The Cultural values S are the elements or convictions common to a group of people. These determine the way of being and guide the behavior and decisions of individuals within the same group. They are symbols that when united represent the totality of the culture.
The cultural values of a group are not always obvious to the naked eye. These are deeply linked to the identity of this group.
They can be identified by observing the traditions that people within a group have transmitted for generations to their descendants (notes, 2016).
The culture within a group adapts and evolves with the needs, desires and opportunities that are presented within the same.
The change is the result of the movement of a group to a new geographical location or simply an element that derives from the passage of time.
Technological development and its advances are highly related to the modification of cultural values. The technology commonly exerts a strong influence on the daily practices, changing the way they are carried out with each new development.
Technology has the constant in the history of having changed the way humans operate (Marketing, 2017).
From the outside, the cultural values of a group can often be difficult to understand. However, within a group, cultural values are the central and ideal principles upon which the entire community is constituted.
Examples of cultural values
1 - Cows in India
In India, 80% of the population practices the Hindu religion. For the believers of this religion, the figure of the cow is venerated and should not be sacrificed.
This is part of their cultural values, which is why many people can suffer from hunger and malnutrition, and yet they will not touch the cows that roam the streets to feed on them (Yelnick, 2017).
For Western culture, this is a strange cultural value, since cows are a source of food and not of worship.
In this sense, few times a cow dies from natural causes in America and is seldom revered.
2 - Industrial Revolution
Historically, technological advances have led to cultural values being transformed.
In the case of industrial Revolution , There was a wide mobilization of the populations from the countryside to the city, where they no longer held their position as sedentary farmers and had to adopt a faster pace of life and inside a factory.
3 - Advertising and language
Language in the world of advertising Is one of the best ways to highlight the cultural values of a group.
Ignorance of the meaning that a language may have in different cultures can lead to the publicists in the market industry to commit serious faults.
On the other hand, a group can speak several languages, therefore, as part of its cultural values all the information distributed within these groups must be presented in all the common languages.
4 - Kiss to say hello
In Russia, Argentina and other countries of the world, cultural values dictate that men among them should be saluted and dismissed with a kiss on the cheek.
This custom is accepted within these cultures, however, in countries like the United States it is completely unacceptable by most people.
5 - Food and beverages
In European countries, like France, it is common to serve wine as a companion to all meals. This custom is part of its historical traditions and is strongly rooted in the cultural values of the region.
However, in American countries accompanying the food with wine is unusual. In this region the food should be accompanied with soft drinks, such as soft drinks and juices.
6 - Status
In different cultures the status is acquired differently depending on their values. In the case of most American cultures, great importance attaches to material goods.
For this reason, a person with high purchasing power will have more status within society. On the other hand, within the cultural values of the people of India, status does not depend on material possessions.
7 - Christmas
The Christmas party is an event widely celebrated in the American continent and usually has a highly religious connotation.
On the other hand, in other cultural groups, such as the Jews, Christmas is not celebrated and is not part of its cultural values.
8 - Individualism
In many societies individualism is highly valued. In this way autonomy and work are encouraged by particular objectives.
Thanks to this, much attention is given to individual needs as determinants of behavior.
Members of societies with individualistic cultural values tend to have higher rates of divorce, and social interaction activities tend to be shorter and less intimate.
East Type of values Cultural events generally takes place in large cities (Consulting, 2015).
9 - Collectivism
In societies with collective cultural values, people tend to use plural language to talk about the needs of their group. The members of the society work in an interdependent and harmonious way.
It is important to emphasize that interpersonal relationships are important and determine the behavior of people.
Such cultural values are common to families, small societies that inhabit villages, support groups.
In general, in these types of groups interactions are more intimate and prolonged.
10 - Punctuality
Depending on the cultural values of each group, punctuality is more or less relevant. In the case of certain Latin American societies, it is common for punctuality to be a secondary issue.
However, in certain European societies, punctuality Is synonymous with respect for who is present (Pyo, Hewitson, & Gordon, 2014).
Other examples
Other examples of cultural values may include the following:
1 - Gender differences.
2 - Social hierarchies
3 - Respect for the elderly
4 - Generosity
5 - Tolerance
6 - Kindness to young people
7 - Food
8 - Religious beliefs
9 - Political stance
10 - Type of music popularly heard
References
- Consulting, C. P. (June 23, 2015). Culture Plus Consulting . Obtained from Nine Cultural Value Differences You Need to Know: cultureplusconsulting.com
- Marketing, B. (March 29, 2017). Boundless . Retrieved from Cultural Values: boundless.com
- Notes, C. (2016). Cultural Values . Retrieved from Cultural Values: cliffsnotes.com
- Pyo, D., Hewitson, J., & Gordon, E. (2014). Stanford University . Retrieved from Cultural Values: web.stanford.edu
- Yelnick, J. (2017). com . Retrieved from"Cultural Values: Definition, Examples & Importance: study.com".