Exploring the Concept of Cultural Universals: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, culture permeates every aspect of our lives. However, despite the immense diversity we see around us, there are certain things that are common to every society – these are known as cultural universals.
Understanding Cultural Universals
Cultural universals are the common features that can be found in all human societies, irrespective of their size, location, or historical period. These can be divided into several categories:
Social Organization: Every society has some kind of social structure, with role distinctions and rules defining relationships between individuals or groups.
Language: All societies have language – a system of communication used to convey ideas, emotions, and thoughts.
Beliefs and Values: Every society has a set of shared beliefs and values that guide their behavior and interactions.
Technology: Although the forms may differ from society to society, all civilizations use technology to meet their needs.
Arts and Aesthetics: Artistic expression is ubiquitous in every culture, even if forms of art like painting or music varies among different societies.
Why Do Cultural Universals Matter?
Cultural universals are an essential aspect of understanding and analyzing the diverse cultures around us. By examining universal features, we gain a deeper appreciation for cultural differences and similarities. It also helps to identify possible underlying human needs and emotions that drive the development of a particular cultural practice or belief.
Furthermore, understanding cultural universals can inform international relations and policy-making decisions. It can also provide insights to global dialogue, and the need to promote cross-cultural understanding.
Examples of Cultural Universals
One significant example of a cultural universal is the family unit. Although the composition and structure of families vary greatly across cultures, every community has some form of family dynamic that can be traced back to our evolutionary history.
Another example is the use of humor. While the jokes and pranks may differ across cultures, every society has some form of jovial expression that brings pleasure and releases tensions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cultural universals are an essential element for understanding and characterizing human behavior. Examining these universals can reveal the underlying needs and emotions that connects us all as human beings. Knowledge about Cultural universals gives us insights into the collective history that ties together humanity, and it gives an effective way of examining differences and commonalities between a culture, helping to eradicate biases and misconceptions.
