Patterns of Culture

In the opening chapter of Patterns of Culture, Benedict provides a basic definition of anthropology as “the study of human beings as creatures of society” (1). She differentiates anthropology from other social sciences by explaining that anthropologists study the traditions and customs of non-Western societies. Benedict refers to non-Western societies using the accepted terms of her time—“primitive,” “barbarian,” and “pagan”—yet she is careful not to describe one type of society as superior to another. Benedict explains it is useful to study “primitive” societies because their traditions and customs often are different from those of “Western civilization,” which scholars typically regard as the standard unit of measurement (3, 5, 6). Instead, Benedict thinks it is important for anthropologists to focus on “the role of custom” and “its laws and varieties” across a wide range of cultures (3).

In the rest of the chapter, Benedict explains that custom—or cultural heritage—is learned behavior, accumulated through everyday experiences, and shared with others. It also is highly adaptable, a characteristic she describes in terms of “plasticity.” For Benedict, “primitive” societies offer an ideal vantage point to study custom and culture. She writes that the relative isolation of “primitive” societies has preserved their customs, making them an ideal “laboratory” to “study the diversity of human institutions” (17).