9 Key Concepts

The set of convictions, values and viewpoints regarded as “the truth” and shared by members of a social group. These are underpinned and supported by known cultural experiences.

Belief and knowledge

The alteration or modification of cultural or social elements in a society.

Change

Refers to organized systems of symbols, ideas, explanations, beliefs and material production that humans create and manipulate in the course of their daily lives. Culture includes the customs by which humans organize their physical world and maintain their social structure.

Culture

An individual’s private and personal view of the self; also how a person is viewed from the perspective of a social group.

Identity

An essential feature of social relations and can be considered as a person's or group's capacity to influence, manipulate or control others and resources.

Power

Any relationship between two or more individuals. Social relations involve an element of individual agency as well as group expectations, and form the basis of social organization and social structure. They pervade every aspect of human life and are extensive, complex and diverse

Social relations

Refers to the way in which humans organize themselves in groups and networks. Society is created and sustained by social relationships and institutions. The term “society” can also be used to refer to a human group that exhibits some internal coherence and distinguishes itself from other such groups.

Society

The significance that people attach to objects, actions and processes; symbols construct a cultural web of meaning.

Symbolism

Objects, resources and belongings have cultural meaning, described by Arjun Appadurai as “the social life of things” (Appadurai 1986).

Materiality