Dynamics of Culture

DEFINING CULTURE AND SOCIETY FROM THE

PERSPECTIVES OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND
SOCIOLOGY

Society as a group of people sharing a

common culture
Culture as a “that complex whole which
encompasses beliefs, practices, values,
attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols,
knowledge, and everything that a person learns
and shares as a member of society.”(E.B. Tylor
1920 [1871]
Culture is a society’s (or group’s) system of shared, learned values
and norms; as a whole, these values and norms are the society’s
(or group’s) design for living
Values: abstract ideas about the good, the right, the desirable
Norms: social rules and guidelines; determine appropriate
behavior in specific situations
Folkways: norms of little moral significance
dress code; table manners; timeliness
Mores: norms central to functioning of social life bring serious
retribution: thievery, adultery, alcohol
Types of Culture
Material culture – Includes all visible parts and tangible
objects
• Food
• clothing and fashion
• building and properties
• Arts and technology
Non-material culture – has intangible objects or the invisible
part
• Ideas and knowledge
• Beliefs and traditions
• Symbols and language
• Behavior and religion
• Ethics
• Customs and philosophies
 Elements of Culture
Elements Definitions Examples in the
Philippine Context
NORMS These are the standard and expected behavior within a society. It is divided into
two: formal norms and informal norms.
Formal Norms Pre – marital sex
• Mores – they are the norms that has a firm Homosexual relationships
control to moral & ethical behavior.
• Laws – they are ordinance of reason 1987 Constitutions
enacted to protect the people from the Laws promulgated by the
bad effects of outdated mores Philippine Government
Informal Norms Doing “Mano po”
• Folkways & Customs – they are the Practicing Bayanihan
behaviors of less importance yet still
influence our behavior.
SYMBOLS These are anything that carry a meaning A symbol of cross refers to
recognized by people who share a culture Christianity while crescent shape is
for Islam
 Elements Definitions Examples in the
Philippine Context
VALUES These are culturally defined standards by w/c Filipino hospitality, resiliency,
people assess desirability, goodness and close-family ties, positive outlook
beauty and that serve as broad guidelines for in life and optimism
social living.
BELIEFS These are specific statements that people Superstitious beliefs
hold to be true

LANGUAGE It refers to a form of communication using
words either spoken or gestured with the
hands and structured with grammar, often
with a writing system
TABOOS These are norms that are crucial to society’s
moral center, involving behaviors that are
always negatively sanctioned
The crossing of the fingers may
refer that someone is hoping for
goodluck but in Vietnam it
represents the genital of a female
Incest, cannibalism
 Characteristics of Culture
1. Culture is social – it is a product of behavior, it develops through social interactions
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 continuos and cumulative – culture exists as a continuous process
7. Culture is gratifying and idealistic – culture provides proper opportunities for the satisfaction of our
needs and desire
Identify which characteristics of culture is being referred on the following items.
Choices: Culture is social Culture varies from society to society
Culture is shared Culture is learned
Culture is transmitted Culture is continuous
Culture is gratifying

1. The fiesta ng Tondo every 3rd Sunday of January is one of the most anticipated time of the year
because of merriment and fun activities before and during the feast day.
2. Mark joined the translacion last week since it became a tradition of the family.
3. Children of foreign nationals with Filipino nannies tend to learn Tagalog because they spent more
time with their “yaya’s”.
4. Grade 11 students learned swimming after joining the swimming workshop at the YMCA.
5. Angelo share his opinion on the recent news on Covid-19 surge on social media.
6. The use of po and opo and practice of mano po is still observant up until now.
7. Foreigners find it weird for Filipinos for eating unfertilized egg or ballot.
8. The jejemon culture of the early 2010 later transformed to the hype beast culture of late 2018-2019.
Identify the elements of culture of the listed below.
Choices: mores law folkways symbols values beliefs
language taboos

1. Charity 6. “sakalam”
2. Pedophilia 7. same sex marriage
3. Flag 8. black cat brings misfortune
4. Karma 9. diligence and prudence
5. Curfew 10. Bayanihan to Heal as One Act