Culture is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses many different elements, including values, beliefs, customs, practices, and symbols. One of the key characteristics of culture is that it is patterned and integrative, meaning that all aspects of a culture are interconnected and interrelated.
This is known as holism, which refers to the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, a culture cannot be fully understood by looking at just one aspect of it, such as its language or its customs. Instead, one must learn about all of the different parts of a culture in order to truly understand it.
For example, a culture's language is not just a means of communication, but also a reflection of its values and beliefs. Similarly, a culture's customs and practices are not just random or arbitrary but are instead deeply rooted in its history and tradition. This is known as the principle of cultural interdependence, which states that when one part of culture changes, it has a ripple effect on other parts of the culture. The reason is that all parts of the culture are interrelated each other.
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| Fig: Technology changes how we communicate. |
For example, a change in technology can have a significant impact on a culture's customs and practices. The introduction of the internet and social media, for example, has greatly changed the way people communicate and interact with one another, affecting the way people form and maintain relationships.
Similarly, a change in a culture's political system can have a significant impact on its economy and social structure. A shift from a communist to a capitalist system, for example, can lead to major changes in the way businesses operate, and how wealth and resources are distributed. Cultural interdependence also works in the opposite direction, where changes in one aspect of a culture can lead to changes in other aspects. For example, changes in a culture's economy can lead to changes in its social and political structure.