A cultural universal is a similar pattern found in any culture. It includes all components of culture that are pervasively seen at a global scale. Looking at it using ethnocentrism, one will not be shocked.
The best way to define this concept is through the use of examples. A smile in any culture shows happiness. If you slap someone’s face it is an insult either to an American or a Filipino. As a frown would suggest sadness in the northern hemisphere, it would imply the same in the south.
The following situation is not a cultural universal. Suppose an American nods up and down to an Arab man. The Arab man would think of the American’s disapproval because in the Middle East nodding up and down presents disapproval. While nodding sideways means affirmation.
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