Final answer:
Culture consists of the learned shared values, beliefs, norms, and lifeways that guide individuals and groups within a society. It is a dynamic system that passes down knowledge and practices from one generation to another, heavily influencing thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Culture influences the way individuals and groups interpret, rationalize, and interact with the world. This includes the laws, morals, religious beliefs, customs, rituals, and cultural rules that govern social life. Culture is not static; it is a dynamic system that shapes our perceptions, guides our decisions, and dictates our actions in specific ways. A culture is defined by shared practices, values, and beliefs, which are all part of a group's way of life. From everyday interactions to the most significant parts of a group's life, culture affects everything produced by a society, including social norms. Notably, cultural transmission is the process through which people come to learn the values, beliefs, and social norms of their culture. This means that even though we may consider ourselves to be independent, our thoughts and actions are very much influenced by the cultural setting into which we are born.