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How is culture emotional? Why do we get upset when people break the rules of culture?

User Overholt
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Final answer:

Culture is emotional because it is deeply intertwined with our values, identity, and sense of order. Violating cultural norms can elicit strong emotional responses due to the personal and social significance of these norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Culture is emotional because it comprises the shared beliefs, values, and practices that participants must learn and by which individuals define their identity. We adhere to various rules and standards that are socially constructed within our culture, shaping our perceptions and behavior. When someone breaks these cultural rules, it can create a sense of discomfort or upset because these rules contribute to social order and personal identity. This violation may trigger feelings of ethnocentrism or defensiveness of one's own culture. Moreover, shared cultural practices bring a sense of belonging, and when challenges to these norms occur, it can feel like a personal attack or a threat to the community's coherence.

For instance, greeting rituals like saying, "Hi, how are you?" without expecting a detailed response is an example of cultural expectations. Another example is how the notion of 'cancel culture' affects community attitudes, it is symptomatic of how breaking cultural codes can have profound impacts on individuals and society. Consequently, when people adhere to the order their culture provides and avoid the perceived chaos of not having cultural structures, they experience emotional responses when these structures are disregarded.

User TomRoche
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