Why do people have the tendancy to think of their culture practices as "natural"?

Question

anthropological aspects

Answer 1

Because to them, it is. It's the only way they know. It's like growing up knowing you have blue eyes. :)

Answer 2

For a very clear and well-considered perspective on this, you should look up French Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.  One of the social processes he describes is "naturalization" and it fits this question perfectly.  Bourdieu can be difficult to understand, especially in translation, but if you are able to read French, his ideas may make better sense to you in his original language.  

Key concepts:  Naturalization, habitus, hegemony

Bourdieu defines "Habitus" as "socialized subjectivity"

Here are some recommended links that may help.

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/bourd.htm

http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Acciai...

IMO:  To put it too simply - enculturation or socialization creates structures (akin to 'beliefs'), which, because they are shared by all or most members of the subject culture, seem in every sense to be 'natural' and unopposable.  

Culture, therefore, becomes hegemonic. For help with Hegemony, I recommend looking up the name "Antonio Gramsci".  There are many others who deal with these subjects, but Bourdieu and Gramsci are, IMO, among the best.

Answer 3

hey, i know i'm not answering.. but have you read Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn?.. it has some interesting views on this matter.

Answer 4

Because it is THEIR culture, and it is natural to them. They probably grew up with that culture and therefore think of it as natural.

Answer 5

Because they can not accept thing for how it is

Answer 6

Who's to say whats natural and whats not?

Answer 7

Ironically, people are the only thing that are not "natural" on this planet -- they don't know how to live in symbiosis with their environment.  They consume the resources, breed, and when there's no more resources, move somewhere else, breed some more, etc.  All other animals and things in nature work to achieve a balance with their ecosystem.  Humans do not.  Anthropologically, our earlier ancestors evolved through natural symbolism, the sun, the moon, the seasons, and so on.  It was more natural way back then.

Answer 8

I believe it's called ethnocentrism, and I would guess that one's culture creates a 'norm' for the people within that culture; and things which differ from those practices are unusual and can seem 'alien.'  Probably the less isolated people of different cultures are from one another, the more educated they become, and hopefully less ethnocentric.

Answer 9

because it is natural!!!!!!!!!!!! you have been brought up in

a certain way and in a certain cultures.... and every person is suppose to respect each other's cultures......

so it is natural!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

because it's what they grew up with.  if you grew up living in a tree house and worshiping unicorns you'd think that was natural too.  of course things change with exposure to different cultures over time...

Answer 11

because a persons home cultural practices are the norm for them. any other cultural practices they encounter are judged against their home cultural.  The more divergent the cultures are, the wierder the new culture will be viewed.

Answer 12

vague much?