What is the difference between Material and Non-material culture?
While we may not think of them this way, societies have material and non-material cultures just like individuals do. In fact, these two aspects of culture are inextricably linked; after all, the societies that make up a culture are made up of individual people. Material culture refers to the physical artifacts created by societies and their members; non-material culture refers to any ideas, beliefs, or customs that aren’t physical objects. The following guide discusses what each type of culture consists of, how they differ from one another, and why it’s important to understand both when studying sociology. (more...)
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