What is a primary aspect of cultural sociology?

Cultural sociology primarily focuses on understanding how culture influences social life, particularly through the meanings that individuals and groups create and share. This approach emphasizes the interpretation of symbols, rituals, and practices within specific social contexts, allowing sociologists to explore how cultural beliefs and values shape human behavior and societal structures.

By interpreting cultural meanings, researchers can better understand the complex ways in which individuals and groups navigate their social environments, construct identities, and relate to one another. This perspective highlights the significance of culture in shaping social reality, making it a crucial element in the study of sociology.

The other options do not capture the essence of cultural sociology effectively. Focusing only on popular culture is too narrow and disregards the broader range of cultural practices and meanings across different social contexts. Studying the transmission of biological traits pertains more to genetic or biological sociology rather than cultural concerns. Analyzing economic benefits, while relevant in some sociological fields, does not convey the interpretive nature central to cultural sociology, which is more concerned with the meanings behind cultural practices than their economic implications.