KINGFISHER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE
UNDERSTANDING
TOPIC: CHAPTER II CULTURE AND
SOCIETY: THE PERSPECTIVES OF
ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
CULTURE, SOCIETY,
AND POLITICS
A. Definition of Society
B. Definition of Culture according to E.B.
Tylor 1920
C. Aspects of Culture
D. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism as
orientations in viewing other cultures
LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1.explain anthropological and sociological perspectives on culture and
society
2. describe society and culture as a complex whole
3. identify aspects of culture and society
4. raise questions toward a holistic appreciation of cultures and societies
5. become aware of why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism
6. identify forms of tangible and intangible heritage and the threats to these
A. Definition of Society

Society as Concept
• The word "society" was coined by social scientist
to facilitate their exploration of social phenomena
• As a concept, society represents an ideal type,
which more or less depicts the form, process, and
dynamics of the social reality it embodies.
Society as Facticity
➢Society is formally defined as constituting a fairly large number of
people, who are living in the same territory, are relatively
independent outside their area, and participate in a common culture.
➢Society is made possible by social interactions.
Features of Society as God
➢Omnipotence (All-powerful)- Society has the immense power to
make or unmake lives of people
➢Omniscience (All-knowing)- it is all knowing because its 'library'
keeps all the possible knowledge and collects the memories of the
people who form it.
➢Omnipresent (Everywhere)- it is everywhere because its 'spies'
are scattered in the four corners of the land.
WHAT MAKES SOCIETY
POSSIBLE?
1. STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM
2. CONFLICT THEORY
3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
The three classical origin of society are:
1. Structural Functionalism Theory-
➢ Proponent: Emile Durkheim, A.R Radcliffe Brown and
Talcott Parsons
➢ The structural functional school of thought looks at "social
order"
➢ It argues that society is made possible by cooperation and
interdependence.
➢ This view sees society as a system with parts, and these
parts have their respective functions to perform.
➢ The health and condition of society is dependent on social
processes (Functions and interdependence)
2. Conflict theory

➢ Proponent: Karl Marx

➢ Conflict theory sees society as an arena.
➢ Social actors are considered "gladiators"
➢ Resources and scarcity make up the bone of
contention in every conflict situation.
➢ Winner takes all the rewards and assured of freedom.
➢ What makes society possible? The conflict theory
invokes the social processes rather than functions and
interdependence.
3. Symbolic Interactionism

➢Symbolic interactionism does not deal with either

order or conflict
➢It explores the issues of meaning making and why
this is crucial in understanding order or conflict as
processes that brought about society.
➢What makes society possible? The symbolic
interactionist perspective would say symbols and
meanings.
 RULES are guided in the performance of
roles and in everyday actions and
interactions. They provide order in a system
characterized by the presence of many
actors with different businesses and agenda
INVISIBLE HAND OF SOCIETY to pursue.

VISIBLE RULES
INVISIBLE RULES
https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-
editorial/protest-against-mining-in-manila-philippines-20-
sep-2018-9887565a
 B. Definition of Culture

Culture
➢ Edward B. Tylor, an english anthropologist was the
first to coin the term 'culture' in the eighteenth
century who said that:
➢ "culture is that complex whole which includes
knowledge, beliefs, morals, laws, customs, and any
other capabilities and habits as acquired by man as a
member of society". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Burnett-Tylor
 Bronislaw Malinowski defined 'culture' as:
• "The handwork of man and the medium through which he
achieves his ends“
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bronislaw-
Malinowski

Robert Redfield defined 'culture' as:

• "An organized body of conventional understandings manifest
in art which persisting through tradition, characterizes a
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/health/cdc-
robert-redfield-aids.html
human group.

V de Robert described culture as:

• "The body thought and knowledge, both theoretical and
practical, which only man can possess“

The Cambridge English Dictionary states that culture

• Is the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs,
of a particular group of people at a particular time"
➢ In sociology, society is the leading concept while culture is
subordinate.
➢ In anthropology, culture comes first as a subject matter
followed by society.
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
CULTURE
➢ Culture also encompasses social institutions like the family, church,
school and government.
➢ Our culture defines who we are
➢ Whatever it is that we do is part of our culture.

SOCIETY
➢ Society can also refer to people from a particular place that shares the
same culture
➢ A common location may not just developed a common culture. It can
also formed by gender, shared beliefs, values, norms, or activities.
The Relationship of Culture and Society

Culture and Society are close interdependent in

1. Existence
2. Essentiality
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
a. Dynamic, Flexible, & Adaptive

✓Dynamic- culture constantly changes and

adapts to the current state of society
✓Flexible- it continuously restore itself
whenever customs do not fit in the
current situation anymore
✓Adaptive- it does not remain stagnant.
B. Shared & Contested

➢ Culture is a shared learning experience. Culture is

learned and acquired through different interactions
with people. Because culture constantly changes, we
get to share the learning process with people.

➢ It is contested in various ways and situations. Because

of diversity, culture is subjected to debate and analysis.
C. Learned through socialization or enculturation

Socialization
• Is the process through which people learn to understand
societal norms or expectations and societal values as
members of society.
Enculturation
• Is the process by which an individual adopts the behavior
patterns of the culture he or she immersed in.
 Agents of Socialization

MASS
FAMILY COMMUNITY MEDIA RELIGION
D.Patterned social interactions
1. Exchange or social exchange
• Is the expectation that whenever we do something good, we will
receive something good in return.
• It is the most basic pattern of socialization
2.Cooperation
• When people or groups of people work together to achieve a
common goal.
• Considered to be essential for human survival because, without
cooperation social life would be unmanageable.
3. Competition
• Viewed as the opposite of cooperation
• Instead of working together towards a common goal, competing individuals or
groups battle to achieve the target that only one can have.
4. Conflict
• Arises when people disobey rules, control a person by force, or hurt other
people just to achieve their goals.
5. Coercion
• Happens when there is a use of threat or force in persuading others.
• People usually coerce people when they cannot achieve their goals on their
own.
E. Integrated and at times unstable
• The patterns of social interaction are
connected to each other and may change
from time to time.
The type of our social interaction may change.
• A simple social exchange may lead to
cooperation
• A small competition may result in a big
conflict
F.Requires language and other forms of communication

➢In every interaction language is the most important tool that

is always used
➢Language- is the transporter of a large part of our culture
because some parts of our culture are passed on through
mouths and there are no written records.
➢Has two types: verbal language and non-verbal language
FUNCTIONS OF CULTURE
According to social scientists, culture has certain functions for both the individual and society.

1. CULTURE DEFINES SITUATIONS – Each culture has many subtle cues which
define each situation. It reveals whether one should prepare to fight, run, laugh
or make love.
2. CULTURE DEFINES ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND GOALS- Each person learns
from his/her culture on what is good, true, and beautiful.
3. CULTURE DEFINES MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND THE SUPERNATURAL- Myths
and legends are important parts of every culture. They may inspire or reinforce
effort and sacrifices and bring comfort in bereavement.
4. CULTURE PROVIDES BEHAVIOR PATTERNS- People find ready-made set of
patterns awaiting them which they need to learn and follow.
Culture as Heritage
There are two primary categories of culture:

1.Material/Tangible Culture- are those that are produced and created

based on specific and practical purposes and aesthetic values.such as
tools or implements, paintings and other works of art, architectural
styles, weaponry, and toys.

2.Nonmaterial/Intangible Culture- consist of the intangible properties

and elements of society that influence the patterns of action and
behavior of its members. It includes language, beliefs, values, attitudes,
ideas, and norms shared among members of society.
According to UNESCO

“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live

with today, and what we pass on to future
generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are
both irreplaceable sources of life and inspirations”
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

ETHNO
WHAT IS
ETHNOCENTRISM
Refers to the practices of comparing
other cultural practices with those of
one’s own and automatically finding
those other cultural practices to be
inferior.
CENTRIC
Coined by William Graham Sumner.
It is the belief that your native
culture is the most natural or
superior way of understanding the
world.
FUNCTIONS OF ETHNOCENTRISM
I. The functions of ethnocentrism in maintaining order are more apparent than those
which promote social change.

ENCOURAGES SOLIDARITY OF A GROUP

HINDERS THE UNDERSTANDING OR

THE COOPERATION BETWEEN GROUPS

CONFLICT OFTEN LEADS TO SOCIAL

CHANGE
 • Refers to a preference for the foreign
• It is the exact opposite of ethnocentrism
Xenocentrism • It is characterized by a strong belief that
one's own product, styles, or ideas are
inferior to those which originate elsewhere

• Is the fear of what is perceived as foreign or

strange.
• It may include fear of losing identity,
Xenophobia suspicion of other group activities,
aggression, and desire to eliminate the
presence of the other group to secure a
presumed purity.
Cultural Relativism

• Is the idea that all norms, beliefs, and values are

dependent on their cultural context and should
be treated as such.
• Recognizes and accepts the cultural differences
between societies.
CHAPTER II- QUIZ NO. 2
 WHEN DO WE BECOME ETHNOCENTRIC
AND WHAT IS OUR WAY OUT?
1. When you judge the behavior and beliefs of people whoa re different
from you.

2. When you believe that there are primitive cultures, especially if their
way of life is different from yours.

3. When you believe that some cultures are backward if they lack the
technology and consumerism of your own culture.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: Conteras, Antonio et.al .
(2016). Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.

PREPARED BY: VANESSA Y. TAYAB