state and ethic group levels. Depending on various
criteria, societies may be classified in to various
categories, such as First World, Second World, Third
World and Fourth World Societies (based on economic
development and overall socio-economic status); and
hunting and gathering, pastoral, agrarian, industrial and
post industrial societies (based on temporal succession
and major means of livelihood).
The term "culture" refers to the whole ways of life of the
members of a society. It includes what they dress; their
marriage customs and family life; art and patterns of
work; religious ceremonies; leisure pursuits and so forth.
Culture has various dimensions such as material and
non-material, implicit and explicit, organic and supra
organic, ideal and actual, dynamic and static and overt
and covert. The essential elements of culture include
symbols, language, values and norms. Other important
aspects of culture such as culture variability; ethno-
centrism, cultural relativism and culture shock; cultural
universals, alternatives and specialties; and culture lag
and lead are discussed.