TACLOBAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONICS

REAL ST. TACLOBAN CITY

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

First Quarter
SY 2020-2021

Name: __________________________________________________Year & Section: ___________ Date:__________

Subject: Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

Grade level: Grade 12
Module: Lesson 2: Understanding Culture and Society
Lesson 3: The Individual and Society

I. Most Essential Learning Competencies:

 Define Society and discuss its essential characteristics and elements;
 Describe the growth and development of different societies;
 Discuss Political Science, its essential features and main concerns and how it contributes in understanding Culture
and Society

II. Discussion:
Society and Culture

Society is a group of individuals s haring a common culture, geographical location, and government. Human
beings are considered to be naturally inclined to establish societies, since it is in interacting with others that they are able
to ensure their survival by establishing mutually beneficial relationships with another. Societies enable individuals to
acquire necessary survival skills, maximize their potential, and share resources. A Society is characterized by the
presence of the following elements: a) Social Solidarity, whereby members of the community live together for mutual
benefit; b) Shared Identity and Culture among members that serve their basis for their patterns of action and behavior; c)
Common Language; d) Large Population; e) Definite Geographical Area; and f) Political, Economic and Social
Organization.

Social Scientists have also identified 5 major types of societies according to how they changed and developed
over time. Hunting and Gathering communities date as far back as several million years ago and were considered the first
societies. The basic gathering social and economic units were the family and local clan which organized hunting and
gathering activities and distributed the accumulated food supply. The earliest societies soon gave way to Horticultural and
Pastoral Societies. Their emergence was brought about by the gradual shift from hunting and gathering lifestyle to a more
sedentary life, and the introduction of agriculture as a more stable food production method. Horticultural Societies relied
to the cultivation of plants as their primary source of food whereas Pastoral Societies depended on the domestication of
animals. Around 10,000 years ago, the development and spread of agriculture led to the emergence of civilizations in
Mesopotamia and China, and this brought out the establishment of agricultural societies. Food production became more
efficient due to the new methods of farming, the invention of more advanced tools, and the establishment of permanent
settlements. Meanwhile, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in England during the latter half of the 18 th Century
transformed agricultural societies to industrial societies. Technological advancements resulted in the invention of
machines that improved production. The rise of urban centers or cities was also a major development during this period.
Since the latter portion of the 20 th century, many countries have become post-industrialist societies, where knowledge is a
commodity and technological innovation is key to long-lasting growth and development.

Culture is one of the important bases that define and influence a society. Culture refers to the set of beliefs, ideas,
values, practices, knowledge, history and shared experiences, attitude, as well as material objects and possessions
accumulated over time and shared by the members of society. There are two primary categories of culture: Material
Culture and Nonmaterial Culture. Material Culture is composed of the physical or tangible objects produced, shared and
utilized within society such as tools, or implements, paintings and other works of art, architectural styles such as
weaponry or toys. Nonmaterial Culture, meanwhile consists of the intangible properties or elements of society that
influence the patterns of action and behavior of its members. Examples of Nonmaterial Culture include language, beliefs,
values, attitudes, ideas and norms shared among the members of society. The community stories and other types of
narratives shared within societies are collectively called as folklore which comes in a form of myths, legends, folktales,
proverbs and riddles, embodies the history, beliefs, ideas, values, and practices that define a society. One example of such
is the story of Malakas at Maganda, a creation myth that tells about the origin of the Filipino people.

Though individual societies have varying histories, experiences, identities, and organizations, all of them have
four vital cultural components- symbols, language, values, and norms. Symbols refer to things that convey meaning or
represent an idea. They are essential in communication, shaping thoughts, and ideas, and defining society’s culture.
Language meanwhile is a set of symbols that enables members of society to communicate verbally (spoken), nonverbally
(written, gestures). Values are shared ideas, norms, and principles that provide members of society the standards that
pertain to what is right or wrong, good or bad, desirable or undesirable. Norms are shared rules of conduct that determine
specific behavior among society members. There are various categories of norms according to their social importance.
Folkways are norms that may be violated without serious consequences. Mores are norms with moral connotations. Laws
are norms that are legally acted and enforced.
The process of culture and identity formation within society is facilitated through socialization and enculturation.
Socialization refers to the lifelong process of forging identity through social interaction. Language as well as social agents
that teach aspects of culture to the members of society, also contributes to the socialization of the individual.
Enculturation refers to the process by which an individual learns or acquires the important aspects of his or her society’s
culture. It is important to understand that culture is dynamic. There are elements of culture that have remained through the
ages but there are also some aspects that have adapted to the realities of the present context. Context refers to particular
circumstances of a certain culture and is defined by location, weather, time period and other factors.
Society and Culture According to the Three Disciplines
Anthropology considers culture as the central focus of its discipline. It studies the different cultures of different
societies. Anthropology examines and provides explanations for the existence of different cultural patterns as well as the
similarities and differences between different cultures. In their studies of various cultures, anthropologists have adopted
two major views with regard how cultures should be considered in comparison to others. The relativistic approach
considers cultures as equal. This view holds that there are no superior or inferior cultures, and each is unique in its own
way. The ethnocentric approach is the belief that one’s native culture is superior to other cultures. Ethnocentric
societies tend to have a negative view of other countries and people.
Ethnocentrism diminishes or invalidates other ways of life and creates a distorted view of one’s own. As a result,
this could affect individual behavior and relationships with other cultures. Extreme forms of ethnocentrism have led to
wars of colonization. Conversely, there are some societies that have the tendency to consider their culture as inferior to
others. This is called xenocentrism.
At present, majority of modern societies place emphasis on cultural relativism, which recognizes and accepts the
cultural differences between societies. This view believes that every aspect of a culture can be justified by the context in
which the culture has been formed. No particular culture therefore can claim superiority over other cultures. However it
calls for a keen assessment of other cultures to gain a holistic understanding of their uniqueness. Knowing and
understanding the nature and characteristics of societies and their respective cultures should always precede judgment and
action. Interaction between members of different societies is more likely to succeed if everybody is aware and is
respectful of cultural diversity.
Sociology relates culture with the overall context of social order. There are different sociological perspectives that
explain this order. Structural functionalism operates on the assumption that society is a stable and orderly system.
Structural functionalists consider culture as a glue that binds society together, leading to social order. Conflict theory
assumes that there is a constant power struggle among the various social groups and institutions within society. Conflict
theorists study the culture of dominant classes and analyze how this culture is imposed on other classes. The effective
domination of this class facilitated by culture brings about social order. Symbolic interactionism views individual and
group behavior and social interactions as defining features of society. Symbolic interactionists believe that culture
provides shared meanings to the members of society. The more meanings are shared, the more society ensures social
order.
Through the lens of the symbolic interactionist model, religion could be viewed as the major factor that affects the
general patterns of behavior and life situations of the members of the society. It could also be suggested that symbols
outside the realm of religions and other cultural orientations. It can be argued the social order is possible in the Philippines
when Filipinos of different cultures share the same symbols and meanings.
Political Science also examines culture as a vital aspect of society. Culture, together with political socialization, is
analyzed in order to explain political behavior such as voting patterns and the behavior of leaders. Culture is seen as an
important element in building social capital and could also lead to future conflicts and division. Political Science also
looks into the decline of cultural domination by Western countries and the subsequent rise of multiculturalism, an
ideology that acknowledges and promotes cultural diversity within society. Multiculturalism entails the establishment of
political groups and institutions comprised of people from diverse cultures.
Multiculturalism in the Philippines is still an ongoing process, and its advancement is largely dependent on
government initiatives and policies. Cultural relativism implies that all aspects of a particular culture should be accepted
and even celebrated. Cultural sensitivity advances awareness and acceptance of cultural differences but encourages a
critical stance in dealing with issues regarding diversity. This view believes that not all cultural practices, traditions, and
views can be integrated and that distinct cultures can harmoniously coexist in society. This view advocates a respectful
view of the uniqueness and distinctness of other cultures, and encourages individuals and societies to guard against
ethnocentric and xenocentric views, as these are significant threats to cultural diversity and social stability.
III. Activity:
Write the correct answer on the blank.

______________ 1. It is the set of beliefs, ideas, values, practices, knowledge, history and shared experiences, attitudes,
and material objects and possessions accumulated over time and shared by the members of the society.
______________2. It is the process whereby an individual learns and acquires the culture of the society he or she belongs
to.
______________3. Its major elements include common language, geographical area, large membership, and shared
identity and culture.
______________4. A type of community dating back millions of years ago that is considered as the first society.
______________5. It refers to the shared rules of conduct that determine specific behavior among society members.

IV. Assessment:
Complete the graphic organizer by writing the required information in the appropriate spaces.
A.

TERM DEFINITION EXAMPLES

1. ETHNOCENTRISM

2. XENOCENTRISM

3. CULTURAL RELATIVISM

4. MULTICULTURALISM

5. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

B. Reflection:
1. Is Philippine culture superior or inferior to other cultures? Explain.
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2. What is the best way to manage conflicts based on cultural differences in the Philippines?
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V. Reference:
-Understanding Culture, Society and Politics (Atienza, Lusterio-Rico, Arugay, Encinas-Franco, Quilala) p15-23
Prepared by:
Ms. Christine Grace H. Bautista, LPT.
09451002581/ sedlexsc1ence@gmail.com