In the sociological field, culture is defined as the ways in which individuals think, communicate, and behave, as well as the tangible artifacts that collectively influence a community's way of life.

Contemporary sociologists' approach to culture is often divided between a "sociology of culture" and "cultural sociology". The terms are similar, though not interchangeable. The sociology of culture is an older concept, and it considers some topics and objects as more or less "cultural" than others. In contrast, Jeffrey C. Alexander