Cultural Universals: Shared Aspects of Human Societies

Exogamy, the practice of marrying outside one's own social group, is a common cultural universal found in many societies worldwide.

Animism, the belief that objects, places, and natural phenomena possess a spiritual essence, is a widespread cultural universal found in many societies.

Extended family, a family unit that includes parents, children, and other relatives living together, is a common cultural universal found in many societies.

Enculturation, the process of learning and internalizing the cultural norms, values, and behaviors of one's own society, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies.

Music, the art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds for expressive purposes, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies.

Monotheism, the belief in one supreme being, is a common cultural universal found in many societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Agriculture, the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals for food production, is a common cultural universal found in many societies, although it has taken different forms over time.

Acculturation, the process of adapting to a new culture or environment by adopting its cultural norms, values, and behaviors, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies.

Law, a system of rules and regulations enforced through social institutions, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Animism, the belief in the existence of spirits or supernatural beings, is a common cultural universal found in many societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Language, a system of symbols and rules used for communication, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Assimilation, the process of integrating into a new culture or society by adopting its cultural norms, values, and behaviors, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Clan, a group of people who share a common ancestor, is a common cultural universal found in many societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Transformation, the process of changing one's culture or society, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.

Storytelling, the art of narrating stories, is a common cultural universal found in all human societies, although it takes different forms in different cultures.