Final answer:
Cultural universals are elements common to all societies, including basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, and shared human experiences such as family structure, language, and celebrations. Despite cultural differences, these universals facilitate understanding and unity among diverse populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultures around the world share common elements despite their many differences. These cultural universals are patterns or traits that are globally common to all societies, and they often revolve around basic human needs and shared experiences.
Anthropologist George Murdock first identified these universals while studying systems of kinship and found that they typically pertain to essential topics such as food, clothing, shelter, language, family, and shared practices like weddings or funerals.
Despite the existence of cultural universals, cultural differences are typically more prevalent.
For example, all cultures have language, but specific structures and conversational norms can vary widely. Similarly, while the family unit is a universal, the way it is defined and operates differs from culture to culture.
Cultural differences become evident as people travel and interact with cultures unlike their own, yet there are universal elements like body language and certain emotional expressions that transcend geographic boundaries.
These shared aspects of human life, such as humor, help create unity and allow individuals to navigate social situations.
It is important to note that even as cultures change and evolve, they often retain distinctive features that constitute their unique cultural heritage.
Religion is another example often considered a cultural universal, as it is found across different societies. It provides a framework for understanding existence, morality, and often serves as a means of social cohesion and shared identity among its adherents.