Culture as a Way of Life
Scholars also approach culture as a society’s “way of life” (Griswold 2012; Long 1997). Anthropologist E.B. Taylor referred to Culture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a man as a member of society," a definition which Griswold notes is the “anthropological definition of culture” (Griswold 2012: 8). From this approach, we can think of cultures in terms of their individualistic versus collectivistic character. Certain Western societies, like the U.S., are characterized by a culture of individualism which emphasizes people’s independence and autonomy, whereas many Eastern cultures are thought of as collectivistic in that their way of life emphasizes interdependence and interconnectedness (Markus and Kitayama 1991).
References
Griswold, Wendy. 2012. Cultures and Societies in a Changing World. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.
Long, Elizabeth. 1997. “Introduction: Engaging Sociology and Cultural Studies: Disciplinarity and Social Change.” Pp. 1-32 in From Sociology to Cultural Studies, edited by Elizabeth Long. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Markus, Hazel Rose and Shinobu Kitayama. 1991. “Culture and the Self: Implications for Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation.” Psychological Review 98:224-52.
References
Griswold, Wendy. 2012. Cultures and Societies in a Changing World. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press.
Long, Elizabeth. 1997. “Introduction: Engaging Sociology and Cultural Studies: Disciplinarity and Social Change.” Pp. 1-32 in From Sociology to Cultural Studies, edited by Elizabeth Long. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Markus, Hazel Rose and Shinobu Kitayama. 1991. “Culture and the Self: Implications for Cognition, Emotion, and Motivation.” Psychological Review 98:224-52.
