Understanding Culture,

Society and Politics

EDUARDO JUNIO ANDAYA
 Lesson 2 Social, Political, and Cultural Behavior
and Phenomenon
Significance of studying culture, society and politics
Why is the study of culture, society and politics important?
1. Primarily, our understanding about the said elements essentially develops our knowledge, understanding, skills,
values and attitudes to achieving social and cultural literacy.
2. Secondly, through the study of society, culture and politics we will increase our knowledge and understanding about
personal, social and cultural identity and would give us the impetus to initiate change.
3. Thirdly, having a clear understanding about culture, society and politics likewise develops our skills to apply and
evaluate social and cultural research, investigate and engage in effective evaluation, analysis and synthesis of
information from a variety of sources, and ultimately be able to communicate information, ideas and issues in
appropriate forms to different audiences in a variety of contexts.
4. Finally, through knowledge and understanding about culture, society and politics we will be equipped with informed
and responsible values ad attitudes towards a just society, intercultural understanding, informed and active
citizenship, ethical research practices and lifelong learning.
Lesson 2. Social, Political, Cultural
Behavior and Phenomenon
NORMS
• Every society has its own norms to follow. These norms serves as guides or models of behavior
which tell us what is proper or improper, appropriate or inappropriate, right or wrong.
• Norms are often in the form of rules, standards, or prescriptions that are strictly followed by people
who adhere on certain conventions and perform specific roles.
• Norms indicate a society’s standards of property, morality, ethics, and legality.
• These also apply to day to day normal activities like routines and daily chores although there are
some which are only applicable to specific situations or occasions.
Norms
Norms serves as guide or models of behavior that influence how people behave. In the
Philippines, for example, children are expected to express their respect to their elders
through the act of pagmamano, say “po, and opo”.
Norms of Decency and Conventionality

Norms of Appropriateness and norms of conventionality are the most adhered norms in
society.

Norms of Appropriateness or decency is commonly exhibited on the

type of clothing a person wears in a specific occasion.
 This norms also includes the manner and behaviors that show a person’s refinement
and civility (for instance, how to treat guests cordially).
 In some of society, norm of decency also includes the use of appropriate words and
gesture that politeness and courtesy.
 A good example is this: for westerners, it is improper for a person to be too close or
near a guest when having a conversation, this western belief is opposed to the practice
of many Asian countries that value proximity as a sign of intimacy and friendliness.
Norms of Decency and Conventionality

Norms of conventionality are beliefs and practices that are acceptable

to certain cultures but can be inimical to other cultures.
 For example, Bagobo inhabitants of Davao bury their dead within their
neighborhood and the T’boli of south cotabato hangs corpses of dead infants on
trees.
 While traditional burial practices like these preserve indigenous culture, they are not
approved by other societies, especially lowland communities that value sanitation
and fear the spread of virulent diseases.
 Moreover, respect for one’s religious belief are given paramount considerations,
especially those belief that with dietary restrictions. As such, Muslim believers are
prohibited to eat pork; Hindus are not allowed to eat beef; Jewish practitioners are
only allowed kosher food.
Norms of Decency and Conventionality

T’boli tribes hanging coffins

Norms of Decency and Conventionality

Individuals or groups can shape the norms and values of their society through
the concrete application of their beliefs, norms and values in their everyday
lives.

Ethnic groups follow certain norms and practices that are uniquely their own.
Conformity and Deviance

Every society has a form of social control, a set of means that ensure people
behave in expected and approved ways (Robertson, 1987: 64)
All norms, whether codified or not, are supported by sanctions: rewards for
conformity and punishments for non-conformity.

Conformity is define as the state of having internalized norms as part of the

social expectation.
 As individuals and groups conform to an established norm, the norm then
becomes a conventional.
Conformity and Deviance

Deviant and nonconformist behavioral patterns can be tolerated,

approved, or disapproved depending on societal views.
Deviance is divided into two types:
 Formal deviance (includes actions that violate enacted laws, such
as robbery, theft, graft, rape and other forms of criminality.
 Informal deviance (Violations to social norms that are not
codified into law, such as pricking one’s nose, belching loudly,
and splitting on the street, among others.
Conformity and Deviance

 Deviance is also seen as a form of power struggle.

 In the Philippines, the existence of political dynasties and monopolies and the
rampant electioneering activities during polls are considered as
manifestations of deviancy and a blatant reflection of the power imbalance
and inequality in Philippines society (Cragun: ).
 Rampant political dynasty building is a tactic of “Self-preservation and
expansion,” a means of preservating the political power of one’s self and
family.
 Qualified neophyte candidates, who should be given a chance to serve the
people, are deprived of this opportunity because of political monopoly.
Taboos

 Taboos related to food are also manifestations of deviancy. Though these practices
may be a case to case basis since what one society views as deviant may be seen
by other societies as normative, traditional or desirable .
 In the same way cultural food and food habits vary; cultural and religious food
prohibitions also differ to some extent (Meyer-Rochow 2009).
 Hindus are prohibited to eat beef since cows are considred sacred in india.
 Muslims and Jews abstain from eating pork, as pigs are considered “unclean”
Taboos

 Other food taboos are more cultural than religious.

 Among Western countries, for instance, thee consumption of a dog and cat meat is
viewed as deviant since these animals are commonly kept as pets. This is a
practice that is directly opposite to some subgrops in Africa and Asia who widely
utilize these animals as food or food offerings during rituals.
 In the Philippines, any dish have dog or cat meat, although there are those who
really prefer dog meat, this is not allowed by law in the Philippines, R.A. No.8485
(illegal to slaughter a dog or cat for personal trade or slaughtering a dog and cat
for commercial trade and consumption.
Thank you and
Godless!