What does nonmaterial culture include?

Nonmaterial culture encompasses the intangible aspects of a society, which includes abstract human creations such as language, beliefs, values, norms, and customs. These elements shape how individuals within a society think, communicate, and interact with one another. Nonmaterial culture is crucial for understanding a society’s social structure, traditions, and collective identity. This concept contrasts with material culture, which relates to physical objects and tangible aspects that people create and give meaning to, such as tools and technology.

The other options focus on aspects that are rooted in material culture or are too narrow in scope. For instance, physical objects and tools belong to material culture, which is concerned with tangible items. Only traditional customs does not capture the full range of nonmaterial culture, as it excludes broader constructs like values and ideologies. Tangible assets, similar to physical objects, pertain strictly to material culture, further emphasizing the distinction between the tangible and intangible elements of social life.