Exploring the 5 Levels of Culture: From Artifacts to Assumptions
Culture is an essential part of human life, representing the shared beliefs, values, language, behaviors, and artifacts of a particular group or society.
Introduction
The concept of culture has been the subject of research and study for decades, with scholars exploring varied aspects of it to understand its complexity and diversity. One of the most interesting frameworks for exploring culture is the “5 Levels of Culture” model, which provides a comprehensive and holistic perspective on the different layers that constitute culture.
Body
Level 1: Artifacts
The first level of culture deals with visible, tangible things that people produce, such as technology, architecture, clothing, cuisine, and art. Artifacts are the most straightforward layer of culture to define and observe, but they also provide a surface-level understanding of culture.
However, artifacts can still convey valuable insights into a particular culture’s history, customs, and identity. For example, studying Chinese architecture reveals the importance of feng shui, which emphasizes harmony and balance, while examining traditional African clothing highlights the use of vivid colors and symbols to represent social status and values.
Level 2: Espoused Values
The second level of culture involves the explicit beliefs, goals, and principles that people claim to follow and uphold. Espoused values are the ideals and aspirations that a group or society professes to live by, such as freedom, equality, human rights, and democracy.
While espoused values might not always align with actual behaviors or attitudes, they still reflect the central ideals of a culture and guide social norms, decision-making, and collective identity. For instance, American culture values individualism and self-reliance, which affects everything from the education system to the economy.
Level 3: Basic Assumptions
The third level of culture explores the unconscious, taken-for-granted beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions that people hold. Basic assumptions are the fundamental, foundational beliefs that a group or society doesn’t question or challenge, but instead takes for granted.
Basic assumptions might include things like the belief in God, the superiority of one’s race or gender, the importance of honor, or the necessity of war. These assumptions shape people’s worldviews, behaviors, and interactions in powerful, often invisible ways, and can be the hardest to recognize and challenge.
Level 4: Enacted Values
The fourth level of culture examines the behaviors, customs, and norms that people actually enact and practice. Enacted values are the on-the-ground, day-to-day behaviors and practices that reflect and reinforce the espoused values and basic assumptions of a culture.
Enacted values can either align with or contradict a culture’s ideals and beliefs, and often change with time and context. For example, while Japanese culture espouses respect and humility, it also has a rigid hierarchical system and workplace culture that can be challenging for innovation and diversity.
Level 5: Assumptions of Nature
The fifth and final level of culture explores the underlying assumptions and beliefs that people have about the nature of reality, existence, and the universe. Assumptions of nature are the deepest, most philosophical, and often the most abstract layer of culture, dealing with metaphysical questions that challenge and inspire people.
Assumptions of nature might include beliefs about the meaning of life, the role of spirituality or faith, the existence of afterlife, or the nature of consciousness. These assumptions can shape people’s self-perception, purpose, and identity, and transcend specific cultural contexts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, exploring the 5 Levels of Culture provides a fascinating and multi-dimensional way of understanding culture. By recognizing the different layers of artifacts, espoused values, basic assumptions, enacted values, and assumptions of nature, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the rich diversity and complexity of human culture and rethink our own assumptions and beliefs.
To truly understand a culture, we must recognize and examine all five levels, as they are all interconnected and interdependent, shaping and being shaped by each other.
