Bite-sized definition: Culture is like the rulebook for survival in a certain environment, followed by a group of people. It's all the tools, practices, and beliefs they use to prosper. Cultural norms, on the other hand, are the specific pages of that rulebook - specific attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors considered "normal" or "acceptable" in that culture.

• Culture vs. Cultural Norms:

Culture: The set of tools, practices, and beliefs groups use to survive and thrive.

Cultural Norms: The specific attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors unique to a culture.

Think of culture like the iOS or Android operating system running on your phone, while cultural norms are the specific apps and settings you have. You can have the same iOS but use different apps and settings based on your preferences.

• Same Purpose, Different Means:

All cultural groups share the same overall purpose - survival and prosperity.

The way they achieve this purpose (their 'means') can vary greatly. These means are the cultural norms.

• Cultural norms arise from environmental context:

Based on their environmental context, certain attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors will be deemed appropriate or inappropriate.

Imagine if you live in a society where rain is rare, and water is precious - here, wasting water may be a big 'no-no', a cultural norm. But in a place where it rains often, people might have different norms about using water.