UCSP Chapter B - defining culture and society from the perspectives of anthropology and sociology

Understanding Culture Society and Politics
Senior High
Chapter B - defining culture and society from the perspectives of anthropology and sociology

1. Lesson 2 Defining Culture and Society from the Perspectives of Anthropology and Sociology

2. Defining Culture and Society from the Perspectives of Anthropology and Sociology Topics: 1. Society as a group of people sharing a common culture 2. 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]). 3. Aspects of Culture a . Dynamic, Flexible, & Adaptive b . Shared & Contested (given the reality of social differentiation) c . Learned through socialization or enculturation d . Patterned social interactions e . Integrated and at times unstable f . Transmitted through socialization/enculturation g . Requires language and other forms of communication 4. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism as orientations in viewing other cultures

3. Objectives: 1. Explain the concept of culture and society using anthropological and sociological perspectives; 2. Differentiate Ethnocentrism, Cultural Relativism, Xenocentrism and Xenophobia. 3. Become aware of why and how cultural relativism provides remedy to ethnocentrism.

4. People rarely distinguish the difference between the terms “culture” and “society”, but for sociologists, the two terms have different meanings and the distinction is important.

5. A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviors , beliefs , values , and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. Culture

6. Includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Culture

7. House: Nipa Hut – Bahay Kubo

8. Dances

9. Music

10. Food

11. Religious Activities

12. Religious Activities

13. Costumes

14. Games

15. The people who interact in such a way as to share a common culture. The term society can also have a geographic meaning and refer to people who share a common culture in a particular location . Society

16. Culture and S ociety are intricately related . A culture consists of the “objects” of a society, whereas a society consists of the “ people” who share a common culture.

17. Aspects of Culture Cultures have key features (classification and elements) and characteristics that are present in all cultures.

18. Classification of Culture: Material Non-Material b.1. Cognitive b.2. Normative

19. Material Culture Weapons Machines, gadgets Eating utensils Jewelry Art Hair styles Clothing includes all material objects or those components or elements of culture with physical representation.

20. Non-material Culture There are components of culture that are nontangible or without physical representation language gestures values beliefs rules (norms) philosophies customs governments institutions

21. 2 Categories of Non-material Culture : Cognitive culture includes the ideas, concepts, philosophies, designs, etc. that are products of the mental or intellectual functioning and reasoning of the human mind 2. Normative culture includes all the expectations, standards and rules for human behavior.

22. Elements of Culture All cultures consist of key elements that are crucial to human existence: a. Beliefs Beliefs are conceptions or ideas people have about what is true in the environment around them like what is life, how to value it, and how one’s beliefs on the value of life relate with his other interaction with others and the world. These may be based on common sense, folk wisdom, religion, science, or a combination of all of these.

23. Belief – perception of reality – are the convictions that people hold to be true. Individuals in a society have specific beliefs , but they also share collective values .

24. b. Values Values describes what is appropriate or inappropriate (good or bad; desirable or undesirable; worthy or unworthy) in a given society or what ought to be. These are broad, abstract, and shared to influence and guide the behavior of people.   People live in a culture wherein symbols are used to understand each other. Symbols can be verbal (words) or nonverbal (acts, gestures, signs, and objects) that communicate meaning that people recognize and shared.

25. Values – shared ideas, right or wrong – are a culture’s standard for discerning what is good and just in society. Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching a culture’s beliefs.

26. c. Language Language is a shared set of spoken and written symbols. It is basic to communication and transmission of culture. It is known as the storehouse of culture.

27. d. Technology Technology refers to the application of knowledge and equipment to ease the task of living and maintaining the environment. It includes all artifacts, methods and devices created and used by people.

28. e. Norms Norms are specific rules/standards to guide appropriate behavior. Societal norms are different types and norms.

29. Types of Norms: a. Proscriptive Defines and tells us things not to do b. Prescriptive Defines and tells us things to do

30. Forms of Norms: Folkways Mores Taboos Laws

31. 1.  Folkways Also known as customs , these are norms for everyday behavior that people follow for the sake of tradition or convenience. Folkways are norms that ordinary people follow in everyday life.  Folkways are not strictly enforced.

32. Examples of Folkways 1. Pagmamano when meeting an elder . 2. Harana - serenading of the woman when a man is courting.

33. 3. The use of “Po” and “ Opo ” when a person is talking to an elder or older person, a person of superior or of higher status. 4. Another is the “ pamamanhikan ” wherein the man’s family bring some food to the woman’s family for a conference to affirm their children’s engagement.

34. 2.   Mores These are strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior. Mores are norms based on definitions of right and wrong. Mores are norms are taken more seriously and are strictly enforced . Considered as "e ssential to our core values ." We insist on conformity.

35. Examples of Social Mores: Talking to oneself in public is not considered a normal behavior . Nudity in public is not acceptable in most areas. Picking one's nose in public is not an acceptable behavior . Rising for the national anthem is an expected behavior . When dressing for a job interview in an office, men should wear and a suit and tie.

36. 3.   Taboos These are norms that society holds so strongly that violating it results in extreme disgust. Often times the violator of the taboo is considered unit to live in that society. Taboos approximate super mores. Taboos are so "strongly ingrained that even the thought of its violation is greeted with disapproval, disgust or hate."

37. E xamples of Taboos: Abortion - terminating a pregnancy Addiction - addiction to legal or illegal drugs, including alcoholism Adultery - sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse Bestiality or Zoophilia - sexual relations between a human and an animal Cannibalism - a human being eating the flesh of another human being

38. 4.  Laws These are codified ethics, and formally agreed, written down and enforced by an official law enforcement agency. A law is a norm that is formally enacted by a political authority. The power of the state backs laws.

39. By themselves, norms are guidelines for human behavior. Sanctions encourage conformity to norms. Sanctions are socially imposed rewards and punishments in society which may be formal or informal.

40. Ideal Culture and Real Culture Ideal Culture refers to the norms and values that a society professes to hold.  ideal culture describes models to emulate and which as worth aspiring to . Real Culture refers to norms and values that are followed in practice .

41. IDEAL

42. REAL

43. Characteristics of Culture: Culture is Learned Culture is Shared Culture is Integrated Culture is Adaptive and Dynamic Culture is Abstract Culture is Symbolic

44. 1. CULTURE IS LEARNED - Is learned through families, friends, institutions and media. Enculturation – process of learning about culture.

45. 2. CULTURE IS SHARED - Groups of people usually share similar behavior patterns which develop overtime. But shared culture does not mean that it is homogenous.

46. 3. CULTURE IS INTEGRATED - Culture is holistic in nature, different cultures are interconnected. Different cultural manifestation distinguished one society from another. Example: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

47. 4. CULTURE IS ADAPTIVE AND DYNAMIC Adopts to various environmental and geographical conditions. From hunter-gatherer to globalized world.

48. 5. CULTURE IS ABSTRACT No single tangible manifestation that can take the form of culture itself. Exist in the minds of the individual interacting with one another within a particular society or even across societies. Manifest through behavior, habits, mannerisms, and activities.

49. 6. CULTURE IS SYMBOLIC Societies developed a way to manifest concepts and ideas, and a symbol stands for different meaning for different societies. Example: White for western countries is a symbol of purity and peace. White for Eastern and Asian culture is death, mourning and misfortune.

50. Different Perspective of Culture a. Ethnocentrism b. Xenocentrism c. Xenophobia d. Temporocentrism e. Cultural Relativism

51. a. Ethnocentrism - Comparing other cultural practices with those of one’s own and automatically finding those other cultural practices to be inferior. - It is the act of evaluating other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one’s own culture.

52. b. Xenocentrism - Refers to a reference for the foreign. - Exact opposite of Ethnocentrism. - Anything foreign is superior . “Filipinos seems happy to buy imported goods rather than local products because of the assumption that anything abroad is better”

53. c. Xenophobia - The fear of what is perceived as different, foreign or strange.

54. d. Temporocentrism - one’s time culture is important than other time culture. Ex. Old People

55. e. Cultural Relativism - Idea that all norms, belief, and values are dependent on their cultural context and should be treated as such. It is the principle that an individual human’s beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual’s own culture. - Promotes greater appreciation of the cultures one encountered along the way .

56. It also covers ideas of moral relativism (ethics depend on a social construct), situational relativism (right or wrong is based on the particular situation), and cognitive relativism (truth itself has no objective standard).