Page 23 - University English for non-speacalist

The nonmaterial components on the other hand are intangible products that can neither be
seen nor touched. They can be discerned, however, through their impact and influence on what
people do or do not do: on what they produce or do not produce, on what they eat or do not eat,
on what they wear or do not wear.

Beliefs, a component of nonmaterial culture, are conceptions of the world and how it
works and the individual's place within it. They define what people accept as true or reject as
false and exert powerful influence on people's actions and behavior. An example of beliefs is
the notion that illness is caused by disruptions to the flow of the "qi," which is vital life energy
that flows through the body. That belief gives rise to certain specific actions and behaviors
intended to cure the illness by removing these disruptions and restoring balance to the body.
Another example is the belief that there is life after death. This belief results in certain specific
actions and behaviors intended to ensure a blissful and contended afterlife, free of suffering and
torment.

Another component of nonmaterial culture is values. This concept has its roots in beliefs and
refers to the shared conceptions of what is good and what is bad, of what is desirable and what
is not desirable, of what is important and what is not. Values, for example, result in people
opting to dress in certain styles and to reject others. It is values that determine an individual's
behavior when his or her wishes conflict with the group's wishes. The Japanese axiom that "the
nail that sticks out gets hammered" expresses the importance that Japanese society puts on
maintaining harmony within the group.

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