In general terms, culture is often defined as a set of shared beliefs or practices within a society. However, culture can lead to both positive and negative outcomes. In today’s context, I believe the definition of culture should be evaluated not just by its prevalence, but by the outcomes it produces.
A set of beliefs or practices that results in positive outcomes for the society that follows them should be considered culture in the modern sense.
On the other hand, when a set of practices causes harm or regression, it should not be dignified with the term culture. Instead, such a phenomenon should be referred to as misculture — a belief system or practice that is mistakenly assumed to be beneficial, but in reality, leads to negative consequences.
Misculture can emerge in two ways:
- As a misinterpretation of an originally positive culture, or
- As a newly adopted behavior or habit that spreads through society but proves harmful over time.
Recognizing this distinction is important if we want to build cultures that truly contribute to collective well-being — and consciously move away from patterns that no longer serve us.
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