Learning Activity Sheets

Teacher: LEVEN MART B. LACUNA Subject : UCSP Grade Level: 12

School: MABOG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL S.Y.: 2020-2021 Quarter/Module: Q1/Week 5

Title Defining Culture and Society from the Perspective of

anthropology and Sociology: Ethnocentrism and Cultural
Relativism
Introduction Cultural systems vary widely across the world. Due to cultural
variation, people have different ways of judging culture. Two important
orientations on how people view and evaluate culture are ethnocentrism and
cultural relativism.

This lesson focuses on the discussion of these two concepts.

Understanding these concepts will help you develop your social and cultural
competence that will guide you in interactions with people, groups, and
communities.

The activities laid out in this lesson will help you appreciate and value
cultural diversity. It will also help you examine your own perceptions about
other culture to overcome prejudices and discrimination.

MELC
Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural
understanding. UCSP 11 Q1 Week 5

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism;
2. give examples of situations manifesting ethnocentrism and
cultural relativism;
3. explain how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism;
4. explain the importance of cultural relativism in understanding
culture and society; and
5. develop awareness and respect for cultural diversity.

Direction: Read each statement carefully. On the space provided,

write True if the statement is True and False if the statement False.
.
_______ 1. Ethnocentrism means believing one's own culture as
superior.
_______ 2. Calling tribal people as primitive is an example of
ethnocentrism.
_______ 3. Cultural relativism means having no concept of right or
wrong.
_______ 4. Cultural relativists view another culture from the outside
while ethnocentric view it from within.
_______ 5. Cultural relativists use their cultural standards to judge the
beliefs and behaviours of others from differing cultures.

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_______ 6. Becoming more culturally aware and responsive requires
that one practice cultural relativism.
_______ 7. Chauvinism is an example of ethnocentrism.
_______ 8. Ethnocentrism is a universal attitude.
_______ 9. Ethnocentrism allows us to appreciate and respect cultural
diversity.
_______ 10. Cultural relativist thinks eating wild animals is taboo.

Activity 1: My Family traditions

Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below by listing the cultural
traditions that are being practice by your family then and now.

When I was a kid, my Now I’m a young adult, my

family practiced……. family practicing….

____________________ _____________________________
____________________ _____________________________
____________________ _____________________________
____________________ _____________________________
____________________ _____________________________
____________________ _____________________________

DEFINING CULTURE AND SOCIETY FROM THE

Lesson PERSPECTIVE OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY:

1 ETHNOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Ethnocentrism
The word Ethno comes from the Greek word and it refers to a
people, nation or cultural grouping. Centric comes from the Latin word
means “center".

Functions of Ethnocentrism

1. Encourages the solidarity of a group.

2. Hinders the understanding or cooperation between groups.
3. A vehicle for the promotion of social changes.

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is an idea that all norm, beliefs, and values are
dependent on their cultural context and should be treated as such. It
promotes greater appreciation of cultures one encountered along the
way. As a behaviour, cultural relativism is a good way to rehearse the
norms, and values of society.

Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to use one’s own cultural
standards and values to judge the behaviour and beliefs of people with
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different cultures. It is a cultural universal. That is, people everywhere
think that familiar explanations, opinions, and customs are true,
right, proper, and moral.

The term ethnocentrism was coined by William Graham

Sumner. He defined it as the view of things in which one’s own group
is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with
reference to it. Each group thinks its own folkways the only right ones,
and if it observes that other groups have other folkways, these excite
its scorn.

The beliefs, customs, and values of other cultures differ from

theirs, they find that culture bizarre, barbaric, and even savage. For
example, a westerner who uses spoons, fork, and knife when eating
will find other people who eat with their hands weird and silly.

Ethnocentrism is a universal attitude. Every society views itself

as a center surrounded by a boundary beyond which mankind is less
accomplished than inside. Therefore, it is a natural tendency for each
of us to believe that our cultural beliefs are the best. However, this
prevents us from becoming culturally competent and responsive to
others who share differing cultural beliefs, traditions, practices, and
affiliations.

Ethnocentrism has both positive and negative implications. On

the positive, ethnocentrism is a mechanism to preserve culture. It
promotes people’s pride and encourages solidarity among individuals
in order to defend their group against external aggression. It is
ethnocentrism that gives people their sense of peoplehood, group
identity, and place in history. On the negative side, too much emphasis
on its superiority over other cultures may result in violence,
oppression, prejudice, discrimination, and stagnation.

Cultural Relativism

The opposite of ethnocentrism is cultural relativism, the view

that the behaviour in one culture should not be judged by the
standards of another. For the cultural relativists, the values,
knowledge, and behaviour of people must be understood within their
own cultural context.

The concept of cultural relativism was first established as an

analytic tool by German-American anthropologist Franz Boaz even
though he did not use the term. This was subsequently explored by
his disciple Melville Herskovits, who stated that cultural relativism is
as follows: “judgments are based on experience, and experience is
interpreted by each individual in terms of his own enculturation.”

If ethnocentrism means viewing another culture from the

outside, cultural relativism is the view from within. In cultural
relativism, the values, knowledge, and behavior of people must be

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understood within their own cultural context and should not be judged
against the criteria of another culture. No culture is better nor
superior to another. Cultural relativism thus postulates the
equivalence of all cultures. In other words, every culture, every world
view, is as valid as any other.

Cultural relativism also has both positive and negative

consequences. On the positive, it promotes an attitude of respect
towards cultural differences since it does not impose the values of one
group on another group. It becomes negative when it is used to excuse
customs and traditions that may violate basic human rights like
mutilation, genocide, and others.

Mitigating Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism views their group as the center of everything

thus, they tend to define reality from their own point of view. Its feeling
of superiority over other cultures creates prejudice, discrimination,
and bias. Failure to understand other cultures within its context may
result to conflicts and tensions among groups. It can also cause social
isolation because someone feels different and superior to everyone
else. Eventually, this will lead to stagnation.

The bad effects of ethnocentrism can be mitigated by cultural

relativism, where, “right” and “wrong” behavior cannot be judged by
an outside criteria. It can only be determined within the context of an
individual’s culture. Cultural relativism assumes that no culture is
better than any other. It therefore, removes the negative judgment of
other cultures.

Cultural relativism recognizes and respects the diversity of

cultures. Differences in beliefs, values, and customs are not frowned
or scoffed but rather accepted and celebrated. This way, we build
bridges to trust, respect, and understand cultures beyond our borders.
Activity 1: The way I see it
Direction. Analyze the situations below. Think how an ethnocentric and
cultural relativist would respond to each of these situations. Write your
answers inside the call outs.

Situation 1: People eating dog meat

Ethnocentric Cultural Relativist

Situation 2: Woman wearing nose rings

Ethnocentric Cultural Relativist

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Situation 3: Pre-arranged marriage

Ethnocentric Cultural Relativist

Activity 2: The Good and the Bad

Direction. Give concrete examples of the advantages and disadvantages of

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism.

Advantages Disadvantages
Ethnocentrism 1. 1.
2. 2.
Cultural Relativist 1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.

Activity 3: Judge Me
Direction. Study the pictures below which shows some of the cultures around
the world. Check the box that corresponds your opinion and feeling on these
cultures. State your reasons for having that opinion and feeling.

Fried Crickets
Acceptable
Taboo

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
_______________________

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 ______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
_______________________

Body Tattoo
Acceptable
Taboo

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
_______________________

Body Piercing
Acceptable
Taboo
Activity 4: Express yourself
Direction. Answer the following questions based on the task that you
accomplished. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is your basis in judging other cultures? Do you see it from

your own viewpoint or from the viewpoint of those people having that
culture?
2. Do people within the same culture always share the same
attitudes and beliefs? If yes, why? If no why not?
3. Is anyone’s culture better than another?
4. Do you identify yourself as an ethnocentric or cultural relativist?
What makes you think so?
.. Multiple choice. Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. It is the principle that a person's beliefs and activities should be understood

by others in terms of that individual's own

A. Ethnocentrism
B.cultural relativism
C. xenocentrism
D. multicultural

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2. Which of these is an example of ethnocentrism?
A. a boy bullying his classmate for being fat
B. people in the city looking down on Aetas
C. a girl who prefers to wear shirts and jeans instead of dresses
D. a mother scolding her daughter for not going to church
3. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
A. Ethnocentrism promotes patriotism and solidarity.
B. Cultural relativism holds that moral principles are relative
C. Cultural relativism suggests that there are no 'better' or 'worse' cultures, just
different cultures.
D. Ethnocentrism mean that the values and behavior of people must be
understood within their own cultural context.
4. Vince thinks people in India are stupid for not eating cows when most of the
population die of hunger and malnutrition. This is an example of
A. Ethnocentrism
B. cultural relativism
C. xenocentrism
D. multiculturalism
5. All of the following exhibits ethnocentrism, except
A. Josie calls the Indigenous Peoples, the minorities
B. Abel’s mother only allows English to be spoken at home
C. Karen thinks atheists are generally bad people and have no morals.
D. Nikka believes that beauty should not be judged based on skin color
6. Which of the following is incorrect about ethnocentrism?
A. Ethnocentrism treats other culture as inferior
B. Ethnocentrism is looking at other culture through the lens of one’s culture
C. Ethnocentrism is making their culture as the center of everything
D. Ethnocentrism is entirely a negative concept
7. Which of the following is a positive effect of ethnocentrism?
A. Ethnocentrism limits the human perspective.
B. Ethnocentrism can create isolation.
C. Ethnocentrism is a way to preserve cultural heritage.
D. Ethnocentrism creates prejudice about other cultures.
8. All are true about cultural relativism, except
A. Cultural relativism appreciates cultural diversity
B. Cultural relativism uses one’s culture as standard in judging other culture
C. Cultural relativism recognizes the equality of different cultures
D. Cultural relativism is viewing culture from the mindset of the culture itself
9. Which of the following displays cultural relativism?
A. A teacher who believes that English is the best language.
B. A man who believes that women should not be allowed to work
C. A bus driver who refuses to allow an IP (indigenous people) passenger to ride
on the bus
D. A CEO who supports women who pursue a career dominated by men
10.Which of the following is a negative impact of cultural relativism?
E. Cultural relativism encourages appreciation and respect in the diversity of
cultures
F. Cultural relativism creates a society free from judgment
G. Cultural relativism allows assimilation of other culture
H. Cultural relativism may tolerate human rights abuses brought about by cultural
practices and traditions

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 Pre Test Assessment
1. A 6. D
True or False 2. B 7. C
1. True 6. True 3. D 8. B
2. True 7. True 4. A 9. D
3. True 8. True 5. D 10. D
4. False 9. False
5. False 10. False
My Family tradition

Answers may vary

Activity 1-4 : The way I see it

Answers may vary

References Kottak, C.P. & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On being different. Diversity and multiculturalism In North American mainstream. New York:
McGraw Hill
Sumner, W.G. (2007). Folkways: A Study of Mores, Manners, Customs and Morals. New York: Cosimo Classics
Herskovits, M.J. (1955). Cultural Anthropology. New York: A.A. Knopf
Benoist O. (2018) Anthropological Perspectives. In: Heintze HJ., Thielbörger P. (eds) International
Humanitarian Action. Springer, Cham

https://www.search?q=how-culture-and-society-are-related
https://courses,lumenlearning.com/society/chapter/elements-of-culture/
Cole, Nicki Lisa, Ph.D. "Definition of Cultural Relativism in Sociology." Thought Co. https://www.thoughtco.com/cultural-relativism-
definition-3026122 (accessed May 15, 2020).
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O3ZzhXrdOz92McHticZIUq63w_pRqdIj/edit