Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A. Definition of Culture
Cultures are systems (of socially transmitted behavior patterns) that serve to relate htiman
communities to their ecological settings. These ways-of-life-ofcommunities include
technologies and modes of economie organization, settlement patterns, modes oi' social
grouping and political organization, religious beliefs and practices, and so on. When cultures
are viewed broadly as behavior systems characteristic of populations, extending and
permuting .somatic givens, whether we consider them to be patterns of or patterns. behavior
is a secondary question. Culture is all those means whose forms are not under direct genetic
control which serve to adjust individuals and groups within their ecological communities
(Binford II, p, 333). The culture concept comes down to behavior patterns associated with
particular groups of people. That is to "custom" or to a peoples way of life (Harris 41. p. 16).
1. American Culture
The name "America" is often used to refer to the United States, but
until the political formation of the United States after the Revolutionary
War, this designation referred to South America only. Contemporary use
of the term to refer to the United States underlines that country's
political and economic dominance in the western hemisphere. Such use
of this designation is impolitic from the perspective of Canadians and
Latin Americans. The United States has an Anglo majority that is
politically
and
economically
dominant.
One
of
the
defining
the
automobile
and
steel
industries
were
central
to
The U.S. American lifestyle is generally casual. You will see students going to class in
shorts and t-shirts. Male instructors seldom wear a tie and some may even wear blue
jeans. Female instructors often wear slacks along with comfortable walking shoes.
Greetings and farewells are usually short, informal and friendly. Students may greet each
other with "hi", "how are you"? and "what's up"? The farewell can be as brief as: "See
you", "take it easy", or, "come by some time" (although they generally don't really mean
it). Friendships are also casual, as Americans seem to easily develop and end friendships.
B. Definition of learning
Learning is one of the most important activities in which humans engage.
It is at the very core of the educational process, although most of what
people
learn
occurs
outside
of
school.
For
thousands
of
years,