Culture Is Learned
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Culture is not something you’re born with; it is something you learn through communication. As children, you observe the behaviors of your parents, siblings, and extended family members. For example, they teach you how to greet guests in your home, whether to make direct eye contact with others, and what words are polite rather than inconsiderate. Later you observe the behaviors of your teachers and your peer groups. You learn what types of conversational topics are appropriate to discuss with peers rather than with adults; you learn the nuances of interacting with members of the same and the opposite sex. You also listen to and observe television, movies, and various forms of advertising that reflect what your culture values and admires.
Culture and You
Consider a time when a friend, coworker, classmate, or even a family member behaved in a manner that seemed unnatural or uncomfortable to you. Is it possible that your different behavioral expectations could have been due to a cultural difference, as noted in the example about eye contact? Explain your answer.
Through these processes, you acquire an understanding of what constitutes appropriate behavior. This is the framework through which you interpret the world and the people in it—your worldview (Schelbert, 2009). Much of your worldview is not obvious. For example, many of your nonverbal behaviors (like gestures, eye contact, and tone of voice) occur at an unconscious level (Hall, 1976). You have learned these behaviors so well that you don’t even notice them until someone else behaves in a manner that doesn’t meet your expectations. For example, you may not realize that you routinely make eye contact during conversation until someone fails to meet your gaze.
Your use of language carries more obvious cultural cues: speaking Italian in Italy enables you to fully participate in and understand the Italian way of life (Nicholas, 2009). Language can also teach you the traditions of your culture as evidenced by prayers of your faith, folk songs of your grandparents, or patriotic oaths you make (such as the Pledge of Allegiance).