UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

MODULE 1

LESSON 1

CULTURAL VARIATION - differences in social behaviors

• RELIGION, a system of beliefs and practices

• ETHNICITY, a system of beliefs and practices
• NATIONALITY, binds a person and a country

SOCIAL DIFFERENCES - differences among the social characteristics and qualities.

• GENDER - guide on how males and females think and act

• SOCIO-ECONOMIC – the same socio-economic privileges

EXCEPTIONABILITY – gifted or disability

A. Personality
B. Communication
C. Intellect
D. Physical Appearance
E. Combination of one or more

VARIATION WITHIN CULTURE

• SUBCULTURE specific cultural traits that set them apart

• COUNTERCULTURE odds with mainstream society (gay rights movement, feminist)

HIGH CULTURE/ POPULAR CULTURE

• HIGH CULTURE, held in the highest esteem by a culture.

• POPULAR CULTURE, taste of ordinary people.

POLITICAL IDENTITY - associated with a group affiliation and describes the ways in which being a member
of a particular group might express specific political opinions and attitudes.

• PARTISAN POLITICS - Political identity frequently refers to a specific political party affiliation or
partisan identity.
• RACE and IDENTITY
• CLASS and IDENTITY - Peoples’ interests, outlook and life prospects are frequently conditioned
by their economic circumstances.
• COLONIALISM and IDENTITY - Many colonial societies operated by distinguishing the identities of
“native subjects,” who enjoyed fewer rights and liberties.

LESSON 2 AND LESSON 3

ANTHROPOLOGY - is the study of humans and human behavior and societies in the past and present.

➢ Anthropos is the Greek word for “human being” and the suffix –logos means “the study of”
➢ To understand our origins and to understand the cultures in the world outside of our own.
➢ Anthropology answers those queries for humanity

(Fossil remains, non-human primate anatomy and behavior, artifacts from past cultures, past and present
languages, and all the prehistoric and contemporary cultures of the world)

✓ Franz Boas - "Father of American Anthropology”

✓ Bronislaw Malinowski – “The Father of Ethnographic Methodology”
✓ Alfred Reginald Radcliffe Brown - developed the theory of structural functionalism and
coadaptation.

SOCIOLOGY - is the scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and
culture.

➢ Latin word socius which means “associate or companion” and the Greek word logos which means
“the study of”.
 ➢ Inquiry is on people as social beings, their activities in relation to one another.
➢ To study the social problems through the methods of scientific research and to find solutions to
them.

(Language, symbols, face expressions, dress, food, music etc. used by people in society)

✓ Auguste Comte – “Founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism”
✓ Harriet Martineau - Fiercely critical of the inequality and injustice faced by girls and women,
slaves, wage slaves, and the working.
✓ Karl Marx – “The Father of Modern Socialism, communism, and conflict theory”
✓ Emile Durkheim – “The principal architect of modern social science and father of sociology”
✓ Max Weber - profoundly influenced social theory and social research.

POLITICAL SCIENCE - the study of politics and power from domestic, international, and comparative
perspectives.

➢ Greek word polis which means “city-state” and “science” comes from the Latin word scire which
means “to know”
➢ Its concern is with the political behavior of individuals, groups of individuals, agencies,
institutions and organizations.

1. Imparting Knowledge of the state its origin, nature, structure and functions.
2. Imparting knowledge of government and administration sound knowledge with efficiency
3. Imparting knowledge about the world maintain relations with other countries of the world
4. Creation of democratic values makes people conscious on their rights and duties
5. Creation of good citizenship makes people conscious on their rights and duties
6. Creation of good citizenship learn how to cooperate and adjust himself with his fellow beings

✓ Walter Lippmann - the first to introduce the concept of Cold War, coining the term "stereotype"
in the modern psychological meaning, and critiquing media and democracy.

CHANGES

❖ SOCIAL CHANGE - alteration of mechanism within the social structure, characterized by changes
in cultural symbols, rules of behavior, social organizations, or value systems.
❖ CULTURAL CHANGE - Modification of a society through innovation, invention, discovery, or
contact with other societies.
❖ POLITICAL CHANGE - growth, decay and breakdown but also with a ceaseless ferment of
adaptation and adjustment of political systems. It is the magnitude and variety of the changes
that occurred in the world’s political systems.

SOURCES/AGENTS OF CHANGE

❖ INNOVATION - social creation and institutionalization of new ideas

❖ ACTION OF LEADERS – Leaders has the power to influence others or who is in charge or in
command of a social situation.
❖ SOCIAL CONFLICTS (Social Contradictions) - the struggles for agency or power in society, two or
more actors oppose each other in social interaction.

FIRST INTERSECTION: The anthropology, sociology and political science are classified as branches
of the Social Science

➢ SOCIAL SCIENCE division of science that deals with the functions and structure of human
society, as well as interpersonal relationship of individuals as members of society.

SECOND INTERSECTION:

➢ EMPIRICAL PROOF is a rational proof laid the foundation for modern science; the idea of
thinking developed into a proof.

THIRD INTERSECTION:

➢ OBJECTIVITY is not merely observation but careful observation, it is an attempt to carefully and
systematically observe the world “as it is” rather than as we would like it to be
 MODULE 2
LESSON 1
SIX PRIMARY CATEGORIES OF DEFINING CULTURE

1. Descriptive - views culture as a total system of customs, beliefs, knowledge, laws, and means of
expression
2. Historical - views culture as the continuation of generations
3. Normative - culture is related to value systems that constructed social and personal behavior.
4. Psychological - stresses culture’s role in interpersonal relations.
5. Structural culture - focuses on relational aspects of cultural components through abstraction.
6. Socio-genetic culture - focuses on the genesis and continued existence of a culture.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

✓ Focuses differences between cultures

✓ Individuals are the product of their culture
✓ Learning a culture is an essential part of human development

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

✓ Culture is a tool that people use to evaluate other societies and to adopt to problems of living.

THE FUNCTIONALIST VIEW - operate smoothly only if their members can meet the demands and
challenges, it emphasizes that culture serves as a buffer between people and their environment.

THE CONFLICT VIEW - Society is not held together because everyone learns and shares common
cultural values.

1. Impose a culture, their products, values and norms such as consumerism on other less powerful
groups.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST VIEW – They are more concerned with the symbolic properties of culture.

They define symbols as essential to civilization because:

1. Cultures emerge and are perpetuated as a result of symbols.

2. Interaction between people cannot take place without symbols.
3. Infants are transformed into human beings when they acquire symbol.

LESSON 2
o Culture is shared by some people - describes this aspect of culture is called diffusion. It is a process
by which an idea, an invention, or some other cultural item is borrowed from a foreign source.
o Culture is socially learned - which individuals acquired knowledge from others in the group.
o Culture has patterns of behavior - people act differently because of the distinctions their cultures
make between males and females, old and young, rich and, and so forth.

ASPECTS THAT MAKE CULTURE AND SOCIETY A COMPLEX WHOLE

BELIEFS - conceptions that people accept as true

VALUES - general and shared perception of what is good

FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

a. HALAGA – (self-worth, relationship with others, compassion)

b. ASAL – (relational, emotional, honor)
c. DIWA – (kalooban) intertwined reason and emotion

NORMS - written and unwritten rules that specify the behaviors appropriate to specific situations as
norms

A. FOLKWAYS - apply to routine matters like eating, sleeping, appearance etc.

B. MORES - pivotal to the well-being of the group.
SYMBOL - It is a word, an object, a color, a sound, a feeling, an odor, a movement, a taste to which people
assign a meaning or values.

LESSON 3
According to Schaefer DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS BROUGHT BY:

INNOVATION

1. Discovery - making known or sharing the existence.

2. Invention - results when existing cultural items are combined into a form that did not exist.

GLOBALIZATION - world-wide integration of policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets
through trade and the exchange of ideas.

DIFFUSION - process by which a cultural item spreads from group to group or society

TECHNOLOGY - increased the speed of cultural diffusion and broadened the distribution of cultural
elements

MODULE 3

THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES / APPROACHES OF CULTURE

FUNCTIONALIST APPROACH CONFLICT APPROACH INTERACTIONIST APPROACH

▪ Macro level
▪ Work together to
achieve stability and
harmony
▪ Culture is a necessity
▪ Each member of society
is interdependent and
contributed to the
society
▪ Relies so much
on the existing system
and undermined the
changes caused by
inequality
▪ Micro Level
▪ Society as negative,
unequal, and conflicted
▪ Emphasize on social
inequality
▪ Religion and education
are tools by capitalist
▪ unequal groups have
different values and
agendas that make
them compete with
each other
▪ Undermines positive
aspects of society
▪ Micro Level
▪ Culture as a result of
the face-to-face
interactions
▪ People interact and
attach meanings to
symbol and act based
on their interpretations
▪ Object and action have
a symbolic meaning
▪ Language is the tool
culture as the result of
the interpretation of
individuals to symbol.

There are two interrelated components of culture. These components serve as a lens to understand a
culture holistically.

MATERIAL CULTURE - physical objects or spaces owned by individuals or groups, like home, car,
computers, and other goods and products.

NON-MATERIAL CULTURE – These are elements of culture that shaped the thoughts, feelings, and
behavior of the individuals or groups in a society.

1. SYMBOLS - non-verbal, verbal, written, and unwritten that conveys meaning, allows individuals
to communicate with one another.
2. RITUALS - ceremonies and methods of doing something.
3. BELIEF - individuals or groups believe to be true.
4. NORMS - considered normal in a society, guide the behavior of the members of the society.
5. VALUES - what is right or wrong, fair, or just, and good or evil. It is a culture’s standard or ideal on
how people should behave.
 LEADING INFLUENCES RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT:

GLOBALIZATION - contacts between societies through worldwide integration of political and economic
policies.

A. DIFFUSION - movement of cultural trait objects, inventions, or ideas from one society to another
excluding its cultural meaning
B. ACCULTURATION - process of learning and adopting the culture of others while retaining one’s
distinct culture.
C. TRANSCULTURATION - an individual learns and accepts the culture of others completely as its
own.

INNOVATION – New ideas, creative thoughts, or products and it has two forms. It can be technological or
Ideological.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND ETHNOCENTRISM

ETHNOCENTRISM - is the belief that one’s culture is superior, and all others are inferior. It is the
tendency to look at others from the perspective of their own culture. This belief leads to making
wrong inferences about somebody's behavior and attitude which ultimately leads to conflict.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM - promote understanding of different cultural practices especially those
that is not part of one’s culture.

CULTURAL HERITAGE - tangible and intangible culture like beliefs, customs, and traditions, and all
evidence of creativity and expression like paintings, music, dances, and architectures.

• BUILT - houses and buildings and archaeological remains

• NATURAL - natural landscapes
• ARTIFACTS - paintings, books, and documents

Republic Act no. 10066 known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 – laws created to ensure its
protection and preservation.

MODULE 4

THE THEORY OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION (Charles Darwin)

- Organisms’ changes over time because of heritable physical or behavioral trait

It happens in order to adapt to the environment and produce Anak = SURIVIVE – ANAK – EVOLVE

This theory is supported by the book of THE DESCENT OF MAN – where humans are closely related to
apes, but there is a MISSING LINK, an EXTINCT ORGANISM, a fossil that can connect modern Tao to
apes.

ARCHEOLOGY – Study of Human history. (Excavation of Sites, Analysis of Artifacts)

PALEOANTHROPOLOGY– Study of Human Evolution (fossil and archaeological record)

THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN HUMAN ADAPTATION

❖ BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION – tells us that organisms survived and evolved

❖ HOMO HABILIS – known as handyman made simple tools to help hunt food.
❖ THE HOMO made more complex tools (cave paintings, rituals, languages and domesticate plants
and animals)

THE PROCESS OF CULTURAL AND SOCIOPOLITICAL EVOLUTION OF HUMANS

In our society, there are two distinct social roles.

✓ WORKING/CREATIVE role - responsible for the continuation and development of culture.

✓ MAINTENANCE roles - responsibility is to maintain the social traditions and structure.
DISCOVERED HOMINIDS OR EARLY HUMANS

KEY STAGES OF HUMAN EVOLUTION

HUMANS
- Survivor among ALL
HOMINID SPECIES
- Migrated
- Built Camps
- Made tools
- Made language
- Made art and symbols
- Domesticate animals and
plants
- Agriculture
CULTURAL STRUCTURE SOCIOPOLITICAL STRUCTURE
BANDS - Hunting, gathering life
- Egalitarian culture
(WORK TO SURVIVE)
- Magic ~
TRIBES - Hunt big animals
- Depends on
horticulture
- Belief in gods
CHIEFDOMS - Excess in food
production
- Large population
- Diverse environment
DIVINE KINGDOM - Great buildings,
temples.
- Worship god they made
of clay figurines
AGRICULTURE STATE - Farming men
- Conforms to societies
standards and
expectations
INDUSTRIAL STATE - Manufacturing and
technology
- Integration of culture
- Shift of Perception
(Destination rather than
journey)
- Groups of Families
- Strict gender roles (men
hunt, women gather)
- No political power
- Multiple subgroups
- Has assigned chief
- Women produce food
supply
- Matriarchal
- Chief takes charge in
redistribution of wealth
- Specialization in labor
- hierarchal
- Large, complex
- Leaders = gods
- Focus on basic
production
- MEN DOMINATION
- Distinct specialization
- Use force (police,
military)
- CONQUER, EXPAND!
COLONIALISM
- Organized system
- WW integration
- MEN and WOMEN
worked as equals
 MODULE 5

AGENTS TO SOCIALIZATION

1. FAMILY – where you start to learn and discover the things needed to survive. Learn to socialize,
accept obligation and responsibilities.
2. SCHOOL – where you acquire important learnings and skills. Develop functional and responsible
individual, provide meaningful leaning activities to achieve holistic development. Catalyst of
positive change and development.
3. MASS MEDIA – influential form of socialization among children and young adults
4. PEER GROUP – children formative years begin, learning and interactions start to form and chape
or reshapes the values and point of views. Build relationship and spend time with them the
most.
5. RELIGION – influence children’s beliefs and understandings.

THEORIES ON IDENTITY

NORMS AND VALUES - Idea held in society that are considered acceptable and right.

4 CATERGORIES OF NORMS

1. FOLKWAYS – socially approved behaviors

2. MORES – moral convictions
3. TABOOS - absolutely forbidden in specific
culture
4. LAWS – Rules and regulation by the state

ROLES AND STATUS

• ROLES – Expectations from the people

• STATUS – Individual’s position, with defined
rights and obligation.

IMPORTANT TERMS IN ENCULTURATION AND SOCIALIZATION

• NATURE refers to biological inheritance.

• NURTURE refers to cultural inheritance.
• SOCIALIZATION the process by which an individual is oriented and taught by his or her society's
norm.
• IDENTITY FORMATION is compilation of the values, attitudes, and beliefs that individual receives
from their family, peer, and community enable them to create a personal identity.
• PRIMARY IDENTITY consists of the role and statuses that an individual learns as a child.

MODULE 6

SOCIAL GROUPS

✓ PRIMARY GROUP is a small social group whose member share personal and lasting
relationships.
✓ SECONDARY GROUP is a large and impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific
goal or activity.
✓ IN-GROUP which a member feels respect and loyalty.
✓ OUT-GROUP which a person feels a sense of competition or opposition.
✓ NETWORK containing people who come into occasional contact but who lack a sense of
boundaries and belonging.
✓ REFERENCE GROUP serves as a point of reference in making evaluation and decisions.