In humans, differences in physical and behavioral traits tend to lead to isolation, which leads to cultural differences¹. That’s why the general trait of being very curious, experimental and focused on technology and problem-solving has given rise to (among others) the hacker culture and its associated persona. But, one need not consider oneself a part of the hacker culture if one does not want to. Indeed, one can be a programmer without having any of the above traits and/or consider oneself part of the hacker culture.

1) Regarding physical traits leading to culture, the same development can be seen to have given rise to Deaf culture, and also in the very concepts of “men” and “women”, which are more cultural in nature than most people think.