Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics

Module 2: Culture and Society: Dynamics of Society

Pre Test Looking Back

1. T
2. F 1. Social Reality
3. T 2. Social Dynamics
4. T 3. Anthropology
5. F 4. Sociology
6. T 5. Politics
7. F
8. T
9. T
10. F

Activity 1.1
Society is a group of people living in the same territory that shares the same culture but
relatively independent from one another. The other informal definition is that society is power
the shapes the life of the people living inside of it.

Rules are the basis of every action of the people in society. It is divided into two: visible/written
rules that are understood by all and invisible/unwritten rules that are shaped our day-to-day
actions.

Conflict Theory is a perspective that sees society as an arena and people compete with each
other over limited sources. It is a continuous conflict between people to stay alive and superior to
one another.

Symbolic Interactionism is a perspective that focuses on the capability of people to generates

meaning from their surroundings through social interaction and why it is crucial in understanding
order or conflict as processes that brought about society.

Structural Functionalism sees society as a system with parts and these parts have their
respective functions to perform.
Activity 1.2: Essay

1. How does society shape the lives of people inside it?

- Society shapes the lives of people inside of it through its culture and influence. These two-
factor changes and manipulates people's opinion and behavior in able for them to meet the
demands and gains the acceptance of the society. Family is one of the influential roles in our
society, they are responsible for raising young men and women and make them understand
what is believed to be ethical and moral. For instance, some adults believe that children do
not have any say on issues regarding some problems because they are only a child and that
only adults can participate because they are more knowledgeable and live longer than them.
Thus, children will have the impression that they can only be part of this kind of talk when
they grow older.

2. Why do we consider society as omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient?

- Because society is all-powerful (omnipresent) because it “agents” control and runs the
machinery of social control. It is all-knowing (omnipotent) because its “library” keeps all
possible knowledge and collects the memories of the people who form it. It is everywhere
(omniscient) because its “spies” are distributed in the four corners of the land.

3. Why rules are important in society?

- Rules are important to society because it is the guide in the performance of roles and
everyday actions and interactions. It is a law that should follow to avoid chaos and have a
peaceful environment.

What I have learned: Compare and Contrast

Theoretical Perspective Differences Similarities

1.Structural Functionalism
2. Conflict Theory
3. Symbolic Interactionism &
Meaning-Making
a perspective that sees society
as a structure with parts and
these parts have their
respective functions in the
society.
a perspective that sees society
as a arena with a competition
over limited sources.
a perspective that relies on the
symbolic meaning that people
develop and build upon in the
process of social interaction.
- These three theories are
proposed as an
explanation of social
interaction and other
different aspect on social
life.
- They are the main
foundation of modern
sociological theory.
Check Your Understanding
Representation of our
identity

Symbol of political Characterize the

independence totality of a
Significance of Society territory

Avenue for
economic
independence

Post Test Enrichment

1. B Listening to a class lecture (physical or virtual).
2. A
3. E In listening to a class lecture, students are listening intently to the teacher.
4. C The students are silent during the lecture and speak only when the teacher
5. D say so. If they want to ask anything about the topic, they raise their hand
to get the attention of their teacher. Some of the students are taking notes
of the lecture.

- You should keep quiet if there is someone who is speaking in front.

- Listen to what the teacher is saying.
- Raise your hand if you have questions.
- Talk only when the teacher needs an answer from you.
- Take notes of the lectures.

With rules, visible or invisible, people's acts with discipline and have a
harmonious relationship. Rules creates organize life and makes people to
act respectful towards each other.