UCSP LESSON 1 BY: IVAN

HUMAN CULTURAL VARIATION SOCIAL DIFFERENCES

 Refers to the differences in social behaviors GENDER
that differs cultures exhibit around the world
 It is the socially-constructed characteristics
SOCIAL DIFFERENCES: DEFENITION of being male of female
 Serve as a guide on how male and female
 The differences among the individuals on
think and act about themselves
the basis of social characteristics
GENDER SEX
CULTURAL VARIATION
One sense of self as It is biological
 RELIGION masculine or feminine
 ETHNICITY regardless of external
genitalia
 NATIONALITY
Socially constructed It refers to person
RELIGION- latin word ‘religare’ to bind together characteristics based on their anatomy

 Is a system of beliefs and practices as well Personality Bodies

as system of actions directed toward entities characteristics
which are above men
 Organized system of ideas about the
spiritual sphere or the supernatural
ETHNICITY- it is the expression of the set of
cultural ideas held by a distinct ethics or indigenous
group
NATIONALITY- It is the legal relationship that
binds a person or a country. It allows the state to
protect and have jurisdiction over a person
Environment and history are two primary factors
that shape the behavior of human groups. As each
human group experiences differing environmental
conditions, cultural variations are established
Environment- is influenced by belief, practices,
and material possessions through constant practice,
these sets of behaviors form human tradition which
are passed on from one generation to others SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
History- significantly affects cultural variation by  It refers to the category of person who have
shaping the values, traditions, and norms of a more or less the same socioeconomic
society over time. Historical events, such as privileges
conquests, migrations, and colonialism, influence  Upper Class
cultural development, leading to the diversity and
 Middle class
distinctiveness observed across different cultures.
 Lower class
Political Identity- refers to the set of attitudes and opposition to a regular army.
practices that an individual adheres to in relation to 3. HIGH CULTURE/ POPULAR
political systems and actors within his or her society CULTURE
Exceptionality- the state of being intellectually
“High culture” is a term now used in a number
gifted or having physically or mentally challenged
of different ways in academic discourse whose
conditions
most common meaning is the set of cultural
• Personality/ behavior products, mainly the arts, held in the highest
• Communication (learning disability, speech esteem by a culture
impairment, and hearing problems)
• Intellect (mild intellectual & mental development Popular culture- culture based on the taste of
disabilities) ordinary people rather than educated elite
• Physical appearance (blind-low vision)
• Or combination of more than one specific
exceptionality / disability.

CULTURAL VARIATION BETWEEN

CULTURES
 If human culture modify the natural
environment, it is also true that the natural
environment initially shaped and still
shapes to some extent, the culture of
society

VARIATION BETWEEN CULTURES

1. SUBCULTURE- a segment of society

which shares a distinctive pattern of mores,
folkways, and values that differ from the
pattern of a large society. It is a culture
within a culture
 These are groups that have specific
cultural traits that set them apart from
dominant culture

2. COUNTERCULTURE- is a group whose

values and norms place it at odds with
mainstream society or a group that actively
rejects dominant cultural value and norms

Paramilitary- semi- militarized force

whose organizational structure, tactics,
training, subculture and often function are
similar to those of a professional military.
And which is not included as part of states
armed force
Militia- a military force that engages in
rebel or terrorist activities, typically
  Participant observation is the method of
LESSON 1 PART 2 studying the culture; living with and among
ESSENTIAL IN STUDYING CULTURE AND SOCIETY people to be studied.
AND POLITICS

Franz Boas (1858-1942)- Considered the

NATURAL SOCIAL SCIENCE father of American Anthropology
SCIENCE
 He advocate “historical
Branch of science that The study of culture, particularism”- means each study is
deals with natural society, and politics considered to have a unique form of
world; its processes, are parts and parcel of culture that can be considered as
elements and a larger body of complex.
compositions knowledge with the  Also advocate cultural relativism or the
integration of complexity of all culture
systematic processes
and scientific method
Edward B. Tylor (1832-1917) - First gave the
called, social science
definition of culture from his book “Primitive
Studies natural event Deals with human
behavior in its social culture” (1871)
and cultural aspect.
It includes BRANCHES OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology,
sociology, political 1. Cultural Anthropology study of people
science, economics, with their variations and progress in terms of
psychology, culture; deals of the description of analysis
History and geography of the forms of life of the social life of past
as it branches. and present ages
2. Linguistic Anthropology- the study of
knowledge, its evolution, and its connection
to other languages
3. Archaeology- The study of past human
cultures through their material remains.
Through the recovery and analysis of
artifacts
4. Biological Anthropology- The study of
human origin, which include genetics, race,
evolution, fossils and ancestors.
5. Applied Anthropology- they analyze
social, political, and economic problems
ANTHROPOLOGY
 Study of humanity
 Came from the LATIN word “Anthropos”-
means man and GREEK “logos”- means to
study
 Study of human beings and their ancestors
through time and space in relation to
physical characteristics, environment,social
relations, and culture

SOCIOLOGY
 LATIN WORD “SOCIUS”-means
Companion
 Systematic study of human relationship
along with human society and
interaction
 Study ofciety
Society- where social interactions occur.
Their members interact with one another
and cooperate to achieve objectives
collectively they could not achieve as
individuals
Auguste Comte (1798-1857)- Coined the term
sociology in 1838. He also introduced the term
Positivism.
Positivism- advocates the study of society
scientifically through evidences, experiments, and
statistics to clearly see the operations of the society.
Karl Marx (1818-1883)- a german philosopher and
economist he made the Communist Manifesto- this
book present Marx theory of society. He disagreed
with Comte’s positivism and believed that societies
developed and progress because of the struggle of
different social classes over the means of
production.
Emile Durkhein (1858-1917)- His notable works
are THE DIVISION OF LABOR IN SOCIETY
(1893)
Which tackles the transformation of society from
primitive state to capitalist, industrial society.
 Published the work suicide (1897)
Max Weber (1864-1920)- he emphasize the role
rationalization in the development of the society.
Adopt a scientific and rational attitude towards
understanding the works of the world
AREAS OF SOCIOLOGY
1. Social Organization - pertains to a group of
interacting people with the same goals.
2. Social Psychology- a study of how people's
thoughts, feelings, beliefs, intentions and behavior
are influenced by the social environment.
3. Human Ecology- a study of interactions between
human beings and nature in different cultures.
4. Applied Sociology - the information about
society to solve social issues.
Goals of Sociology
 Study the nature of humanity
 Appreciate society
 Understand human social activities
 Determine laws governing human behaviors
 Human behavior vs Social processes
POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Political GREEK WORD “POLIS”-means city
-state and Science come from LATIN WORD
“SCIRE”-means to know
 Political science is a discipline in social science
concerned primarly in the state, government, and
politics.
AREAS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
1. Political Theory - It deals with the accumulation
of principles identifying with the basis, structure,
conduct, and operations of the state
2. Public Law - It pertains to laws or ordinances
which control the framework of public governance.
3. Public Administration - It serves as an
academic discipline that studies civil service and
governance.
4. International Relations - It includes inquiries
into the nation-states' foreign policy in their mutual
ties on the various forces-geographic, technological,
psychological, and political that contribute to
shaping such policy.
GOALS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Make people better citizens
 Keep social order and harmony
 Protects right of an individual
 Avoid of conflict and promote cooperation

ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
Perspectives of Culture
❑ Culture is composed of behavior acquired and
transmitted through symbols. It
includes distinctive achievements and
embodiment in artifacts, traditional and
historical ideas, and formation of values.
❑ Culture consists of experiences that are
organized, learned or created by the
individuals of a population, including those images
and images adding up their
unique interpretations transmitted from the past
generations up to the future.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
1. Culture is social- Culture is social because it is a
product of behavior, it
develops through social interaction. No man can
acquire culture without
association with others.
2. Culture varies from society to society- Every
society has a culture of its own
that differs from other societies.
3. Culture is shared- Customs, traditions, beliefs,
ideas, values, morals are all
shared by people of a group or society.
4. Culture is learned
5. Culture is transmitted- Culture is transmitted
from one generation to
another. Transmission of culture is made possible
by language. Language is
the main vehicle of culture.
6. Culture is continuous and cumulative-Culture
exists as a continuous process
Subculture- cultural patterns which are both related
to the general culture of the society and yet
distinguishable from it.
Example: Culture of SHS students → Subculture of
SHS students in Abad Santos, Subculture of SHS in
San Sebastian
College, Subculture of SHS in Tondo HS.
7. Culture is gratifying and idealistic- Culture
provides proper opportunities for the satisfaction of
our needs and desires.
Types of Culture
◦ Material culture includes all visible parts and
tangible objects.
◦ Non-material culture has intangible objects or
the invisible parts.
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
1. NORMS
 Are the standard and expected behavior
within society
Formal Norms
 Mores- norms that have a firm control
over moral and ethical behavior EX:
Premarital sex, Homosexual Relationship
 Laws- the are ordinance of reason enacted
to protect the people from the bad effects of
outdated mores
EX: 1987 constitution
Informal Norms
 Folkways or Customs- they are behaviors
of less importance yet still influence
behavior EX: doing mano po, practicing
Bayanihan
2. SYMBOLS- anything that carry a meaning
recognized by people who share a culture EX: a
symbol of cross represents Christianity while
crescent shape is for Islam.
3. VALUES- culturally defined standards by which
people asses desirability, goodness, and beauty
and that serve as broad guidelines for social
living
4. BELIEFS- These are specific statements that
people hold to be true EX: superstitious beliefs
5. LANGUAGE- forms of communication using
words either spoken or gestured with hands and
structured with grammar, often with writing system
6. TABOOS- norms that are crucial to a society's
moral center, involving behaviors that are always
negatively sanctioned
EX: INCEST, CANNIBALISM
Theoretical Perspectives in Society
❑ Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) - described the
emerging societies as societies of survival and
primarily based on the concept of natural law.
Members of each society must learn to adapt to
their surroundings to outlast the prevailing
conditions present in their environment.
ETHNOCENTRISM
❖ethno- people, nation; centric- “center”
❖The view that one’s group is superior compared
to another.
❖ In an ethnocentric viewpoint, a group is
considered as the center or core of everything.
❖The tendency to evaluate other cultures in terms
of one’s own and to conclude that other cultures are
inferior, barbaric, or immoral.
❖ Practice of comparing other cultural practices
with those of one’s own and automatically finding
those other cultural practices to be inferior.
Some characteristics of an individual with an
ethnocentric view. Ethnocentric persons –

❑ Karl Marx (1818-1883)- had a different take on ❑ have a dominant cultural element which they see as
society. He proposed that societies develop through superior to other cultures;
class conflicts. ❑ view rigidly their own socio-economic, political, and
cultural elements;
There is always s struggle between the workers and ❑ see their cultural elements as normal and acceptable
the capitalist due to the exploitation of the latter to to all;
the former which is essential in provoking social ❑ consider in-group norms can be universalized;
change. ❑ discard out-group ethnicities and cultures;
The only way to end this conflict is through social ❑ believe that other cultures are inferior; and
revolution. ❑ look at other culture’s elements as inferior and
unacceptable
❑ Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) said that society
is composed of harmonious elements such as Ethnocentrism in
individuals, organizations, and social institutions. MODERATION HAS
THE FOLLOWING
These elements must perform their role in the POSITIVE EFFECTS:
society for function effectively.
1. promotes solidarity
and loyalty
Dysfunction may occur if these elements are not in
2. develops cultural
the state of equilibrium. Pride

❑ George Herbert Mead (1863–1931) -introduced Ethnocentrism in

the concept of symbolic interactionism. EXCESS HAS THE
FOLLOWING
According to this, society can be seen in a micro- NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
level that focuses on the relationships of
1. leads to conflict
individuals within a society primarily centers on
with groups
their communication both language and symbols.
considered inferior
2. oppression
3. genocide

WHEN DO WE BECOME ETHNOCENTRIC?

1. When you judge the behavior and beliefs of
people who are different from you.
2. When you believe that there are primitive
cultures, especially if their way of life is different
from your.
3. When you believe that some cultures are
backward if they lack the technology and
consumerism of your own culture.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM
refers to an objective analysis of
one’s own culture – seeing and understanding of
one’s beliefs and traditions from his/her own point
of view.

 Cultural Relativism is a belief that cultures

is relative and different from one another,
thus, it is important to respect other cultures.
 No culture should be considered better than
another; different cultures should be
accepted, tolerated, and appreciated rather
than condemned.
 Ethnocentrism – insensitive to other
culture ; Cultural relativism- shows high
cultural sensitivity

According to James Rachels (2003), the

following claims have all been made by
cultural relativists:
1. Each society has a diverse set of moral
conducts.
2. There is no objective standard that can be
used as a basis of comparison among societies.
3. High tolerance among all culture must be
exercised always.

XENOCENTRISM- refers to a preference for the

foreign. It is the exact opposite of
ethnocentrism. It is a strong belief that one’s
own products, styles, or ideas are inferior to
those which originated elsewhere.

XENOPHOBIA- is the fear of what is perceived as

foreign or strange.