Difference Between Culture and Society

Most defining factors of a culture, like languages, buildings, clothing, styles of government and other traditions keep on changing with the passage of time, which is the reason why culture is not considered to be constant. Society on the other hand, refers to a group of people sharing a common region, behavioral patterns and culture. Culture plays a massive role in the development of a society as well as its individuals, so much so that interpretations of different things may vary from one culture to another.

A society is a united mass of people, who come together to form a distinct identity. Every single individual in a society is considered to be equally important because everyone has something to contribute in the collective life of masses.

Culture and Society are deeply intertwined, with each having a significant bearing on the other.

Instructions

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    Culture

    It would be impossible for a society to exist without a strong culture, which also helps in maintaining discipline. It is through culture that a society is able to differentiate itself from others. Culture plays a vital role in uniting people as they are able to relate with others who speak the same language, share similar beliefs and have similar perceptions about different ideas and things.

    There are three basic levels of culture - cultural traditions, subculture and cultural universals. When you speak Japanese, Chinese, Hindi or German in a foreign country, your language will be considered as part of your identity, which is shared by the people of your society. This is an example of cultural tradition.

    A Subculture is formed by people away from their countries or regions, who bring and maintain their values on foreign soil. For example, Mexican Americans, African Americans and Indian Americans have developed subcultures in the US.

    Cultural universals areĀ behavioralĀ patterns which are shared by humanity all across the globe. Classification of people through age and gender, communication through verbal language and differentiation based on relationships and marital status are examples of cultural universals.

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    Society

    People, their professions and interdependence on each other are crucial parts of a society. Within a society, you can find a number of different cultures, which are differentiated by religion and ethnicity. One of the basic roles of a society is to help an individual in times of crisis and to protect his/her the basic rights, which include law and order, justice, education, health, communication and transportation facilities. Social norms vary from one society to the other, which brings much needed originality and diversity to this world.

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