Which sequence correctly lists Kwast's four cultural layers from deepest to outward?

• A. Worldview, Beliefs, Values, Behavior
• B. Beliefs, Worldview, Behavior, Values
• C. Behavior, Values, Beliefs, Worldview
• D. Values, Beliefs, Worldview, Behavior

Answer: (A)

Culture unfolds from the inside out: deep assumptions about reality shape what people hold as true, which then molds their values and finally guides outward behavior. In Kwast's four-layer view, the innermost layer is worldview—the fundamental assumptions about existence, human nature, and life's purpose that people rarely question. Those overarching beliefs provide the background for what individuals accept as true, i.e., beliefs. Those beliefs influence values—the ideals about what is important or desirable—and those values then drive observable behavior, including norms, rituals, and everyday actions.

Seeing it this way helps you understand why outward behavior can’t be fully understood without the inner layers: the same outward practices can arise from different worldviews and beliefs, and thus different values, making the deeper layers the force behind what you actually observe. For example, a worldview that emphasizes interconnectedness within a divinely ordered cosmos will shape beliefs about truth and duty, which fosters values like community responsibility and hospitality, ultimately shaping behaviors such as cooperative work and welcoming guests.

So the sequence from deepest to outward is worldview, beliefs, values, behavior.