Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

Quarter 1- Module 2

Anthropological and Sociological perspectives on Culture and Society

Content Standards: The learners demonstrate an understanding of:

1. culture and society as anthropological and sociological concepts

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]).

Performance Standards: The learners

1. appreciate the nature of culture and society from the perspectives of

anthropology and sociology

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

*Analyze the concept, aspects and changes in/of culture and society

Learning competency: The learners:

1. explain anthropological and sociological perspectives on culture and society

UCSPC11DCS-Ic6

Learning Objectives:
1. Define the concept of culture.
2. Distinguish the concept of culture both anthropological and sociological perspective.
3. Appreciate how culture differs

Reference:

Pretest
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the correct answer before each number.

_____1. Which of the following definition gives the full essence of the concept of
“culture”?
a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in art
which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member of society
c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he achieves
his ends
d. Culture as the body of thought and knowledge, both theoretical and practical,
which only man can possess
_____2. Which of the following definition of culture referred to as anthropological
perspective?
 a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in art
which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member of society
c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he achieves
his ends
d. Culture as the body of thought and knowledge, both theoretical and practical,
which only man can possess
_____3. Which of the following definition of culture referred to as sociological
perspective?
a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in art
which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member of society
c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he achieves
his ends
d. Culture denotes acquired behaviors and habits that are shared by and
transmitted among groups of people as a result of their interaction with one
another.
_____4. Which of the following choices pertains to an English anthropologist who first
coin the term “culture” in his book entitled Primitive Culture?
a. R. Redfiled
b. Auguste Comte
c. Edward B. Tylor
d. Karl Marx
_____5. It refers to firmly held opinion or conviction, regardless of the lack of verifiable
evidence that became a part of the culture within the society and transferred from
generations to generations.
a. Morals
b. Beliefs
c. Manners
d. Values
_____6. It pertains to facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through
experience or education.
a. Education
b. Training
c. Seminar
d. Knowledge
_____7. Which of the following refers to a lesson, especially one concerning what is
right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an
experience.
a. Moral
b. Wisdom
c. Knowledge
d. Manners
_____8. It pertains to the various branches of creative activity, such as painting,
music, literature, and dance which became a part of the culture of a particular society,
community, tribes, or nation.
 a. Art
b. Tradition
c. Belief
d. Customary Practices
_____9. Which of the following reasons is CORRECT why culture described as a
complex whole according to E.B. Tylor?
a. Complex whole means that understanding of a part can only be achieved in
relation to the other parts of the system.
b. Complex whole means no culture can exist except as it is embodied in a
human society.
c. Complex whole means that one must always keep in mind the
interdependence and the reciprocal relationship between culture and society.
d. Complex whole means that each is distinguishable concept in which the
pattern and organization of the whole is more important than any of the
component parts.
_____10. Which of the following choices below gives this definition of culture: culture
as “the handiwork of man and the medium through which he achieves his ends”?
a. V. de Robert
b. E.B. Tylor
c. B. Malinowski
d. R. Redfield

LET’S SEE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

TRUE OR FALSE
Direction. Write T if the statement is true, however, write the correct word(s), phrase
or term if the underlined word is incorrect. Write your answer on the space provided.

___________________1. Philosophy gives understanding about political ideas, ideologies,

institutions, policies, processes, and behavior, as well as groups, classes, government,
diplomacy, law, strategy, and war.
___________________2. The goal of anthropology as a social science is to seek answers
about man’s existence and his social experiences.
___________________3. Mixed methods are employed in ethnography as far as data
gathering is concern. One of it enables the researchers to learn about the activities of
the people under study in the natural setting through observing and participating in
those activities, this is called survey.
___________________4. Interview as an inquiry in studying an issue, problem, or
phenomena as far as culture, society, and politics is concern, an appropriate research
method in data gathering is very important used in testing hypothesis and answering
research problems that need statistical analysis.
___________________5. Survey refers to a qualitative research method that asks
questions to key informants and participants in the research which also one of the
research method in data gathering

LET’S LEARN

In this lesson, you will encounter different definitions of culture from different
proponents. Hence, culture is a broad concept, it cannot be defined in just a single
definition alone
Defining Culture

E.B. Taylor, an English anthropologists, was the first to coin the term “culture” in the
eighteenth century. The study of society is incomplete without proper understanding
of the culture of that society because culture and society go together. Culture is a
unique possession of man. Man is born and brought up in a cultural environment.
Culture is the unique quality of man which separates him from the lower animals.
Culture includes all that a man acquires in his social life.

There are several definitions of culture in the circulation.

B. Malinowski, he defined culture as “the handiwork of man and the medium through
which he achieves his ends”.

R. Redfield, on the other hand, defined culture as “an organized body of conventional
understandings manifest in art which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a
human group”.

V. de Robert described culture as “the body of thought and knowledge, both

theoretical and practical, which only

But of all the given definitions from different minds, it seems that E.B. Taylor capture
the full essence of the concept which he said that culture is “that complex whole
which includes knowledge, belief, art, morale, laws, custom, and any other capabilities
and habits as acquired by man as a member of the society”. The “complex whole”
suggests that culture cannot be simply broken down into a set of attributes. It means
that an understanding of a part can only be achieved (or is only possible) in relation to
the other parts of the system.

LET’S TRY THIS AND SELF-CHECK

THINK-PAIR-SHARE

Direction: Create a simple personal profiling of yourself. Choose one partner from
your neighbor/friend that you feel comfortable to share your own profile.
 MY PROFILE

LET’S STUDY AND ANALYZE THESE

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
1. What common culture does you and your partner have base on the activity you
have encountered?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
2. Why do you think your culture is not the same with the culture acquired by your
partner? Do you think that your upbringing and the society you are a part of has a
big impact on how you behave, act, and decide? Explain your thoughts on the
space provided.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
3. Does culture can be taught and caught at the same time? How? Explain your
standpoint on the space provided.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
4. For you, what is culture that is Filipino?
___________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

LET’S LEARN

In this lesson you will be focusing on the definitions of culture in two different
perspectives: anthropological and sociological perspectives.

But first, what is culture for you? Have you ever asked yourself why there are
people not the same with your upbringing, practices, beliefs, manners, or behavior? Or
have you observed why foreigners act differently than us Filipinos? Why do people
speak different languages, wore different types of clothes, eat delicacies not similar to
your own country? The answer lies on what is the concept of culture all about

Culture as anthropological
 Culture is a way of life, all the things whether it be tangible or intangible that a
man can acquired and produced in his/her own motherland is called culture.
 These are the factors that shaped and affect people both socially and culturally
and gives identities to a particular nation.
 For an instance, why do you think foreigners would probably described
Filipinos as hospitable? Part of the Filipino culture is to always treat our guests
warmly, whether they are foreigners or not, therefore if there is one thing that
foreigners would usually comment about right after they visit the Philippines, it
would probably not be the food or the places they visited, but the hospitality of
the people. It is hard to get rid of this trait though, as it has been part of the
Filipino culture since the ancient times. Before the Philippines was even a
colony of Spain, the Datus (rulers of the land) already warmly welcomed foreign
people landing here to barter and trade.When the Spaniards first came, they
were also treated with great hospitality before things got out of hand and both
parties became hostile.
 In the Philippine settings, part of our culture as Filipino affects and shaped us
with these factors:
 Knowledge both caught and taught, our knowledge from the very
beginning was being passed on by our parents as they nurture us in
becoming who we are right now, these knowledge was also being passed
on by our parents’ ancestors, their parents too. From reading and writing
up to the complex tasks, it is a cycle of passing on of knowledge from
generation to generation.
 Belief sometimes comes with no scientific explanation but through
folklore. Filipinos have a number of folk beliefs about life, family, luck,
wealth, etc.. The Tagalog terms for folk beliefs and superstitions are:
paniniwala (beliefs), kasabihan ng mga matatanda (what the old people
say), and pamahiin (superstitions). Have you ever remembered at least
one belief that your family passed on to you? Don’t go straight home after
attending a wake. This superstition is called “pagpag” (the shaking off of
dirt). In the context of a wake, it means going elsewhere after attending
the wake before heading home to shake off the spirit of the deceased lest
it follows you home. Superstitions surrounding wakes are among the
most widely practiced by Filipinos still today. Another is that the family
 of the deceased should not drop off visitors at the door upon saying
goodbye as it symbolizes dropping them off at their own deaths. And, as
for serving food at wakes (be it heavy meals or light snacks) at Filipino
wakes is customary, visitors should not make the mistake of taking any
home with them (be it a small piece of candy), as it signifies inviting
misfortune into your home.
 However, we Filipinos are in fact creative people, we have so many arts
that colored our history and some of the Filipino National Painters are
from Luzon. But art is not only about paintings but it also comes in a
form of music, dance, fabric, and among others that still preserved even
up to this day. Example is the T’nalak woven cloth from the T’boli tribes,
these T’boli women are called the dream weavers simply because the
designs they put into the T’nalak woven cloth came from their own
dreams when they feel asleep.
 On the other hand, we Filipinos have these morals that instilled in us
through the discipline. Respect is often observed - not just by younger
people but also by people of all ages. Children respect elders by saying
"po" and "opo" which mean "yes" when answering their elders. Children
or young adults also show respect by putting their elders' hands on their
foreheads.
 Filipinos value their families so much that they tend to keep families intact
through the generations. Families go to church and pray together because their
religion is important and creates a strong bond, marking God as the center of
their lives. Families make sure to have quality time together especially after a
day's work. Just watching television or eating a family meal will be valued and
prioritized in everybody's schedules. Filipinos are generous people. Even when
we have very little, we always share with those around us. During special
occasions such as birthdays or "fiestas" - parties when people from other places
visit your home to celebrate with you - there are lots of foods specially prepared
for everyone! Friends, family, friends of friends, and even strangers can gather
and they are always willing to share food and help out. When a neighbor is in
trouble, Filipinos are always ready to help them.

Culture as sociological perspective

 From sociological standpoint, culture denotes acquired behaviors and habits
that are shared by and transmitted among groups of people as a result of their
interaction with one another. It is an accumulation that a new generation
inherits and a heritage into which a child is born (“Sociology Guide”, 2005).
 From the given definition of culture from sociological standpoint are not just
simply about knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society but how a man
shared or transmit all of these to people or group of people across generations
within societies through interaction. Through interaction, culture can be
learned, culture is not innate in a person. It is also not biological in nature
which means that it is not something that is physically or genetically inherited.
When a child is born he/she does not have any cultural knowledge of any sort.
Culture is learned through families, peers, institutions, and media. For most
people, learning about culture is an unconscious process. A child growing up
does not choose what culture he/she wants to learn. Instead, the child acquires
patterns of behavior from his/her surroundings. For an instance, a child may
 grow u eating with bare hands because that is customary or “normal” to
his/her region. Meanwhile, another child may grow up eating with spoon and
fork because that is what his/her parents do. We Filipinos loves to eat with our
bare hands.

LET’S SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

I. CULTURE AS ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Direction. Identify the culture you already that affects how you behave collectively in
a society you are a part of. Provide as many as you can

THE FILIPINO CULTURE THAT AFFECTS HOW I BEHAVE IN A SOCIETY

I’M A PART OF
II. CULTURE AS SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Direction. Identify the culture you acquire as a result of your interaction and
socialization to people or group of people. Provide as many as you can

THE CULTURE I LEARNED THROUGH INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE OR GROUP

OF PEOPLE I MET

Why do you think culture said to be a complex whole?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
POST TEST
_____1. Which of the following definition of culture referred to as anthropological
perspective?
a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in
art which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society
c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he
achieves his ends
d. Culture as the body of thought and knowledge, both theoretical and
practical, which only man can possess
_____2. It refers to firmly held opinion or conviction, regardless of the lack of verifiable
evidence that became a part of the culture within the society and transferred from
generations to generations.
a. Morals
b. Beliefs
c. Manners
d. Values
_____3. It pertains to facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through
experience or education.
a. Education
b. Training
c. Seminar
d. Knowledge
_____4. Which of the following reasons is CORRECT why culture described as a
complex whole according to E.B. Tylor?
a. Complex whole means that understanding of a part can only be achieved
in relation to the other parts of the system.
b. Complex whole means no culture can exist except as it is embodied in a
human society.
c. Complex whole means that one must always keep in mind the
interdependence and the reciprocal relationship between culture and
society.
d. Complex whole means that each is distinguishable concept in which the
pattern and organization of the whole is more important than any of the
component parts.
_____5. Which of the following choices below gives this definition of culture: culture as
“the handiwork of man and the medium through which he achieves his ends”?
a. V. de Robert
b. E.B. Tylor
c. Malinowski
d. R. Redfield
_____6. Which of the following definition of culture referred to as sociological
perspective?
a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in
art which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society
 c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he
achieves his ends
d. Culture denotes acquired behaviors and habits that are shared by and
transmitted among groups of people as a result of their interaction with
one another.
_____7. Which of the following definition gives the full essence of the concept “culture”?
a. Culture as an organized body of conventional understandings manifest in
art which, persisting through tradition, characterizes a human group 17
b. Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law,
morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society
c. Culture as the handiwork of man and the medium through which he
achieves his ends
d. Culture as the body of thought and knowledge, both theoretical and
practical, which only man can possess
_____8. Which of the following refers to a lesson, especially one concerning what is
right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an
experience.
a. Moral
b. Wisdom
c. Knowledge
d. Manners
_____9. Which of the following choices pertains to an English anthropologist who first
coin the term “culture” in his book entitled Primitive Culture?
a. R. Redfiled
b. Auguste Comte
c. Edward B. Tylor
d. Karl Marx
_____10. It pertains to the various branches of creative activity, such as painting,
music, literature, and dance which became a part of the culture of a particular society,
community, tribes, or nation.
a. Art
b. Tradition
c. Belief
d. Customary Practice

LET’S REMEMBER
Culture as anthropological perspective
Culture is a way of life, all the things whether it be tangible or intangible that a man
can acquired and produced in his/her own motherland is called culture. These are the
factors that shaped and affect people both socially and culturally and gives identities
to a particular nation

Culture as sociological perspective

From sociological standpoint, culture denotes acquired behaviors and habits that are
shared by and transmitted among groups of people as a result of their interaction with
one another. It is an accumulation that a new generation inherits and a heritage into
which a child is born (“Sociology Guide”, 2005).