One of the most influential and frequently cited theorists in the field of culture is Edward T. Hall. He developed the concept of“culture” as a system of meanings, symbolic behaviours, and interpretations that shape the way people understand and approach the world. We highlight this definition because it is relevant to the concept of security culture, as it emphasizes the values, norms, and behaviours that influence attitudes toward security, responsibility, and preparedness. Hall’s definition of culture is:“ culture is a set of habits, beliefs, customs, and values that shape the behaviour and way of thinking of a particular society or group”(Hall, 1976). From the above it follows that it is clear that key attributes of culture are fundamental to understanding the concept of security culture. Culture is a complex system that encompasses material, spiritual, and human ele­ments, primarily serving to satisfy basic biological and existential needs. Malinowski emphasizes that culture provides instrumental tools and ideas that help humans solve problems and adapt to their environment, which also introduces new needs. Geertz highlights that culture functions as a set of control mechanisms, rules and programs that regulate behaviour, an idea highly relevant to security culture, as it involves formalized procedures and norms guiding responsible and safe conduct. Additionally, Hall describes culture as a set of habits, beliefs, customs, and values that shape behaviour and thinking within a society. Overall, culture shapes values, norms, and behaviours related to security and preparedness, acting as a system of ex­ternal controls that manage human actions to ensure safety and resilience within society. However, to better understand the concept of culture, it is important at the beginning to examine the etymology and various interpretations of the term in etymological, historical, and comprehensive(thesauri) dictionaries. This allows researchers to identify additional important dimensions or char­acteristics that can be significant for a deeper understanding of the concept of security culture. Etymological and Dictionary Interpretation of the Meaning of the Term Culture Etymologically, the term“culture” derives from the Latin words cultus and colere. The primary meaning of the first of these two words lies in the reli­gious understanding of culture. In contrast, the word“colere”, which means “to nurture,”“to cultivate,” or“to till,” has a broader meaning that aligns Chapter 1 – Security Culture as a Concept Synthesized From the Terms Culture and Security 25