Functions of Culture:

 

According to Sutherland and Wood ,Culture has been fulfilling a number of functions which may be divided into two - (a) for the individual and (b) for the group.

a.    Importance to the individual:

(1) According to E.A. Hoebel Culture distinguishes man from animal. It is the culture that makes the human animal a man. It regulates his conduct and prepares him for a group life. Without culture he would have been forced to find his own way which would have meant a loss of energy.

(2) Culture provides solution for complicated situations. Culture provides man a set of behavior for difficult situations. In the absence of culture man would have been baffled even at the simplest situations. Culture not only defines but also determines what we eat and drink, when to sleep, when to laugh etc.

(3) Culture provides traditional interpretation to certain situations. Through culture man gets traditional interpretations for many situations according to which he determines his behavior. For example, if a cat crosses his way he postpones the journey.

(4) Culture shapes personality. No child can develop human qualities in the absence of cultural environment. Culture prepares man for group life. It is culture that provides opportunities for the development of personality and sets limits on its growth.

b. Importance for the group:

 

(1) Culture keeps social relationship intact. Culture has importance not only for men but also for the group. Culture prepares man for group life. Group life would have been poor, nasty, and short if there had been no cultural regulations. Group solidarity rests on the foundation of culture.

 

(2)  Culture has given a new vision to the individual. Secondly, culture has given a new vision        to the co-operation of the individuals. Culture teaches him to think of himself as a part of the larger whole. It provides him with the concepts of family, state, nation etc. and makes possible the coordination and division of labor.

(3) Culture creates new needs. Finally, culture also creates new needs and drives, for example         thirst for knowledge and arranges for their satisfaction. It satisfies the moral and religious interests of the members of the group.

Characteristics of Culture

 

1.     Culture is learned. It is not biological or it is not inherited. We learn from our peers or parents.

2.     Culture is shared because we share culture with other members of a group and some groups also borrow cultural practices from other groups.

3.     Culture is based on symbols. A symbol is something that stands for something else and vary cross-culturally and are arbitrary. They only have meaning when people in a culture agree on their use e.g. language is a symbol.

4.     Culture is integrated. This is also known as holism or the various parts of a culture being interconnected. All aspects of culture are related to one another therefore one must learn about all of its parts, not only a few.

5.     Culture is dynamic. Cultures interact and change. Because most cultures are in contact with other cultures they exchange ideas and symbols. All cultures change as time goes by.

6.     Culture is a way of life. This has to do with dress codes and clothing.

7.     Culture is variable. Culture varies from society to society, group to group. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFFERENCE

Edgar H.Schein,Organizational Culture and leadership,2^nd ed.