Biology Forums - Study Force

Subcultures are defined in such a way that a person may belong to many subcultures at the same time. What in the definition allows any given person to belong to multiple groups, and what subcultures would apply to almost everyone?

A subculture is defined by shared beliefs and common experiences. Any variable that separates people into groups with common experiences and beliefs is by definition a precursor of a subculture. A person, for example, may have parents from Italy, have attended Penn State, and live in New York City. Each of these variables would identity a group of people with shared experiences and beliefs.

There are some subcultures that apply almost universally. Each person has an age subculture that is typical of his or her age cohort. Each person has a primary language that places him or her in a cultural context, and each person has a certain ethnic or racial background. Most people who share the same general also share beliefs and common experiences.

Note to the instructor: The student is being asked here to identity examples of shared beliefs and experiences that would apply to almost all people within a larger culture. Their examples may vary, but they should have some element of universality.

Good timing, thanks!