UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,

SOCIETY, AND POLITICS.

HUMSS NOTES

LESSON 1

Cultural Variations refer to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures
exhibit around the world.

1. Religion - system of beliefs, practices, and actions directed toward entities

which are above men

2. Ethnicity - is the expression of the set of cultural ideas held by a distinct ethics
or indigenous group

3. Nationality - is the legal relationship that binds a person and a country

Social Differences are the differences among the individuals on the basis of social
characteristics and qualities.

1. Gender - the socially-constructed characteristics of being fe/male

2. Socio-economic Status - category of persons who have more or less the same
socio-economic privileges. These are Upper class, Middle class, and Lower
class.

3. Exceptionality - state of being intellectually gifted and/or having physically or

mentally challenged conditions

a.) Personality/ behavior

b.) Communication (learning disability, speech impairment, and hearing
problems)
c.) Intellect (mild intellectual & mental development disabilities)
d.) Physical appearance (blind-low vision)
e.) Or a combination of more than one specific exceptionality/disability.
Variation within Cultures

1. Subculture - segment of society which shares a distinctive pattern of mores,

folkways, and values which differ from the pattern of larger society

2. Counter Culture - group whose values and norms place it at odds with
mainstream society or actively rejects dominant cultural values and norms.

3. High Culture - set of cultural products, mainly in the arts, held in the highest
esteem by a culture.

4. Popular Culture - based on the tastes of ordinary people rather than an

educated elite.

Social Movements
1. Civil Rights – Racism
2. Modern Feminist - Sexism
3. Gay rights movement - Homophobia

Political Identity - being a member of a particular group might express specific

political opinions and attitudes. Various factors can construct an identity, including
race, nationality, where a person lives and a person’s gender and sexuality.
1. Partisan Politics

Belonging to a political party is not simply a voting decision. In the U.S., being
a Democrat or a Republican is an important expression of a person's views on
life; partisan affiliation signifies membership in a group that defines a
worldview and a core set of common values.

2. Race and Identity

For example, in the U.S., prior to the passage of the 13th Amendment, race
determined whether a human being could legally be another’s property. Until
the dismantlement of legal segregation in the 1950s and ‘60s, race often
determined whether citizens could vote, with whom they could associate,
where they went to school and other fundamental aspects of life. Moreover,
 between 1924 and 1965, race determined who was and was not eligible to
immigrate to the United States.

3. Class and Identity

Peoples’ interests, outlook and life prospects are frequently conditioned by

their economic circumstances.

4. Colonialism and Identity

Colonists used their ideas of custom and culture as a basis for distinguishing
“the native” as a kind of political identity and subject that required European
governance.

LESSON 2

Anthropology - study of humans, human behavior, and societies in the past and
present.

Sociology - scientific study of society, patterns of social relationships, social

interaction, and culture. It is the systematic interpretation of codes and conducts in
the form of language, symbols, face expressions, dress, food, music etc. used by
people in society. Also seeks to provide an analysis of human society and culture
with a sociological perspective.

Social change - alteration of mechanism within the social structure, characterized

by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behavior, social organizations, or
value systems.

Cultural Change - modification of a society through innovation, invention, discovery,

or contact with other societies.

Political change - subject matter that is in constant flux. It deals not only with the
major processes of growth, decay and breakdown but also with a ceaseless ferment
of adaptation and adjustment of political systems. It highlights the magnitude and
variety of the changes that occurred in the world’s political systems.
Sources/Agents of Change

1. Innovation - social creation and institutionalization of new ideas; invention of

something new (idea, a process, a practice, a device, or a tool.)

2. Action of leaders represents a trigger to social change.

a. A leader is someone who has the power to influence others or who is in

charge or in command of a social situation.

b. Authority is legitimate power in which people believe the differences in

power is just and proper, that is, people see leaders as entitled to give
orders.

3. Social Conflicts (Social Contradictions) - struggles for agency or power in

society; occurs when two or more actors oppose each other in social
interaction, reciprocally exerting social power in an effort to attain scarce or
incompatible goals and prevent the opponent from attaining them.

Well-Known Figures (only based off given activity in module)

Karl Marx - Father of Modern Socialism, communism and Conflict Theory

Max Weber - His ideas profoundly influenced social theory and social research.

Franz Boas - Father of American Anthropology

Auguste Comte - He was a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the

doctrine of positivism.

Walter Lippman - He was first to introduce the concept of Cold War, coining the
term "stereotype" in the modern psychological meaning, and critiquing media.
LESSON 3

Social Science - division of science that deal with the functions and structure of
human society, as well as the interpersonal relationship of individuals as members
of society.

Empirical proof - basis for truth; rational proof laid the foundation for modern
science, the idea of thinking developed into a proof.

Objectivity in Science is not merely observation but careful observation according to

Joel M. Charon (2009)

Political Science - systematic study of the state, government and politics; concern
about the political behavior of individuals, groups of individuals, agencies,
institutions and organizations, among others. The significance of the study are as
follows:
a.) Imparting knowledge of the state.
b.) Imparting knowledge of government and administration.
c.) Imparting knowledge about the world.
d.) Creation of democratic values.
e.) Creation of good citizenship.
f.) Lesson of cooperation and toleration.

LESSON 4

society is a group of people with

common territory,
interaction, and culture.
society is a group of people with
common territory,
interaction, and culture.
society is a group of people with
common territory,
interaction, and culture.
society is a group of people with
common territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
According to sociologist, a society is a
group of people with common
territory,
interaction, and culture.
Society - group of people with common territory, interaction, and culture.

a.) Functional definition: complex of groups in reciprocal relationships

b.) Structural definition: total social heritage of folkways, mores and

institutions; of habits, sentiments, and ideals.

The following are reasons people live

together as a society (Ariola, 2012):
a. For survival – No man is an island.
No man can live alone. From
birth to death, man always depends
upon his parents and from
others. The care, support, and
protection given by them are
important factors for survival.
b. Feeling of gregariousness – This is
the desire of people to be with
other people, especially of their own
culture. People flock together
for emotional warmth and
belongingness. the need for approval,
sympathy and understanding to which
the individual belongs is a
psychosocial need. Among Filipinos,
the feeling of gregariousness
is found in all levels of society,
especially among the lower socio-
economic classes. The more the person
is needy, the more he
craves sympathy and understanding
from someone else
The following are reasons people live
together as a society (Ariola, 2012):
a. For survival – No man is an island.
No man can live alone. From
birth to death, man always depends
upon his parents and from
others. The care, support, and
protection given by them are
important factors for survival.
b. Feeling of gregariousness – This is
the desire of people to be with
other people, especially of their own
culture. People flock together
for emotional warmth and
belongingness. the need for approval,
sympathy and understanding to which
the individual belongs is a
psychosocial need. Among Filipinos,
the feeling of gregariousness
is found in all levels of society,
especially among the lower socio-
economic classes. The more the person
is needy, the more he
craves sympathy and understanding
from someone else
The following are reasons people live together as a society (Ariola, 2012):
 a.) For survival – no man is an island
b.) Feeling of gregariousness – desire of people to be with other people,
especially of their own culture.
c.) Specialization – professionals organize themselves into societies or
associations to promote and protect their own professions.

Characteristics of Society

It is a social system. A social system

consists of individuals interacting
with rach other. A system consists of
sub-parts whereby a change in one
part affects the other parts. Thus, a
change in one group of individuals
will affect the stability of the other
parts of the system
It is a social system. A social system
consists of individuals interacting
with rach other. A system consists of
sub-parts whereby a change in one
part affects the other parts. Thus, a
change in one group of individuals
will affect the stability of the other
parts of the system
1. It is a social system.
2. It is relatively large.
3. It socializes its members and from those from without.
4. It endures, produces, and sustains its members for generations.
5. It holds its members through a common culture.
6. It has clearly defined geographical territory.

Major Functions of Society

1. It provides the basic needs of its members.

2. It provides a system of socialization.
3. It regulates and controls people’s behavior.
4. It provides the means of social participation.
5. It provides mutual support to the members.
Dissolution of a Society

1. People kill each other through civil revolution.

2. Outside force exterminates the members.
3. Members become apathetic among themselves/no more sense of
belongingness.
4. Small society is absorbed by a stronger, larger society by means of conquest
or territorial absorption.
5. Existing society is submerged in water killing all the people and other living
things in it.
6. People living in such a society voluntarily attach themselves in another
existing society.

Concept of Culture

E.B. Taylor – conceptualized the definition of culture in 1860s

Culture - complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom,
and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

Characteristics of Culture

‘From the Perspective of Sociologists From the Perspective of

Anthropologists
 Dynamic, flexible, and adaptive.  Learned
 Shared and maybe challenged.  Symbolic
 Learned and transmitted through  Systemic and integrated
socialization or enculturation.
 Patterned social interactions.  Shared
 Requires language and other forms  Encompassing
of communication.

Importance/Functions of Culture
1. Serves as the “trademark” of the people in the society.
2. Gives meaning and direction to one’s existence.
3. Promotes meaning to individual’s existence.
4. Predicts social behavior.
5. Unifies diverse behavior.
 6. Provides social solidarity.
7. Establishes social personality.
8. Provides systematic behavioral pattern.
9. Provides social structure category.
10. Maintains the biologic functioning of the group.
11. Offers ready-made solutions to man’s material and immaterial problems.
12. Develops man’s attitude and values to give him conscience.

Elements of Culture

Symbols – anything that is used to stand for something else; gives meaning to
culture.

Language – storehouse of culture; system of words & symbols used to

communicate with other people.

Technology – application of knowledge and equipment to ease the task of living

and maintaining the environment; artifacts, methods, and devices.

Values - culturally defined standards for what is good or desirable; determines how
individuals will probably respond in any given circumstances.

Beliefs – faith of an individual; based on common sense; folk wisdom; religion;

science or a combination of all.

Norms – specific rules/standards to guide for appropriate behavior

Types:
a. Proscriptive norm – defines and tells us things not to do

b. Prescriptive norm – defines and tells us things to do

Forms:
a. Folkways – customs; forms of norms for everyday behavior that people
follow for the sake of tradition or convenience.
 b. Mores – strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior; based on
definitions of right and wrong.

c. Laws – controlled ethics; morally agreed, written down and enforced by

an official law enforcement agency.

Two Components of Culture

1. Material culture – consists of tangible things; physical objects, resources, and

spaces that people use to define their culture.

2. Non-material culture – consists of intangible things; culture, beliefs, values,

rules, norms, morals, language, organizations, and institutions.

Modes of Acquiring Culture

1. Imitation – imitation of values, attitudes, language, and all other things in their
social environment.

2. Indoctrination or Suggestion – may take form of formal training (school) or

informal teaching (listening/watching, reading, attending training activities or
through interaction).

3. Conditioning – values, beliefs, and attitudes of other people are acquired

through conditioning; reinforced through reward and punishment.

Adaptation of Culture

1. Parellelism – same culture may take place in two or more different places

2. Diffusion – behavioral patterns that pass back and forth from one culture to
another.
 3. Convergence – takes place when two or more cultures are fused or merged
into one culture making it different from the original culture.

4. Fission – when people break away from their original culture and start
developing a different culture of their own.

5. Acculturation – process wherein individuals incorporate behavioral patterns

of other cultures into their own either voluntarily or by force.

6. Assimilation – culture of a larger society is adopted by a smaller society that

assumes some of the culture of the larger society or cost society.

7. Accommodation – occurs when the larger society and smaller society are
able to respect and tolerate each other’s culture even if there’s already a
prolonged contact.

Causes of Cultural Change

1. Discovery – process of finding a new place or an object, artifact, or anything

that previously existed.

2. Invention – implies a creative mental process of devising, creating, and

producing something, novel, or original.

3. Diffusion – spread of cultural traits or social practices from a society or group

to another.

a. Acculturation – cultural borrowing and imitation

b. Assimilation – blending or fusion of two distinct cultures through long
periods of interaction.
c. Amalgamation – biological or hereditary fusion of members of
different societies.
d. Enculturation – deliberate infusion of new culture to another