What is a Culture Frame?
A culture frame provides a lens through which a society interprets its traditions, values, myths, and symbols. It's a framework that explains shared understandings within a specific group or community. Different groups within a single society may even possess distinct cultural frames.
Several key aspects define a culture frame:
- Shared Understanding: A culture frame represents commonly held beliefs, values, and assumptions within a group. This shared understanding shapes how individuals perceive the world and interact with each other.
- Interpretation of Symbols and Myths: Cultural frames provide meaning to symbols, stories, and rituals, influencing how members interpret their experiences.
- Influence on Behavior: The cultural frame significantly shapes individual and collective behavior, guiding actions and decision-making.
- Multiple Frameworks within a Society: A single society can contain numerous cultural frames reflecting the diversity of its constituent groups (e.g., ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic). For example, the United States has different cultural frameworks for its white and African American populations. This concept is explored in the Cultural Frames, Framing Culture series from UVA Press. https://www.upress.virginia.edu/series/cff/
Cultural Frame Switching
For individuals belonging to multiple cultures, the concept of cultural frame switching becomes relevant. This involves the ability to access and utilize different culture-specific mental modules, adapting behavior and thinking to suit the situation. More information on cultural switching can be found at: https://open.maricopa.edu/culturepsychology/chapter/switching/
Culture Frameworks in Organizations
In organizational contexts, a culture framework describes the key elements defining and shaping a company's culture. This framework often includes values, beliefs, and practices that guide employee behavior and interactions. A resource providing more detail on organizational culture frameworks can be found at: https://www.aihr.com/hr-glossary/culture-framework/
Examples of Culture Frames
- Religious Beliefs: The shared faith and practices within a religious community constitute a culture frame.
- National Identity: Patriotism and national narratives form a culture frame defining a nation's identity.
- Professional Culture: The values and norms within a specific profession (e.g., medicine or engineering) create a unique culture frame.
- Organizational Culture: As mentioned earlier, companies use culture frameworks to guide their employees' actions and create a shared understanding of the company's values. Balfour Beatty, for instance, outlines its cultural framework publicly. https://www.balfourbeatty.com/about-us/how-we-operate/our-cultural-framework/
