Symbolism in Anthropology

Symbolic anthropology studies how people create meaning out of their experiences or construct their own concept of reality through the use of shared cultural symbols, such as myths or body language. A culture's unique combination of cultural symbols — and their meanings — creates meaning for the individual, which in turn prompts that individual to react in culturally specific ways to symbolic behavior and communication. Symbols, such as a raised eyebrow, may be shared by different cultures but have different meanings or elicit distinct responses within each culture. Symbolic culture emphasizes direct observation and interpretation of cultures within their own framework, putting it at odds with both the all-encompassing theoretical aspirations of structuralism and the external interpretive approach of Marxism.

Adopted from:
Definition of symbolic anthropology