Final answer:
The statement is false. Culture is a fundamental means of human survival, affecting social behavior, and value systems, and even influencing physical appearance through sexual selection, not merely physical appearance alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Culture is not our primary means of survival but rather physical appearance." is false. While physical appearance is key in terms of adaptation and evolutionary traits that have been selected to ensure survival in specific environments, culture plays a crucial and often dominant role in human survival. Our social behaviors, beliefs, practices, and tools, which are part of our culture, enable us to live in a range of environments and rely on knowledge passed through generations to support our survival.
Historical evidence and anthropological studies demonstrate the significance of culture in human advancement. For instance, the concept of separate spheres and the Cult of Domesticity helped shape social classes within American culture. Similarly, the temperance movement was a cultural response to social changes such as urbanization and immigration. These examples illustrate how culture impacts social behavior and value systems. Cultural maladaptations have sometimes led to negative outcomes, evident in civilizations like the Mayans whose cultural practices did not prevent their collapse.
Culture also influences our perception of physical appearance through sexual selection, where certain traits become preferable within a population over time. This has led to diversity in human phenotypes, demonstrating the interrelationship between culture and biology in terms of human appearance.