fbpx
Wikipedia

Cultural universal

February 15, 2024

"Human universals" redirects here. For the 1991 anthropology book, see Human Universals.

A cultural universal (also called an anthropological universal or human universal) is an element, pattern, trait, or institution that is common to all known human cultures worldwide. Taken together, the whole body of cultural universals is known as the human condition. Evolutionary psychologists hold that behaviors or traits that occur universally in all cultures are good candidates for evolutionary adaptations.[1] Some anthropological and sociological theorists that take a cultural relativist perspective may deny the existence of cultural universals: the extent to which these universals are "cultural" in the narrow sense, or in fact biologically inherited behavior is an issue of "nature versus nurture". Prominent scholars on the topic include Emile Durkheim, George Murdock, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and Donald Brown.

Donald Brown's list in Human Universals edit

In his book Human Universals (1991), Donald Brown defines human universals as comprising "those features of culture, society, language, behavior, and psyche for which there are no known exception", providing a list of hundreds of items he suggests as universal. Among the cultural universals listed by Donald Brown are:[2]

Language and cognition edit

Main article: Linguistic universal
  • Language is translatable
  • Abstraction in speech and thought
  • Antonyms, synonyms
  • Logical notions of "and", "not", "opposite", "equivalent", "part/whole", "general/particular"
  • Binary cognitive distinctions
  • Color terms: black, white
  • Classification of: age, behavioral propensities, body parts, colors, fauna, flora, inner states, kin, gender, space, tools, weather conditions
  • Continua (ordering as cognitive pattern)
  • Discrepancies between speech, thought, and action
  • Figurative speech, metaphors
  • Symbolism, symbolic speech
  • Synesthetic metaphors
  • Tabooed utterances
  • Special speech for special occasions
  • Prestige from proficient use of language (e.g. poetry)
  • Planning
  • Units of time
  • Language employed to manipulate others
  • Language employed to misinform or mislead

Society edit

Beliefs edit

Further information: Myth and ritual

Technology edit

Nicholas Christakis' innate social univerals edit

Based on experiments and studies of accidental and utopian societies, sociologist and evolutionary biologist Nicholas Christakis proposes that humans have evolved to genetically favor societies that have eight universal attributes, including:[5]

Non-nativist explanations edit

The observation of the same or similar behavior in different cultures does not prove that they are the results of a common underlying psychological mechanism. One possibility is that they may have been invented independently due to a common practical problem.[6]

Outside influence could be an explanation for some cultural universals.[7] This does not preclude multiple independent inventions of civilization and is therefore not the same thing as hyperdiffusionism; it merely means that cultural universals are not proof of innateness.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Schacter, Daniel L, Daniel Wegner and Daniel Gilbert. 2007. Psychology. Worth Publishers. pp. 26–27
  2. ^ Brown, Donald (1991). Human Universals. Template University Press. ISBN 978-0070082090.
  3. ^ Anderson, C.; Kraus, M. W.; Galinsky, A. D.; Keltner, D. (2012). "The Local-Ladder Effect: Social Status and Subjective Well-Being". Psychological Science. 23 (7): 764–71. doi:10.1177/0956797611434537. PMID 22653798. S2CID 8406753.
  4. ^ Anderson, Cameron; Hildreth, John Angus D.; Howland, Laura (May 2015). "Is the desire for status a fundamental human motive? A review of the empirical literature". Psychological Bulletin. 141 (3): 574–601. doi:10.1037/a0038781. PMID 25774679. S2CID 17129083.
  5. ^ Nicholas Christakis (2019). Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. Little, Brown Spark.
  6. ^ Language: The cultural tool DL Everett - 2012 - Vintage
  7. ^ Equal Recognition: The Moral Foundations of Minority Rights, Alan Patten 2014
  8. ^ Cultures and Globalization: Cultural Expression, Creativity and Innovation, Helmut K Anheier, Yudhishthir Raj Isar 2010

Bibliography edit

February 15, 2024
cultural, universal, human, universals, redirects, here, 1991, anthropology, book, human, universals, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, neutrality, this, . Human universals redirects here For the 1991 anthropology book see Human Universals This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages The neutrality of this article is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met July 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs attention from an expert in anthropology The specific problem is add citations or discredit WikiProject Anthropology may be able to help recruit an expert January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message A cultural universal also called an anthropological universal or human universal is an element pattern trait or institution that is common to all known human cultures worldwide Taken together the whole body of cultural universals is known as the human condition Evolutionary psychologists hold that behaviors or traits that occur universally in all cultures are good candidates for evolutionary adaptations 1 Some anthropological and sociological theorists that take a cultural relativist perspective may deny the existence of cultural universals the extent to which these universals are cultural in the narrow sense or in fact biologically inherited behavior is an issue of nature versus nurture Prominent scholars on the topic include Emile Durkheim George Murdock Claude Levi Strauss and Donald Brown Contents 1 Donald Brown s list in Human Universals 1 1 Language and cognition 1 2 Society 1 3 Beliefs 1 4 Technology 2 Nicholas Christakis innate social univerals 3 Non nativist explanations 4 See also 5 References 6 BibliographyDonald Brown s list in Human Universals editIn his book Human Universals 1991 Donald Brown defines human universals as comprising those features of culture society language behavior and psyche for which there are no known exception providing a list of hundreds of items he suggests as universal Among the cultural universals listed by Donald Brown are 2 Language and cognition edit Main article Linguistic universal Language is translatable Abstraction in speech and thought Antonyms synonyms Logical notions of and not opposite equivalent part whole general particular Binary cognitive distinctions Color terms black white Classification of age behavioral propensities body parts colors fauna flora inner states kin gender space tools weather conditions Continua ordering as cognitive pattern Discrepancies between speech thought and action Figurative speech metaphors Symbolism symbolic speech Synesthetic metaphors Tabooed utterances Special speech for special occasions Prestige from proficient use of language e g poetry Planning Units of time Language employed to manipulate others Language employed to misinform or mislead Society edit Personal names Family or household Kin groups Peer groups not based on family Actions under self control distinguished from those not under control Affection expressed and felt Age grades Age statuses Age terms Law rights and obligations rules of membership Moral sentiments Distinguishing right and wrong good and bad Promise oath Prestige inequalities Statuses and roles 3 4 Leaders De facto oligarchy Property Coalitions Collective identities Conflict Cooperative labor Gender roles Males on average travel greater distances over lifetime Marriage Husband older than wife on average Copulation normally conducted in privacy Incest prevention or avoidance incest between mother and son unthinkable or tabooed Collective decision making Etiquette Inheritance rules Generosity admired gift giving Mood or consciousness altering techniques and or substances Redress of wrongs sanctions Sexual jealousy Sexual violence Shame Territoriality Triangular awareness assessing relationships among the self and two other people Some forms of proscribed violence Visiting Trade Beliefs edit Further information Myth and ritual Magical thinking Use of magic to increase life and win love Beliefs about death Beliefs about disease Beliefs about fortune and misfortune Divination Attempts to control weather Dream interpretation Beliefs and narratives Proverbs sayings Poetry rhetorics Healing practices medicine Childbirth customs Rites of passage Music rhythm dance and to some degree associations between music and emotion Play Toys playthings Death rituals mourning Feasting Body adornment Hairstyles Art Technology edit Shelter Control of fire Tools tool making Weapons spear Containers Cooking Lever RopeNicholas Christakis innate social univerals editBased on experiments and studies of accidental and utopian societies sociologist and evolutionary biologist Nicholas Christakis proposes that humans have evolved to genetically favor societies that have eight universal attributes including 5 Love for romantic partners Love for offspring Friendship Social networks Cooperation In group favoritismNon nativist explanations editThe observation of the same or similar behavior in different cultures does not prove that they are the results of a common underlying psychological mechanism One possibility is that they may have been invented independently due to a common practical problem 6 Outside influence could be an explanation for some cultural universals 7 This does not preclude multiple independent inventions of civilization and is therefore not the same thing as hyperdiffusionism it merely means that cultural universals are not proof of innateness 8 See also editAnimal culture Archetype Biocultural anthropology Culture Social learning Social normReferences edit Schacter Daniel L Daniel Wegner and Daniel Gilbert 2007 Psychology Worth Publishers pp 26 27 Brown Donald 1991 Human Universals Template University Press ISBN 978 0070082090 Anderson C Kraus M W Galinsky A D Keltner D 2012 The Local Ladder Effect Social Status and Subjective Well Being Psychological Science 23 7 764 71 doi 10 1177 0956797611434537 PMID 22653798 S2CID 8406753 Anderson Cameron Hildreth John Angus D Howland Laura May 2015 Is the desire for status a fundamental human motive A review of the empirical literature Psychological Bulletin 141 3 574 601 doi 10 1037 a0038781 PMID 25774679 S2CID 17129083 Nicholas Christakis 2019 Blueprint The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society Little Brown Spark Language The cultural tool DL Everett 2012 Vintage Equal Recognition The Moral Foundations of Minority Rights Alan Patten 2014 Cultures and Globalization Cultural Expression Creativity and Innovation Helmut K Anheier Yudhishthir Raj Isar 2010Bibliography editBourguignon Erika Greenbaum Ucko Lenora 1973 Diversity and Homogeneity in World Societies New Haven Connecticut HRAF Press ISBN 978 0875363301 Brown Donald 1991 Human Universals Philadelphia Temple University Press ISBN 978 0070082090 Joseph H Greenberg et al 1978 Universals of Human Language 4 vols Stanford University Press ISBN 0804709653 Charles D Laughlin and Eugene G d Aquili 1974 Biogenetic Structuralism New York Columbia University Press ISBN 9780231038171 Claude Levi Strauss 1966 The Savage Mind Chicago The University of Chicago Press London Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd ISBN 0226474844 First published in French in 1962 as La Pensee Sauvage ISBN 2259002110 George P Murdock 1945 The Common Denominator of Culture in The Science of Man in the World Crisis Ralph Linton ed New York Columbia University Press ISBN 4871872386 Charles E Osgood William S May and Murray S Miron 1975 Cross Cultural Universals of Affective Meaning Champaign IL University of Illinois Press ISBN 978 0252004261 Steven Pinker 2002 The Blank Slate The Modern Denial of Human Nature New York Penguin Putnam ISBN 9780142003343 Rik Pinxten 1976 Epistemic universals A contribution to cognitive anthropology PART II Chapter 7 In Pinxten Rik ed Universalism Versus Relativism in Language and Thought The Hague De Gruyter Mouton ISBN 9783110805826 Brief news report of Psychological Bulletin article Anderson Hildreth Howland 2015 Berkeley Haas School of Business May 6 2015 We all want high social status ScienceDaily Berkeley University of California Retrieved 24 March 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cultural universal amp oldid 1203879800, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.