University of Southern Mindanao

Kabacan, Cotabato

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

MODULE IN SOCSCI 1-
SOCIETY &
CULTURE

Kautin S Kulano

2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Learning Episode 1- The Meaning and Characteristics of
Cultures
Learning Episode 2: Cultural Diffusion, Assimilation, Relativism, Inculturation
Universality , Ethnocentrism , Xenocentrism & Colonial Mentality

INTRODUCTION

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 This module introduces the students to the basic concepts related to the
understanding of culture and the society. This will enable every learner of
this course in building strong foundation of establishing stronger
relationship with others.
It is also an aim of this module to explore the cultural diversity among
students by focusing on the characteristics of the different cultural groups
so that they could better understand each other.
Furthermore, society must also be given emphasis in order to connect
to the groups to where they belong. By gaining knowledge on their origins,
this will lead them to build insights on establishing better connection with
one another emphasizing the practices, languages, norms and values
practiced in their group.
Lastly, Filipino identified cultural practices must be properly
understood so that respect for diversity among students will be realized and
in return peace will be attained.

Learning Episode 1- Meaning and Characteristics of Culture

Overview
This learning episode will give the students the basic information on
the meaning and characteristics of culture. Students will be informed of the

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functions the culture will play in their lives. This will include also the form
of acquiring one’s culture in different forms.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this leaning episode, students will be able to:
1. Define culture;
2. Identify some functions will play ; and
3. Discuss the different characteristics of culture.

Performance Standards
Students should be able to attain at least 75% mastery level on this
learning episode.

Materials
Module, Books, Powerpoint

Definition of Terms
1. Culture- refers to some practices of human which made him distinct
from the animals.
2. Diversity- refers to the differences of every individual’s practices.

Activity
In this first activity, students will be given the opportunity
to give their own interpretation of what culture is and what it contributes in
his/her life.
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 Please complete the matrix below.
1. How will you define culture?
Use your own
words/interpretation.

2. Identify some ways on how

culture function in your
personal life or to your
society.

For this activity, give your personal answer on the questions given.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
1. What cultural practices have
you learned from your
parents? How it was passed to
you? Cite one specific
example.

2. What do you usually

practiced/observed when you
are in the restaurant/Jollibee? (
Ex. when ordering food or
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 after eating)

3. Identify one specific cultural

practices passed on to you
through language and behavior
by your parents which you
need to do? Cite on specific
practice and explain briefly.
4. Cite some practices you
performed in order to be
aligned to your present
environment. Explain how it
was adapted to the
environment.
5. Cite two cultural groups you
are very familiar with.
Identify specific practice for
each group. How do they
differ from each other?

Analysis
Complete the structured frame below.
Culture distinguishes humans from animals because
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___________________________________________________________-
___________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________.

Insights
After performing the activities, I have learned that:
Culture has different functions in the life of everyone such as
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Culture has different characteristics such as :
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_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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Application
Encircle the letter of the correct answer for the following:
1. Which is not part of the societal aspects of culture?
A. language
B. customs
C. norms
D. dress code

Identify the characteristics of the culture described below:

2. one’s action is the reflection of where one settles/stays
A. adaptive
B. diverse
C. cumulative
D. normative
3. people recognizes the differences of the group of people
A. adaptive
B. diverse
C. cumulative
D. normative
4. one embraces a culture based from the result of his ability to practice
rationality
A. adaptive
B. diverse
C. normative
D. learned
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5. parents uttered from time to time the expected values one should
practice
A. normative
B. adaptive
C. learned
D. cumulative

6. one understands other practices by using the manner of practicing

culture
A. diverse
B. adaptive
C. cumulative
D. learned
7. values are embraced because of what was shown by the elderly
A. learned
B. normative
C. cumulative
D. adaptive
8. culture regulates one’s action to conform to the general practice
A. learned
B. normative
C. learned cumulative
9. the way one person perceived culture is dependent from what is the
nature of his exposure
A. learned
B. cumulative
C. adaptive
D. normative
10. people recognizes the differences of the group of people
A. learned
B. cumulative
C. adaptive
D. diverse

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 Self-Assessment
How did I perform in this learning episode?

5 4 3 2 1
My Episode
My Analysis
My Insights
My Application

Total Score

Average Rating

Legend: 5- Outstanding
4- Exceeds Expectation
3- Meets Expectation
2- Needs Improvement
1- Unacceptable Performance

Learning Episode 2: Cultural Diffusion, Assimilation, Relativism, Inculturation

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 Universality , Ethnocentrism , Xenocentrism & Colonial Mentality
Overview
This learning episode will enable the students to gain knowledge on the different processes
underlying the various changes in the culture of people. Furthermore, it will orient students on how
dynamic culture is through the various ways of changes in the culture.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this learning episode, students will be able to:
1. describe the different concepts related to the dynamism of culture;
2. cite some situations pertaining to the changes affecting the culture

Performance Standards
After this learning episode, students will be able to attain at least 75% mastery level on the
concepts learned.

Materials
Module, Book, Powerpoint

Definition of Terms
1. diffusion- the process of spreading more widely a culture
2. assimilation- taking in and understanding fully a culture
3. relativism- concept of differences of practices/beliefs from one group to another
4. inculturation- gradual acquisition of characteristics or norms of a culture
5. universality- characteristics of culture which are widely acceptable
6. Ethnocentrism- treating other cultures as inferior
7. Xenocentrism- valuing other cultures more highly than one’s own
8. Colonial Mentality- feeling that what is foreign is better than our own

Activity
Complete the matrix below by identifying what is ask from your own cultural group.
Adapted Cultural Practices How these were adapted by your group?

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Shared Cultural Practices How these were shared with other group?

Samples of culture of your How this changes from person to person/ time to
group related to: time/ place to place?

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 Music

Fashion

Gadget ( for communication)

Mode of greetings

Foods

Insights
After performing the task, I have learned that CULTURE is
____________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Application
Encircle the letter of the correct answer which describes the setting:
1. One practices at home the practices learned from his travel outside.
A. inculturation
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 B. cultural relativism
C. cultural assimilation
D. cultural diffusion
2. One shared his own practices to other groups of people
A. Inculturation
B. relativism
C. assimilation
D. diffusion
3. Human needs are needed despite the location of places and time
A. Assimilation
B. Universality
C. Relativism
D. Diffusion
4. Before the missionary could do his mission, he has to learn first the language and
practices of the people.
A. relativism
B. universality
C. inculturation
D. assimilation

5.Men’s basic needs which need to be achieved is common to all despite

differences.
A. Inculturation
B. Relativism
C. Assimilation
D. Universality
6. One’s mode of dressing is inferior compared with another cgroup.
A. Universality
B. Ethnocentrism
C. Xenocentrism
D. Cultural Mentality
7. One gives preference of buying foreign products.
A. Inculturation
B. Cultural Universality
C. Cultural Relativism
D. nial Mentality
8. Aetas of Mt Pinatubo prefer to stay in their houses than in the concrete houses in a relocation
site in the lowland.
A. Colonial Mentality
B. Ethnocentrism
C. Universality
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 D. Relativism
9. The geographical location of places differentiates peoples’ dialects.
A. Culture as normative
B. Culture as cumulative
C. Culture as diverse
D. Culture as learned
10. This will result when people from different areas come to an urban area for businesses and bring
with their own cultural practices.
A. Cultural Assimilation
B. Cultural Diffusion
C. Cultural Relativism
D. Cultural universality

Summary

Learning Episode 1- The Meaning of Culture and Its Characteristics

Meaning of Culture
Culture means of society used in responding to nature.
It defines a person as well as a human being endowed with his inherent freedom
and rationality.
Perspectives, behaviors and attitudes towards life and its environs are redefined,
however , as a result of advancement of science and technology.
It makes humans distinct from animals (Chester Hunt). It is a distinguishing mark of
being human. Humans alone have culture while animals do not have because
culture requires reason to think and understand which animals are not capable.
Consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to
the members of a particular group or society.
Through culture, people and groups define themselves, conformed to society’s
shared values, and contribute to society.
Thus, culture includes many societal aspects : language, customs, values, norms,
mores, rules, tools, technologies, products, organizations, and institutions (Isabel

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 Panopio).

Characteristics of Culture
1. Culture as Learned

Culture is not ascribed or naturally embedded in the person’s being. It is, therefore, not
inherent or inborn It is instead acquired. But to acquire culture one should have the power of reason
because you have to learn it to acquire it and to learn the reason. Hence, culture is only proper and
suitable to rational beings like a human person,

The symbolic character of culture provides the people ideas or knowledge which are a
mental representation of all realities that surround them as well their meanings corresponding to
them. Because culture is learned, it includes as well how people think and express themselves.

2. Culture as Normative

Culture serves as the norm of the people’s actions. As a normative, culture guides people to
do things in conformity with the people’s accepted norms which they use to regulate their ways.
Should there be norms in society to comply, people would result in doing things unmindful or
indifferent to his fellow who may bring an immensity of confusion and complication, worse,
anarchy and chaos?

In the absence of norms or to be exact, in the absence of culture, everything becomes

disoriented, disorderly or confused about what to do or what not to do. Both written and
unwritten norms are, therefore, necessary to regulate or guide human ways and behavior.

3. Culture as Cumulative

Culture, which exists along in time and place, is passed from one generation to the next
through the medium of language and behavior which make the continuity of culture possible.
This is the splendor of having the culture of our ancestors handed down to us regardless how
long these traditions have been imbibed or practiced.

How we want our children, and our children’s children appreciate our own values and
beliefs we emulate can be made possible with the use of language or behavior we manifests. The
best testament of culture as cumulatively are no less than being living testimonies of our kind of
culture.

4. Culture as Adaptive

People live in different geographical setting. This includes all that are found in the world
such as land, seas, mountains, forests, weather and the like. Culture adapts itself to and around its
geographical setting. How culture is formed and assimilated by the people largely depends on the
environment where it is situated.

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 Circumstances play a vital role in the acquisition or formation of culture. Both mentifacts
and artifacts of culture are chiefly based on the kind of physical environment that develops the
people and their culture.

With the advent of modern science and technology today, however, things have gradually
if not drastically changed. The modern tools and gadgets like the phenomenal cellphones that
are usually found in urban areas are now conspicuous among coastal residents and mountain
villagers.

5. Culture as Diverse

Culture is different since there are various social structures, beliefs, values and other
practices that people use in adapting to a diverse situation. There are several factors that
contribute to cultural diversity among the regions within the country like the Philippines. The
geographical setting of inhabitants living in the mountainous areas like Benguet or Mountain
Province of the Cordillera Region maybe a factor that differentiates the culture of the people
living in coastal areas.
The cold weather of Baguio City yields a lot of differences along the residents’ mentifacts
and artifacts. The kind of clothes alone is one visible distinction between Baguio residents
wearing a thicker dress and the lighter clothes worn by the lowlanders.

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Learning Episode 2- Cultural Diffusion, Assimilation, Relativism, Inculturation

Ethnocentrism, Xenocentrism & Mentality

The richness of a culture rests upon the degree of cultural diffusion (Panopio) made
accessible to people generated by influences from other cultures through various ways of
interaction such as trading.
Example:
People in the urban places have better and faster access to different cultures because people frequent
the area who may be doing some business or other forms of involvement. And as a result, it brings with
them their cultural practices or traits that could lead to cultural assimilation.

On the contrary, villagers living in remote or isolated as they rarely interact may have not have
much encounters or exposure as they may rarely interact with non-residents of their place. Hence,
cultural diffusion and assimilation may not be observable.

Assimilating a foreign culture though does not necessarily make you disloyal or less
nationalistic to your home country. As a universal being, or as a global citizen as well call it
now, we are, and we must be open to cultures different from ours and be interactive to any
people in as much all of us citizens of the world (Michael Jackson).

Professor Randy David, however, underscored in his reflection on Philippine society,” we

have woven the fabric of our native cultures with materials of modernity.” This results, he added,
“an amalgamation of different cultures in the globalized worldview all lumped together” paving
the way for redefining Filipino cultural identity. How to preserve one’s cultural amidst
globalization is now a challenged posed to each and everyone of us.

Cultural Relativism

Something is said to be relative when it changes from person to person, from place to place
or from time to time.

Example:
In the world of fashion, what may be worn in the 1970’s by men may no longer be fashionable to
men of today’s generation.

The music parents love to listen may not the kind of music that their children enjoy listening .

In sending communication before, the medium such as the use of telegram or the snail mail may be
obsolete as seen today because of the influx of modern of technology .

On some moral issues like a sexual relationship, what used to be treated conservatively before has
now become permissive today.

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 Pre-marital sex was shunned before, but now it has apparently become natural to lovers without the
blessing of marriage. It is sad to note that even marriage has no longer be a point of consideration or a
precondition to sexual intimacy among many lovers of today's generation .

Many far-flung areas that used to be unreachable are now reachable by land transportation with
cemented roads almost everywhere.

Factors that Cause Some Changes in the Cultural Evolution

1. the changing needs of the people

2. the influence of modern science and technology
3. free entry of foreign cultures in today’s globalized society
4. the different geographical settings of the people

Inculturation

It is a universal right to travel of every person everywhere but there are travel advisories imposed.
One responsibility is the readiness to be flexible to the kind of culture of a given area you intend to stay
either tentatively or permanently for convenience and acceptability. One has to learn the local language,
customs and traditions, among others.
It is so expected that it would take some time to adjust into the mainstream which, in some
instances, puts you into some awkward situation or encounter misunderstanding.
To enable one to live harmoniously in another culture, it behooves that he bares himself off of his
culture and adopt the culture of the place where one is staying to prevent possible cultural conflict.

Universality of Culture

Despite differences in cultures, all societies have attempted to meet basic human needs ( sex, shelter,
protection or hunger). These needs are found, notwithstanding time and place, all over the world. To
survive, man has to devise various cultural responses to fulfill these basic needs.
These reactions are shared, learned behavior known as cultural universals. Behind the seemingly
endless diversity in culture patterns, there is a fundamental uniformity in these universals.
Anthropologists have termed them as cultural constants or common denominators.
Cultural universals are believed to exist among all men and attributed in most cases to the necessity
of meeting needs, as said above, common to all men( American anthropologist George P Murdock,
1965).

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Ethnocentrism and Xenocentrism

The feeling of ethnocentrism comes about when we, with bias or prejudice, treat other cultures
( their customs, traditions, tools, among others) as inferior in comparison to one’s culture. Often we
look at “primitive or minority communities as ethnocentric since they are not open to cultural integration
with cultures on their own not knowing that our attitude toward them is ethnocentric itself. Under an
environment of high cultural integration may lead to a culture where people’s norms and practices are
built around their ethnic culture giving rise to what is called ethnocentrism (Panopio).

On the other hand, there is a feeling of xenocentrism when we tend to value other cultures more
highly than one’s own. By this belief, the products, styles, ideas and values of one’s society are regarded
as inferior to that of other societies.

Colonial Mentality
“…. a preference for all things foreign over our own.”
We take pride when we have purchased or own something that is important. We always associate
higher quality of products to foreign origin over our local products as seen as of inferior quality.
This is why people give preference to purchasing foreign goods over domestic goods. In brief,
xenocentrism is the belief that what is foreign is better than our own.
Under this set-up, the former may seem to be in a better position to preserve their cultural heritage
while the latter may have misplaced nationalism or may have lost their cultural identity.

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