It appears that storytelling can be viewed as a cultural universal. Family units certainly play a role in teaching cultural norms and in creating expectations that need to be met; each society also a system in place based on their norms that enforces deviations by law. Many institutions within a society, i.e. schools or religious gathering places, convey certain values or beliefs as well.

Maybe the most effective technique is relating cultural norms using the storytelling technique. Stories appeal to all people; simple stories can be told to the youngest group members who are the most malleable and who need to be told right from wrong etc. Older people read, listen to or watch stories via all kinds of media. Most internationally successful movies discuss cultural universals such as love, death, the loss of something or someone, injustices, the environment.

While the media has changed over the centuries, from oral traditions to papyrus to printed matter to audiobooks and from silent movies to the movies and videos of today, a good story still contains values, ideas and morals.

Folk or traditional culture can be found in isolated places in the rural landscape but also in tied-knit communities in cities or towns. It  encompasses the customs, beliefs, and practices passed down through generations within a community, often rooted in rural or indigenous settings. This culture is characterized by its deep connection to the local environment, history, and social practices of the community, remaining relatively static and resistant to change. Examples include traditional music, dances, crafts, and oral storytelling, all of which reflect the community’s identity and heritage.

Popular culture, on the other hand, is a dynamic and ever-evolving set of practices, beliefs, and objects that are widespread among a large, diverse population. It is heavily influenced by mass media, consumerism, and global communication, making it accessible and appealing to a broad audience. Popular culture includes trends in music, fashion, entertainment, and technology, often driven by commercial interests and changing rapidly in response to societal shifts and technological advancements.

Cultural universals are elements, patterns, traits, or institutions that are common to all human cultures worldwide. These universals reflect the shared human experiences and needs that transcend individual societies. Examples include:

• Language: Every culture has developed some form of language, whether spoken, written, or signed, to communicate and share information, emotions, and ideas.
• Kinship Systems: All societies have systems of family relationships and social structures that define roles, responsibilities, and connections among individuals, such as parents, children, and extended family members.
• Rituals and Ceremonies: Every culture has rituals and ceremonies to mark significant life events and transitions, such as birth, coming of age, marriage, and death, which help to create social bonds and impart cultural values.

Certain factors contribute to the intricate mosaic of cultural regions within cultural regions:

• A larger formal region identified as, say German-speaking Switzerland, may have pockets of speakers of a different language – Romansh – which is due to historic migration patterns of Roman soldiers speaking a language called ‘Vulgar Latin’. Often such ethnic pockets can be found in isolated vallleys where it is easier for such traditions to survive.
• Diverse economic bases can create unique cultural sub-regions within a vernacular geographic area. For example, within the vernacular region Appalachia we may find active and inactive coal mining areas with distinct cultural and social practices related to mining life. In contrast, other parts of Appalachia, focused on on tourism and crafts which fostered a distinct local culture emphasizing hospitality, environmental stewardship, and artistic expression.

Assimilation is a process where individuals or groups from one culture fully adopt and integrate into the dominant culture, often losing their original cultural identity in the process. Typically involves a unidirectional process where the minority culture adopts the traits of the dominant culture.

Some governments employ techniques that force assimilation to achieve greater national unity, social cohesion, and political control. By making minority groups adopt the dominant culture, governments aim to eliminate cultural differences that could lead to social fragmentation, dissent, or resistance. Forced assimilation can also be motivated by a desire to create a homogeneous national identity, reduce potential sources of conflict, and ensure that minority groups conform to the political, economic, and social norms of the dominant group.

Governments employ techniques that force assimilation through policies like compulsory education in the dominant language, banning traditional cultural practices, relocating communities, and using propaganda to promote the dominant culture.