Real culture, in contrast to ideal culture, refers to the actual social patterns, behaviours, customs, and practices that people in a society exhibit in their everyday lives, which may often deviate from or only approximate the cultural expectations, norms, and values that are formally espoused or idealised by that society. While ideal culture represents the norms and values that a society publicly endorses and strives for, real culture reflects how people actually behave in practice, which can include inconsistencies, contradictions, and a selective adherence to the ideal norms. The gap between ideal and real culture is a common area of sociological study, highlighting the complexities of social life and the fact that what people say they believe or do may not always align with their actual behaviour.