A belief that capitalism is the best economic system and that anyone can succeed

through hard work and merit is an aspect of.
American culture.
material
O folkway
nonmaterial
O institutional

American culture.

The belief that capitalism is the best economic system and that anyone can succeed through hard work and merit is an aspect of American culture. This belief can be classified as a nonmaterial aspect of culture. Nonmaterial aspects of culture refer to intangible elements such as values, beliefs, and ideologies that shape the way people think and behave in a society.

The belief that capitalism is the best economic system and that anyone can succeed through hard work and merit is an aspect of American culture. To determine this, we can break down the answer options provided:

A) Material: Material culture refers to the physical artifacts and objects that are part of a society, such as buildings, technology, and tools. The belief in capitalism and success through hard work and merit is not directly associated with material objects, so this option can be excluded.

B) Folkway: Folkways are traditional customs or social behaviors that are followed by a particular group or society. While the belief in capitalism and meritocracy may be shared by many individuals in American society, it is not necessarily a specific traditional custom or social behavior followed by everyone. Therefore, this option can also be excluded.

C) Nonmaterial: Nonmaterial culture refers to the intangible aspects of a society, including beliefs, values, norms, and ideologies. The belief in capitalism and the idea that anyone can succeed through hard work and merit falls into this category. It represents a set of shared beliefs and values that influence the thinking and behavior of individuals in American society. Therefore, this option is likely the correct answer.

D) Institutional: Institutions are established sets of practices and rules that govern behavior in a society. While there are institutions in American society that support capitalist principles, such as the free market and private property rights, the specific belief that anyone can succeed through hard work and merit is more related to the nonmaterial aspects of culture rather than a specific institution. Therefore, this option can also be excluded.

So, based on this analysis, the most appropriate answer is "nonmaterial."