What is defined as the sum total of the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behavior patterns shared and transmitted by the members of a society?

The correct answer is the term that embodies the collective aspects of human social life, which includes the knowledge, attitudes, and habitual behaviors that are shared among members of a society. Culture serves as the overarching framework that shapes how individuals within a society understand the world and interact with one another. It encompasses language, beliefs, norms, values, and practices that are learned and passed down from generation to generation.

Understanding culture is crucial in sociology, as it highlights the differences between various societies and influences individuals' identities and interactions. Culture also plays a critical role in social cohesion and provides a context for social behavior, making it fundamental to the study of society and social relationships.

While ethnocentrism refers to the tendency to view one’s own culture as superior to others, and ideology pertains to a system of ideas, beliefs, and values that represents a particular worldview, culture is a broader concept that includes all these elements as part of the wider social fabric. Cultural scripts, on the other hand, specifically pertain to the expected behaviors and social norms within a particular cultural context, being just one facet of the larger definition of culture.