The term “culture” refers to the complex accumulation of knowledge, folklore, language, rules, rituals, habits, lifestyles, attitudes, beliefs and customs that connect and provide an identity general to a group of people. Cultures take a long time to develop. There are many things that establish identity, give meaning to life, define what one becomes and how one should behave. The distribution and exercise of power shape attitudes toward authority. How people support themselves economically and how they obtain the necessities of life determines the roles assigned to individuals and the relationships between them. People's physical environment helps define the nature, intensity, and longevity of their values. The wealth of resources or the mild climate create a sense of well-being and optimism. Conversely, rugged terrain, harsh climate, frequent disasters, and lack of resources can create cynicism, fear of nature, and a need for interdependence to ensure mutual survival. To some extent we can link favorable conditions with a higher standard of living and more competitive, detail-oriented values. How do personal values ​​shape culture, and how does culture influence our understanding and interpretation of seemingly ordinary things? Core values ​​influence actions and us to act in ways that we believe constitute the most useful means of satisfying needs. Values ​​influence behavior. They are the reason we do what we do, say what we do, and think how we do it. How a society perceives personal values ​​and norms can dramatically change how things are interpreted and may be offensive to some. The meanings and connotations of many gestures and words are not the same universally. Understanding through communication Many people think that under "we are..." at the center of the sheet... Works cited culture-and-communication-nonverbal-pdf. html. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2010, from pdfxp.com: http://www.pdfxp.com/culture-and-nonverbal-communication-pdf.htmlJones, J. M. (2010, May). What do you know about cultural styles? National Association of School Psychologists, 38(7), p. 1.unknown. (2006, December 07). WHO Manual120706. Retrieved November 16, 2010, from scribd.com: http://www.scribd.com/doc/1714366/Environmental-Protection-Agency-reportWHOhandbook120706unknown. (n.d.). social barriers. Retrieved November 19, 2010, from bizaims.com: http://www.bizaims.com/articles/social/barriers%20effect%20cultural%20communication%20businessunknown. (n.d.). The relationship between Culture and Communication. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from jrank.org: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6491/culture-and-communication.html