3 - Conceptualising Culture

Summary

This chapter explores what is meant by the complex concept of culture. It takes culture to encompass a range of patterns (including values, attitudes, beliefs, behavioural norms, schemas, role conceptualisation) that are common (i.e. generally shared) across members of a social group.We argue that there are three key notions associated with culture and its impact: cultural group memberships, cultural group identities and cultural patterning. In this chapter, we explore each of these elements and touch on the ways in which they may affect interaction. There are five main sections to the chapter: conceptualising culture; culture and social groups; culture and cultural patterning: fundamental issues; cultural patterning: perspectives; cultural patterning: cultural schemas and norms. The chapters in Parts II and III of the book explore in detail the impact of these various elements on intercultural interaction.