Lesson 1: What is Culture?

How Culture Affects Behavior, Part 1

Culture is just one of the factors that influences behavior. Two other factors are universal traits (everyone does it) and personal traits (what makes each of us an individual even if we are members of the same group).

Universal behavioral traits can sometimes deceive us. Because some things that you are accustomed to will appear in your new country, you may think, “Hey this place isn’t too different from home.” In fact the more similar to “home” you originally think a place is, the harder it may be for you to adjust to it.

The fact that some behavioral traits are personal means that everyone in a group will not be the same. People are individuals.

The best way to understand the difference is to see it in action, so I’ve included an exercise designed by The Peace Corps that will let you do just that.

Below you will find a list of behaviors. Mark what type of behavior you think it is - Personal, Universal, or Cultural.