UNDERSTANDING

CULTURE, SOCIETY
AND POLITICS
WEEK 1
SOCIAL SCIENCE
ECONOMICS POLITICAL SCIENCE
HISTORY GEOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHY ANTHROPOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY
DEMOGRAPHY ARCHAEOLOGY
THREE FACES OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE

SOCIOLOGY – Social Forces

ANTHROPOLOGY – Cultural Practices

POLITICAL SCIENCE – Power Relations

 DEFINING
SOCIOLOGY
 Scientific study of human
society, it’s origin, structure,
function, and direction
“SOCIUS” friend, member, or ally

“LOGOS” study of or word

It is the study of interaction

and social lives of people,
groups, and societies
CHARACTERISTICS
OF
SOCIOLOGY
 FOCUS
OF
SOCIOLOGY
 ANTHROPOLOGY
Is the study of humanity

The study of human societies and

cultures and their development.
 “ANTHROPOS” man

“LOGOS” study of or word

Study of Man
 FOCUS
OF
ANTHROPOLOGY
AUGUST COMTE ✓

✓
KARL MARX
✓

✓
HERBERT SPENCER
✓

✓
EMILE DURKHEIM
✓

✓
MAX WEBER
✓
1. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY
Sees society as system with
parts, and these parts have
their respective functions to
perform.
1. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY
It emphasizes: FUNCTION
(importance) and
INTERDEPENDENCE
(cooperation).
2. SOCIAL CONFLICT THEORY
a system characterized by
social inequality which sees
something positive and
advantageous.
2. SOCIAL CONFLICT THEORY

It emphasizes COMPETITION
and SOCIAL PROCESSES.
3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM THEORY
Interpretation of symbols that
may have a reality-making
effect on people implicated in
an interaction situation based
on specific setting.
3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM THEORY

It emphasizes symbols and

meaning.
C. WRIGHT MILLS