Cultural Concepts and Diffusion Processes in Human Geography

Culture

Shared beliefs, values, behaviors, and material traits of a group of people.

Folklore

Traditional stories, songs, sayings, or customs passed through generations within a culture.

Cultural Trait

A single element of culture, such as clothing, food, or greeting style.

Diffusion

The spread of ideas, innovations, or cultural traits from hearths to other geographic areas.

Relocation Diffusion

Spread of a cultural trait through the physical movement of people.

Expansion Diffusion

Spread of a cultural trait outward from its hearth while remaining strong there.

Hierarchical Diffusion

Spread of an idea from people or places of power or influence to others.

Stimulus Diffusion

Spread of an underlying idea even when the main trait changes.

Taboo

A behavior strongly discouraged or forbidden by a culture.

Imperialism

When one country dominates another politically, economically, or culturally.

Indigenous Culture

The original or native culture of a region's first inhabitants.

Local Culture

A small, homogeneous group maintaining unique cultural traits, often rural.

Popular Culture

Widespread culture found in large, diverse societies that changes quickly.

Globalization

Increasing worldwide connections through trade, communication, and technology.

Material Culture

Tangible objects created by members of a society, such as tools or buildings.

Non-Material Culture

Ideas, beliefs, values, and norms that shape a culture's worldview.

Placelessness

When places lose their unique identity due to standardization and global culture.

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially an ethnic or cultural group.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding another culture by its own standards rather than judging it.

Cultural Convergence

The process by which cultures become more alike due to interaction.

Cultural Divergence

When cultures become more distinct or resist outside influence.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.

Small-Scale Processes

Local or regional cultural patterns and practices.

Time-Space Convergence

The idea that the world feels smaller as travel and communication improve.

Cultural Landscape

The visible imprint of human activity and culture on the land.

Cultural Regions

Areas where people share common cultural traits.

Cultural Hearths

The geographic origins of a culture or innovation.

Sequent Occupancy

Layers of human impact left on a place by different groups over time.

Traditional Architecture

Building styles that reflect a region's cultural heritage and environment.

Modern Architecture

Newer architectural styles emphasizing simplicity and function.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural heritage, ancestry, and traditions of a group.

Race

A social construct based on perceived physical characteristics.

Ethnic Enclaves

Areas where people of a particular ethnicity cluster together.

Sense of Place

The feelings and meanings attached to a particular location.

Centripetal Force

Factors that unite and stabilize a country.

Centrifugal Force

Factors that divide or destabilize a country.

Multiculturalism

The coexistence and acceptance of diverse cultures within a society.

Ethnic Cleansing

The forced removal of an ethnic or religious group from an area.

Assimilation

When a minority group gradually adopts the traits of the dominant culture.

Cultural Complex

A related set of cultural traits that define one aspect of a society.

Cultural Homogenization

The process where local cultures become similar to a dominant global culture, leading to a loss of cultural diversity.

Cultural Adaptation

How people modify their culture to fit environmental or social changes.

Cultural Identity

The sense of belonging to a particular cultural or ethnic group.

Cultural Change

Transformation in cultural beliefs, behaviors, or practices over time.