Nine Traits of Culture

What are the Nine Traits of Culture?

The “Nine Traits of Culture” serve as a framework for the study of culture in human societies. 1. Language 2. History 3. Food and Shelter (Types / Styles)4. Education Systems5. Security/Protection6. Relationships – Family and Others7. Political and Social Organizations8. Religion (beliefs / morals / mores)9. Creative Expression – Recreation

1. Language

• Allows for communication to exist, helps establish cultural identities• Oral tradition - Helps pass cultural traits along through generations• There are between 3,000 and 6,500 different languages spoken in the world today• Dialect – different versions of the same basic language

2. History • Every culture has a past, present, and a future.

• Events in the past often directly shape the elements of a modern culture .

• Includes festivals and holidays that celebrate or remember the past.

3. Food and Shelter –

The places we live and the things we eat

4. Education• How culture is taught or learned1. Formal – Schools, Universities, Religion (church)

2. In-Formal – Family, Friends, Social Clubs / Groups

5. Security/Protection• Organized Military Forces• Organized Police Forces• Family/Tribal Militias and Gangs• Individual Self-Defense

6. Relationships – Family and Others• Relatives• Family Living Arrangements • Friendships• Romantic Relationships and Marriages• Classmates / Co-Workers

7. Political and social organization• Government System

– Make rules and laws to keep society in order

• Clubs– Examples? Boys and Girls,

Boy Scouts, FFA, Optimists,

• Fraternal organizations– Kiwanis, University, Veterans,

Masonic Lodges etc.

8. ReligionThe belief in a supernatural power or powers, responsible for the creation and maintenance of the universe, and associated practices.

Major Types of Religions?1. Monotheistic – belief in one god2. Polytheistic – belief in many gods3. Animistic or Traditional – belief in the forces of

nature

9. Creative Expression - Recreation• Music – instruments, singing

• Art– Paintings, sculpture,

photography• Dance• Theater• Literature– Novels, Poems

• Architecture• Sports• Outdoor activities• Hobbies

What is your culture?