Key Difference – Culture vs Subculture
Culture and subculture share similarities, but there is a distinct difference between the two. Culture is the way of life for people in a specific society, and it is through this culture that individuals learn the accepted and expected codes of behavior. Subculture, on the other hand, is the way of life that exists within the main culture and is unique to specific groups of people. The main difference between the two is that the main culture is shared by all members, but the subculture is not and is only shared by segments in society.
Key Takeaways
- Culture refers to the ways of life for people in a specific society, including values, norms, mores, taboos, ideas, and attitudes.
- Subculture is the way of life that exists within the main culture and is unique to specific groups of people, such as ethnic or religious groups.
- While the main culture is shared by all members of a society, the subculture is only shared by segments within the society.
What is Culture?
Culture includes the values, norms, mores, taboos, ideas, and attitudes of people in a specific society. Through the components of culture, one can understand the accepted patterns of behavior in a particular society. Culture is not something that exists only for a limited period of time; it is passed on from one generation to another. Small children are taught their culture by parents and other social agents, such as schools and religious leaders, through a process called socialization. Culture plays a significant role in every society as it has a significant impact on the lives of people.
What is Subculture?
Subculture refers to the ways of life that exist within the main culture. In a single society, there can be multiple cultures based on ethnic groups, religious groups, etc. This means that although people share a common culture, there are also sub-sections within this culture that individuals are a part of. In some cases, there can be clashes between the main culture and subculture, creating difficult conditions for individuals and society as a whole.
For example, in most universities, there are subcultures with specific ways of accepted behavior and codes of ethics. Ragging is one practice that is part of the university subculture. Although this is followed only by university students who belong to the subculture, it can create clashes with the culture of society. In such instances, the main culture can have a significant impact on changing the subculture. As you can see, although culture and subculture are connected, there is a clear difference between the two.
What is the Difference Between Culture and Subculture?
- Definition: Culture is the way of life for people in a specific society, while subculture refers to the way of life that exists within the main culture.
- Society: Every society has a culture, but there can be multiple subcultures within a single society.
- Influence: The culture can influence subcultures in society, and subcultures can influence the culture of society.
- People: All members are part of the culture, but not all members of society are part of the subculture.
