Final answer:
Cultural universals exist across different societies, encompassing common patterns, values, and symbols of care despite cultural differences. Examples include family structures, marriage, and gestures like hand-holding, with variations according to sociocultural contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the commonalities or similarities in meanings, patterns, values, beliefs, and symbols of care that are observed across different cultures and assist people in their daily lives. Across all cultures, there are cultural universals which are certain patterns or traits that are globally recognized and practiced. Family units, certain gestures and body language, funeral rites, weddings, and celebrations of births are all examples of such universals, even though the specifics of these can vary greatly from one culture to another.
For instance, among many cultures, certain gestures or objects, such as hand-holding or displaying the 'evil eye', carry significant meanings. Additionally, the concept of technological diffusion showcases how cultural elements can be shared and spread across different societies, further contributing to similarities in cultural practices.
Different sociological perspectives and models, such as the cultural systems model and critical medical anthropology (CMA), help in understanding these commonalities as well as variations and are key in examining how cultures interact and adapt. It is important to note that while there are universal elements, variations in values can also be significant, as seen, for instance, in differing attitudes towards physical closeness in public across various cultures.