The Four Key Elements of Culture

Values Defined Values are culturally defined standards of desirability, goodness, and beauty that serve as broad guidelines for social living. Values reflect what people in a culture prefer as well as what they find important and morally right. It has been suggested that the types of values held by a society helps determine almost everything else about the culture.

Canada is a vast country with many nationalities.Canada is a vast country with many nationalities. The federal government commissioned a report in the early 1990s, entitled Citizens’ Forum on Canada’s Future, which identified the following seven important cultural values.The federal government commissioned a report in the early 1990s, entitled Citizens’ Forum on Canada’s Future, which identified the following seven important cultural values.

Equality and fairness in a democratic society - Canadians across the country express a belief in fairness for all citizens, including Aboriginal Canadians, citizens of Quebec, and visible minorities.Equality and fairness in a democratic society - Canadians across the country express a belief in fairness for all citizens, including Aboriginal Canadians, citizens of Quebec, and visible minorities. Consultation and dialogue – As citizens, we should aim to settle our differences peacefully, through talking over our problems, learning about one another, and arriving at agreed- upon solutions to our problems.Consultation and dialogue – As citizens, we should aim to settle our differences peacefully, through talking over our problems, learning about one another, and arriving at agreed- upon solutions to our problems.

Importance of accommodation and tolerance – Accommodating the traditions and customs of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and ethnic groups, adds importance to Canada’s cultural value.Importance of accommodation and tolerance – Accommodating the traditions and customs of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and ethnic groups, adds importance to Canada’s cultural value. Support for diversity – Support for the country’s many diversities – regional, ethnic, and linguistic – is another central value we share as a nation.Support for diversity – Support for the country’s many diversities – regional, ethnic, and linguistic – is another central value we share as a nation.

Compassion and generosity – People in Canada value the safety net provided by the welfare state – particularly its universal health care system and attractive social services, pension plans, openness toward refugees, and commitment to reduce regional disparities.Compassion and generosity – People in Canada value the safety net provided by the welfare state – particularly its universal health care system and attractive social services, pension plans, openness toward refugees, and commitment to reduce regional disparities.

Attachment to Canada’s natural beauty – Canada’s wilderness is legendary, and Canadians believe that their governments should do more to protect the natural environment from pollution and other hazards of industrialization.Attachment to Canada’s natural beauty – Canada’s wilderness is legendary, and Canadians believe that their governments should do more to protect the natural environment from pollution and other hazards of industrialization. Our world image - Canadians want to be seen from abroad as a free, peaceful, and nonviolent society, which, as a nation, plays an active role in international peacekeeping.Our world image - Canadians want to be seen from abroad as a free, peaceful, and nonviolent society, which, as a nation, plays an active role in international peacekeeping.

What are norms? Accepted Standards of Behaviour

What are norms? Middle-class Canadians are reluctant to share with others the size of their paycheque, while people in China tend to share such “personal” information eagerly. Both patterns of behaviour illustrate the operation of norms.Middle-class Canadians are reluctant to share with others the size of their paycheque, while people in China tend to share such “personal” information eagerly. Both patterns of behaviour illustrate the operation of norms. To take another example, gossip is legitimized by many cultures, but is condemned as rude and divisive, and against the norms, by other cultures.Norms are rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members. To take another example, gossip is legitimized by many cultures, but is condemned as rude and divisive, and against the norms, by other cultures.

Symbols Symbols are commonly understood gestures, words, objects, sounds, colours, or designs that have come to stand for something else.

Reality of Meaning Humans transform the elements of the world into symbols, anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture. A high-five, a nod, a tattoo, a veil, a salute – all serve as symbols.Humans transform the elements of the world into symbols, anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture. A high-five, a nod, a tattoo, a veil, a salute – all serve as symbols.

Cultural Symbols We are so dependent on our culture’s symbols that we take them for granted.We are so dependent on our culture’s symbols that we take them for granted. Often, however, we gain a heightened sense of the importance of a symbol when someone uses one in an unconventional way – say when a man cross-dresses at a party, or when nationalistic members of Parliament display Canadian flags at their seats.Often, however, we gain a heightened sense of the importance of a symbol when someone uses one in an unconventional way – say when a man cross-dresses at a party, or when nationalistic members of Parliament display Canadian flags at their seats.

Language Language is a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another.Language is a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another. Language is the organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system with rules for putting the symbols together.Language is the organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system with rules for putting the symbols together.

Knowledge is an element of culture that attempts to define what exists, or the reality of the world. Knowledge includes those things people understand as members of a culture, as well as the particular kinds of knowledge needed to function in a culture.

A culture’s history and scientific discoveries are part of its knowledge. In a highly technological society such as ours, principles of mathematics, engineering, and physics are very important.A culture’s history and scientific discoveries are part of its knowledge. In a highly technological society such as ours, principles of mathematics, engineering, and physics are very important.