Cultural universal

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A cultural universal (see George Murdock, Claude Levi-Strauss, Donald Brown) is an element, pattern, trait, or institution that is common to all human cultures on the planet. Examples of elements that may be considered cultural universals are gender roles, the incest taboo, religious and healing ritual, mythology, marriage, language, art, music, cooking, games, and jokes.[citation needed] It should be noted that some anthropological and sociological theorists of an extreme cultural relativism perspective may deny, or minimize the importance of, the existence of cultural universals.[citation needed] The "nature versus nurture" argument has been going on for generations and is likely to continue.

These universals are sometimes referred to as "empty universals" since merely remarking on their presence in a particular culture doesn't actually show anything unique or significant about that culture.

The principal cultural universals are[citation needed]:

  1. Food
  2. Water
  3. Clothing
  4. Shelter
  5. Social organization
  6. Family
  7. Communication
  8. Recreation
  9. Arts
  10. Environment
  11. History
  12. Trance
  13. Spirituality

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