Introduction to
Culture
Explore how beliefs, practices, and traditions shape human landscapes and define the spatial patterns of societies across the globe.
AP Human Geography
What Is Culture?
Culture is the shared set of meanings that people hold, which are lived through the material and symbolic practices of everyday life. In AP Human Geography, culture explains why people do what they do and why they do it where they do it.
Components of Culture
Language
Primary vehicle for cultural transmission and identity
Religion
Shapes values, landscapes, and social organization
Ethnicity
Shared heritage, traditions, and group identity
Gender Roles
Culturally constructed expectations for behavior
Food & Music
Tangible expressions of identity and place
The Cultural Landscape
Traits, Complexes, and Realms
Folk vs. Popular Culture
| Folk Culture | Popular Culture | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Anonymous, hearth-based | Known source, mass-produced |
| Diffusion | Slow, relocation diffusion | Rapid, hierarchical diffusion |
| Distribution | Clustered, isolated | Widespread, global |
| Landscape | Unique, place-specific | Uniform, standardized |
| Example | Amish barn raising | Fast-food restaurant chains |
Types of Cultural Diffusion
Diffusion Definitions
1
Relocation diffusion: Spread through physical movement of people (e.g., immigrants bringing cuisine).
2
Hierarchical diffusion: Spread from large to small places or from authority figures down (e.g., fashion trends from Paris).
3
Contagious diffusion: Rapid, widespread spread through direct contact, like a wave (e.g., viral social media trends).
4
Stimulus diffusion: The underlying idea spreads but is adapted locally (e.g., McDonald's menu items vary by country).
Acculturation, Assimilation, and Syncretism
Acculturation
Adopting traits of a dominant culture while retaining original identity. Example: immigrants learning a new language but keeping their cuisine.
Assimilation
Fully absorbing into the dominant culture, losing the original identity. Example: second-generation immigrants who only speak the host language.
Syncretism
Blending two cultures to create something new. Example: Day of the Dead combines Indigenous and Catholic traditions.
Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism
| Ethnocentrism | Cultural Relativism | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Judging other cultures by your own standards | Understanding cultures on their own terms |
| Perspective | "My culture is superior" | "Cultures are different, not ranked" |
| Effect | Can lead to discrimination and conflict | Promotes tolerance and understanding |
| Example | Colonizers banning indigenous languages | Anthropologists studying rituals without judgment |
How to Analyze Culture on the AP Exam
1
Identify the cultural trait: What specific practice, belief, or artifact is being described?
2
Classify the diffusion type: Is it relocation, hierarchical, contagious, or stimulus?
3
Determine the cultural interaction: Is the result acculturation, assimilation, syncretism, or resistance?
4
Connect to landscape: How does this trait visibly shape the built environment?
5
Evaluate scale: Is this a local folk trait or a globally diffused popular culture phenomenon?
Example: Language Diffusion
Example: Syncretism in Practice
Example: Globalization and Culture
A McDonald's restaurant opens in Tokyo. The menu includes a Teriyaki McBurger and Green Tea McFlurry, items not found in the United States. This demonstrates multiple cultural processes simultaneously.
Hierarchical Diffusion
The brand spread from the U.S. to major world cities first.
Stimulus Diffusion
The fast-food concept was adopted but adapted to local taste.
Glocalization
A global brand modifies products for local markets.
Common Mistakes
✕ Confusing Acculturation and Assimilation
Acculturation means adopting some traits while keeping your identity. Assimilation means fully absorbing into the dominant culture.
✕ Mixing Up Diffusion Types
Hierarchical goes from large to small. Contagious spreads equally in all directions. Stimulus means the idea spreads, not the exact trait.
✕ Equating Folk Culture with "Old"
Folk culture is not extinct: it is actively practiced by communities today (e.g., Amish, indigenous groups). It simply has limited, clustered distribution.
Culture Concepts Summary
| Concept | Definition | Key Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Landscape | Human imprint on environment | Rice terraces in Philippines |
| Relocation Diffusion | Spread by migration | Cuban food in Miami |
| Hierarchical Diffusion | Spread top-down | Fashion from Paris runways |
| Contagious Diffusion | Rapid wavelike spread | Viral internet trends |
| Syncretism | Blending of two cultures | Day of the Dead |
| Glocalization | Global brand, local adaptation | Regional McDonald's menus |
Question 1 of 5
Which of the following best describes cultural syncretism?
Syncretism occurs when elements of two cultures merge into something new, such as Day of the Dead blending Indigenous and Catholic traditions. Option A describes assimilation, and B describes contagious diffusion.
Question 2 of 5
A new fashion trend starts in New York City, spreads to Los Angeles and Chicago, and then reaches smaller cities. This is an example of:
Hierarchical diffusion spreads from large cities to smaller ones, following a hierarchy of size or influence. The trend didn't spread equally in all directions (contagious) or through migration (relocation).
Question 3 of 5
Carl Sauer's concept of the cultural landscape emphasizes that:
Sauer argued that the cultural landscape is the visible imprint of human activity on the physical environment: architecture, agriculture, roads, and settlement patterns all modify the natural landscape.
Question 4 of 5
McDonald's sells a McSpicy Paneer burger in India and a Teriyaki McBurger in Japan. This practice is best described as:
Glocalization is when a global company adapts its products to fit local cultural preferences. The concept remains global (fast food), but the product is tailored to each market's tastes and dietary norms.
Question 5 of 5
Which pair correctly distinguishes folk culture from popular culture?
Folk culture is practiced by small, homogeneous groups in clustered, isolated locations, while popular culture diffuses rapidly and has a widespread, global distribution. Folk culture diffuses slowly through relocation, not hierarchically.