Module 9 Understanding Culture as an Iceberg

The Iceberg Model of Culture

Culture has both tangible and intangible aspects that shape a child'd development as well as the culture of a school.

One way to conceptualize culture developed by Edward T. Hall uses the analogy of an iceberg.

In an iceberg, only about 10% of the iceberg is visible above the waterline. The majority of the iceberg is hidden beneath the surface. Hall (1976) suggested that culture was similar to an iceberg. He proposed that culture has two components and that only about 10% of culture (external or surface culture) is easily visible; the majority, or 90%, of culture (internal or deep culture) is hidden below the surface.

Keep this in mind as you complete the Module 10 assignment.

cultural iceberg