Discipline of uscp

Social Science Cultural Anthropology

→ studies cultural variations develop across
Social science, any branch of academic different societies and examines the need to
study or science that deals with human understand each culture in its own context.
behavior in its social and cultural aspects.
Usually included within the social sciences Linguistic Anthropology
are cultural (or social) anthropology, → studies language discourse and how they
sociology, psychology, political science, and reflect and shape different aspects of human.
economics. (Greenfeld & Nisbet, 2020)
Biological and Physical Anthropology
The discipline under which identity, culture, → studies origins of humans as well as the
society, and politics are studied. interplay between social factors and process
of human evolution, adaptation, and
Are comprised of a wide array of disciplines variations over time.
that studies the overall function of a
society as well as the interactions among Archaeology
individual members of an institution. → deals with prehistoric societies by studying
their tools and environment.
Anthropology:
the Science of Culture Sociology:
the Science of Society
→ is the scientific and humanistic study of
human beings. It encompasses the → the scientific study of human society
evolutionary history of humanity, physical and social interactions. main goal is to
variation among humans, the study of understand social situations and look for
past societies, and the comparative study repeating patterns in society.
of current-day human societies and
cultures. The main focus of sociology is the group,
not the individual. Sociologists attempt to
Main Goals: understand the forces that operate throughout
society—forces that mold individuals,
o describe, analyze, and explain different shape their behavior, and, thus, determine
cultures, social events.
o show how groups live in different
physical, economic, and social Political Science:
environments the Science of Politics
o show how their members give meaning
to their lives. Political science is an academic discipline that
o attempts to comprehend the entire seeks to study politics scientifically and to
human experience. address empirical (factual) and normative
(ethical) questions about politics.
Main Subfields:
o Why do people vote as they do?
Social Anthropology o Why are some people conservative
– studies how social patterns and practices and others not?
and cultural variations develop across o Does money buy elections?
different societies.
The subject matter of politics is varied and
complex, and political science is no less so.
Main Subfields:

Comparative politics, focusing on

examining how different political systems
operate.

International relations, focusing on

relationships between and among states.
International relations studies what transpires
between states. (Diplomacy and War).

Political research methods, focusing on a

study of the many details of empirical social
science. Data collection, measurement, and
analysis are key areas of inquiry in this
subfield.

Political theory includes the study of the

history of political philosophy, philosophies of
explanation or science, and philosophical
inquiries into the ethical dimensions of politics
 Society and culture
Topic Outline Culture:
The basics
o Society
→ Nature of Society → a blueprint for living in a particular society
o Culture → To sociologists, however, every human
→ Components being is cultured. All human beings
→ Elements of culture participate in a culture, whether they are
Harvard educated and upper class or illiterate
CULTURAL IDENTITY and living in a primitive society. Culture is
• Ethnicity crucial to human existence.
• Age → CULTURED VS “UNCULTURED”
• SOGIE
• Religion/spirituality Culture:
• Social class Characteristics
CULTURAL ISSUES 1. CAN BE LEARNED
• Culture shock 2. Can be MATERIAL OR IMMATERIAL
• Cultural lag 3. PATTERNED BEHAVIOR
• Ethnocentrism 4. CAN BE CREATED
• Cultural Relativism 5. SHARED

Society Culture:
Types
→ A society is a system of interrelationships
that connects individuals. MATERIAL CULTURE
→ Latin for the ties that bind people → consists of human technology—all the
together. things human beings make and use, from
→ societas from socius, and the French small, handheld tools to skyscrapers. Even
societé which means companion, chum, more important, humans use material culture
comrade, associate, or partner. to modify and exploit the environment for
survival and stability
Main Characteristics:
NONMATERIAL CULTURE
o Organized → which consists of the totality of knowledge,
o Dynamic beliefs, values, and rules for appropriate
o Likeness behavior. The nonmaterial culture is
o Differences structured by such institutions as the family,
o Interdependence religion, education, economy, and
o Cooperation government.
o Conflict

Culture:
The basics

→ culture is all that human beings learn to

 do, produce, know, believe
as they live out their lives in the social groups
to which they belong.
 Culture:
Elements

1. Symbols
→ anything that carries a particular meaning
recognized by people who share a culture.

2. Language
→ a system of symbols that allows people to
communicate
→ Through language we can transmit culture.
Wisdom over time is passed down through
language.

3. Norms
→ Are standards and expectations for
behaving.
→ are acceptable and appropriate within a
culture.
→ divided into two types, formal
norms, and informal norms

• Formal norms → important standards

of Behavior
o Mores → norms that are widely
observed and have great moral
significance. ( e.g. taboos Incest,
rape, murder)
o Laws → officially written set of
rules, ratified by the government

• Informal norms → considered less

important but still influence how we
behave.
o Folkways→ norms of routine or
casual interaction (ex. Shaking
hands, eating styles, saying excuse
me)

4. Rituals
→ established procedures and ceremonies
that often mark transitions in the life course.
→ reflect and transmit a culture’s norms and
other elements from one generation to the
next.

5. Values
→ involve judgments of what is good or bad
and desirable or undesirable. A culture’s
values shape its norms.

6. Artifacts
→ or material objects, that constitute a
society’s material culture.