Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following terms is defined as "socially constructed and historically transmitted patterns of symbols, meanings, premises and rules?"

1. Culture

2. Tradition

3. Society

4. Community

The correct answer is: Culture

The term defined as "socially constructed and historically transmitted patterns of symbols, meanings, premises and rules" is culture. Culture encompasses the beliefs, values, behaviors, and material objects that are shared by a group of people. It is a dynamic and evolving construct that reflects the societal norms and practices over time. While tradition refers to the inherited customs and practices that may be part of culture, it does not capture the broader scope of symbols and meanings that culture entails. Society describes a larger grouping of individuals who share a common geographic or social territory, but it emphasizes the structure of interactions rather than the symbol systems and meanings of those interactions. Community usually indicates a specific group of people living in close proximity or sharing a common interest, while culture transcends these immediate contexts to include a wide array of symbolic patterns and rules that influence behaviors and relationships among individuals in society at large.