What is the Difference Between Culture and Lifestyle

The main difference between culture and lifestyle is that culture is always based on a community or a group of people, whereas lifestyle can refer to an individual’s way of life.

Culture is a complex whole that involves social forms, customary beliefs, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group. Lifestyle is the way in which a person or persons live. We can describe lifestyle as a component of culture. Moreover, an individual’s lifestyle is always affected by his culture.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Culture  
      – Definition, Features
2. What is Lifestyle
     – Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Culture and Lifestyle
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Culture, Lifestyle

What is Culture

Culture is a very broad concept that involves social behaviour and norms. We can define it as the overalls ways of living built up by a group of human beings which is transmitted from one generation to another. According to the cultural anthropologist E.B. Taylor, culture is a  “complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” Like this definition suggests, many elements such as religion, social habits, knowledge, language, beliefs, cuisine, fashion, music and arts, etc., are embedded in the concept of culture. Almost all the members of a specific culture share these cultural traits. Another interesting fact about that culture is that it is acquired, not inherited.  Thus, the behaviour of an individual is shaped by the culture.

Furthermore, culture always changes over time and does not remain static. In addition, different features and practices of culture may differ according to different nationalities, ethnicities, and even different age groups. Although culture is an abstract concept, we can consider its elements like food, clothes, rituals, art, etc., as material representations of that culture.

What is Lifestyle

In the simplest words, lifestyle is the way in which a person lives. It’s a way of living. Lifestyle includes the behaviours, interests, needs, wants, motives, feelings, opinions, and behavioural orientations of a person, group, or culture. In other words, the work we do, how we behave, how we spend our leisure, and other social patterns express our lifestyle. Lifestyle can vary from person to person, as well. For instance, a person living in an urban area has a completely different lifestyle from a person living in a rural village. Lifestyle is also a way of forging a sense of self.

Lifestyle is greatly affected by culture. People in different cultures and societies can have different lifestyles. Furthermore, even within the same society, there are differences in lifestyles based on various factors like income, religion, and social class. We sometimes categorize lifestyles according to various factors, for instance, minimalist lifestyle, green lifestyle, vegan lifestyle, Christian lifestyle, and college lifestyle, etc.

Difference Between Culture and Lifestyle

Definition

Culture is a complex whole that involves social forms, customary beliefs, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group, while lifestyle is the way in which a person or persons live.

Nature

Culture is always based on a community or a group of people, whereas lifestyle can refer to an individual’s way of life.

Changes

Lifestyles can change drastically, even overnight, but culture changes gradually.

Relationship

Moreover, there can be different lifestyles among the people belonging to the same culture.

Conclusion

Culture is a complex whole that involves social forms, customary beliefs, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group, while lifestyle is the way in which a person or persons live. The main difference between culture and lifestyle is that culture is always based on a community or a group of people, whereas lifestyle can refer to an individual’s way of life.

Reference:

1. Zimmermann, Kim Ann. “What Is Culture?” LiveScience, Purch, 13 July 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Culture” By EpicTop10.com (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Lifestyle” (CC0) via Pixahive

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