Definition of culture
Culture is the unique way of living of a particular group of people in the society. This specific group of people has a cumulative of experiences, traditions, customs, beliefs, values, arts, spatial relations, and other forms of life that make the unique from other societies (Rozin 273).
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Components of culture
Language
Language the first and most crucial component of every language. Each society has a special language that is used for the purposes of communication. This language can be used verbally or written. Even if two or more cultures may use the same language but the meanings and terminologies used may vary. For instance, the culture of the French people is demonstrated by the French language. Language is essential since the members of the culture express their beliefs and values through it (Advocates For Youth 1).
Values
Values are the components of culture that play a crucial role in shaping the moral of society. In essence, it is the role of the values to determine what is right and what is wrong. However, it is important to note that values vary from one society to another. For instance, some religions do not allow people to eat some specific food (SOCI).
Beliefs
These are the spiritual needs of the culture that must be fulfilled. A general culture may be based on a set of beliefs while some beliefs may be specific to specific cultures.
Norms
These are the moral rules that determine what is acceptable and what is not in the society. One of the most crucial thing to note is that these norms change with time. For instance, cultural diversity is one of the factors that makes norms of the culture to be adjusted (Valsiner 238).
Symbols
These objects that a culture attaches a special meaning. For instance, in some culture rain is a symbol of God’s blessings while drought is an indication of God’s punishment.
Negotiating Across Cultures
Finally, it is crucial to note that there are several ways in which people from a particular culture can negotiate. Firstly, they have to learn some key concepts about the culture they are going to negotiate with. This can be done by asking some questions the members of that culture. Secondly, they need to comprehend the expectation from the negotiation process. Thirdly, you need to be precise about yourself concerning the stance and the strategy to take. In conclusion, the success of the negotiation is enhanced by not jumping into assumptions and conclusions.
- Advocates for Youth. “Chapter one: Culture Components”. Retrieved December 2, 2016 from http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/component/content/503?task=view
- Rozin, Paul. “Five potential principles for understanding cultural differences in relation to individual differences.” Journal of Research in Personality 37.4 (2003): 273-283.
- SOCI 1101. “Understanding Societies: Components of culture”. Retrieved December 2, 2016 from http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/soci1101/221the_components_of_culture_symbols_language_values_and_norms.html
- Valsiner, Jaan. “Culture in minds and societies: Foundations of cultural psychology.” Psychol. Stud. (September 2009) 54 (2007): 238-239.
