behavior. I can personally relate to how common perceptions within my social setting influenced my behavior. This description of culture best defines culture as it lays ground to describe various psychological behavior patterns. Psychologists should learn and understand different cultures. This will equip them with an adequate understanding of how particular cultural demands influence behavior patterns (Keith, 2019). In addition to widening their knowledge in the field, it will also enhance their ability to deal with psychological issues that affect different people.
The view of artifacts as part of a culture is one element that brings the difference between my colleagues' description of culture and my definition. The difference is relevant in the interpretation of culture because, in addition to different cultural beliefs and perceptions, each culture has distinctive pieces of art that portray their culture. The artifacts can shed more light on a particular culture hence the need to include them in the definition.
References
Keith, K. D. (2019). Culture and Psychology: Prospects and Possibilities. Cross ‐ Cultural Psychology: Contemporary Themes and Perspectives, 709-723.
Ratner, C. (2008). Cultural psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and indigenous psychology. Nova Publishers.
