Final answer:
Cultural practices that persist as solutions to problems of living are ingrained behaviors that stem from a society's prevailing culture, often resisting change due to cultural lag, and can include diverse forms such as dietary habits to symbolic gestures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural practices that persist as solutions to problems of living are defined as behaviors that have evolved within a society's prevailing culture to address specific challenges or needs. These practices may include various symbolic gestures, rituals, or behaviors such as the use of amulets or specific actions understood within the context of that culture.
Cultural practices are often deeply embedded within the society's norms and values and can be resistant to change, as depicted by the concept of cultural lag, where cultural norms do not keep pace with technological and economic advancements.
These practices can take many forms, ranging from dietary habits that may contribute to health issues like obesity, to idiomatic expressions of distress like the hanging of the evil eye in Greece.
They are part of a dynamic system that includes routine behaviors, societal arrangements such as legislation and educational programs, and deeply held beliefs about the world and our interactions with it. Understanding these practices is essential in addressing the cultural maladaptations that may arise in rapidly changing societies.