Society and Culture

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir Valenzuela

Broadly speaking, culture includes anything made by
man. Language, customs, values, norms, mores, rules,
tools, technologies, products, organizations, and
institutions – all these are components of culture.

Simply put, a society is a group of people interacting with

each other.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir Valenzuela

In this unit, we shall discuss the concept of culture
and society. Specifically, we shall expound on the
significance of studying culture and society, explain
the elements and aspects of culture, define the
characteristics of society, trace human origins, and
describe man’s cultural evolution.
Through this unit, we hope that you will be able to develop a
clear understanding of what culture and society are about.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir Valenzuela

Pretest: ¼ sheet or any piece of paper. (write
your name and put numbers 1 – 10.

 Listen, read, and understand carefully each

statement. Chose the best possible answer by
writing only the letters in your paper.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir Valenzuela

1.) It refers to the totality of what man has
learned as a member of society.

A.) Sociology
B.) Anthropology
C.) Culture
D.) Psychology

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir Valenzuela

2.) These consists of tangible things such as
technological tools, architectural structures,
fashion, and accessories, and food.

A.) Material Culture

B.) Basic Culture
C.) Non-material Culture
D.) Commercial Culture
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
3.) It is the perception of individuals to accepted
reality.

A.) Outlook
B.) Beliefs
C.) Knowledge
D.) Folkways

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
4.) These are customary patterns of everyday life
that specify what is socially correct and proper in
everyday life.

A.) Mores
B.) Norms
C.) Folkways
D.) Laws

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
5.) The totality of social organization which includes
the social structure and system.

A.) Tribe
B.) Community
C.) Society
D.) Nation

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
6.) It refers to the stable pattern or configuration
of social relationships and social interactions in
society.
A.) Social Structure
B.) Social Reality
C.) Social System
D.) Social Organization

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
7.) It is the scientific study of patterned, shared
human behavior.

A.) Anthropology
B.) Psychology
C.) Sociology
D.) History

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
8.) The branch of knowledge which deals with the
scientific study of man, his works, his body, his
behavior, and values, in time and space.
A.) Science
B.) Humanities
C.) Psychology
D.) Anthropology

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
9.) It is the scientific study of the state and politics
which deals with the nature, principles, and
mechanics of rule, authority, power, and influence.
A.) Political Science
B.) Social Science
C.) Law
D.) Humanities

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
10.) It is considered as the main relationship
between sociology and anthropology.

A.) Emergence of Community

B.) Culture shared by men
C.) Language use by people
D.) Fossils of early human beings

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
In our society today, we can see a lot of changes
and developments that affect our life. Machines
have made our work easier. Computers have
allowed us to communicate with more people
faster. Genetic engineering has helped us produce
disease resistant plants. Changes such as these have
resulted in the modernization of nation-states.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Nation-state is a sovereign state whose citizens
or subjects have a common culture. They speak
the same language, have a common descent,
and share a common history. Having citizens
with common culture, the nation-state,
therefore, is a major component of personal
identity.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Personal identity is the concept you develop
about yourself that evolves over the course of
your life.

Our personal identity is both cultural and

political which is guided by our personal
encounters or experiences.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
 knowledge

Beliefs
Morals

CULTURE

Arts
Customs

Laws

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
As defined by Edward B. Tylor, culture refers to that
complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs,
arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member of society.
Culture serves as foundation of man’s continuing
interaction with his surroundings. People develop a
culture of their own out of their learnings and
experiences from their environmental exposure
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Significance of studying culture, society, and politics
1.) Culture makes it possible for man to adapt and integrate
himself to his environment by being creative and resourceful
in coming up with ways and means for survival.
2.) Culture establishes patterns of acceptable social behavior
such as etiquette, protocols, good manners and right conduct,
roles and duties, etc. as established by folkways, mores, and
laws.
3.) Culture conveys and facilitates meanings through verbal
and non-verbal communication, written and non-written
language, forms of expression, and symbolism.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
4.) Culture produces man-made thing such as clothing, tools,
instruments, machines equipment's, structures, etc. made
possible by technological know-how.
5.) Culture contributes to overall human satisfaction as we develop
ways to make life more enjoyable, more comfortable, easier, and
more rewarding such as recreational activities, leisure,
entertainment and arts, etc.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
 Adaptation
and
Integration

Human Patterns of
Satisfaction acceptable
Social
Behavior
Significance
of Culture

Production
of man- Conveys &
made Facilitates
things Meaning

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Therefore, culture creates the identities of
individuals which are distinct from one another.
Geographical or territorial boundaries contribute to
cultural diversities of human society.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Society it is a product of human social processes
intended to meet basic needs for survival. As individuals
continued interact, societies were formed.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Every society is organized in such a way that there
are rules of conduct, customs, traditions, folkways,
and mores, and expectations that ensure
appropriate behavior among members.
Thus, society is an important product of human
interaction and interconnectedness. It symbolizes the
group within which human beings can live a total
common life – the peer groups; social organizations like
the family and kinship groups; economic, political,
religious and educational groups and communities.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Studying society provide us an idea on its
importance in creating an equal, just, and humane
society. The schematic diagram simply shows the
significance of studying society.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
 Representation
of our identity

Avenue for Significance Characterize the

economic of Studying totality of a
interdependence Society territory

Symbol of
Political
independence

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Politics

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Sometimes people tend to associate politics with
power. This connotation was formed through man’s
relationship with other people. It is a struggle and a
compromise between the powerful and powerless,
the haves ad have-nots. There are different
perceptions about politics. According to Ricardo
Lazo, politics may be viewed in different ways.
(Please refer to the diagram)
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
 Consensus
and
compromi
Academics se Society

Politics
Power and
Public distributio
Art of
affair governme
n of
resources
nt
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
These perspectives show the wide ranging
ideas about politics which affect the life of
every individual specially on human
relationship. In describing the characteristics of
politics, two important things must be
emphasized:

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
First, all questions involve the making of a
common decision for a group of people, that
is, a uniform decision applying in the same way
to all members of the group. Second, all
involve the use of force by one person or a
group of people to affect the behavior of
another person or group of people.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Thus, politics talks about collective decision of
individuals based on defined rules of society.
These rules bind people together in order to
preserve culture and improve human life.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Haque defines politics in different ways but whatever
definitions is attached to it, there are four important
points inherent to it:

Reconciliat
Initial
ion of Authoritative
Collective Diversity of Policy
difference
Activity Views

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
A.) Politics is a collective activity, involving people who
accept a common membership or at least acknowledge a
shared fate.
B.) Politics presumes an initial diversity of views, if
not about goals then least about means:

C.) Politics involves reconciling differences through

discussion and persuasion; and

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
D.) Political decisions become authoritative policy for a
group, binding members to decisions that are
implemented by force if necessary.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
The Rationale of Studying Anthropology, Political
Science, and Sociology

There are different ways of understanding social

reality. These areas of studies provide us important
ideas analyzing our society which is essential in
creating a productive society. Using anthropology,
political science, and sociology will give an overview
on man’s early development.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/anthropology-810x540.jpg
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Anthropology is the branch of knowledge which
deals with the scientific study of man, his works, his
body, his behavior and values, in time and space
(Palispis, 2007 p.6) Also, it includes man’s physical,
social, and cultural development that describes and
explains the phenomenon of human life.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Anthropology helps by providing insights into
strange aspects of past or even present
societies which historians and sociologists find
difficult to comprehend and explain.

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Examples of these “strange aspects” are conflict
and violence, trial by ordeal, superstition, and
witchcraft, fashion, myths and legends, and rituals,
concerning rites of passage, courtship and
marriage, human sacrifice, and others (Banaag,
2012 p.6). Hence, anthropology gives us
information concerning man’s behavior in relation
to his social environment.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Political Science is a systematic study of state and its
government, with the relationships of men in the
community, with relations of men and groups to the state
itself, and with the relations of a state with other
sovereign states abroad (Palispis, 2009 p.14). It
emphasizes the use of power, interest, influence, and
diplomacy which is important in creating a well-ordered
society. Political scientist analyze how people attain
political position in society, how they maintain their
position, and the outcomes of their policy
implementation within a definite social territory.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
According to Ricardo Lazo, the primary goal of
Political Science is citizenship education. It requires
the students to understand and appreciate the
duties and obligations of being a member of a
society. Political Science includes core
competencies, knowledge and skills that help
learners become participative and productive
members of the community.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
 Importance Of Political Science
It provides the students the knowledge and understanding of a
Knowledge government, with all its component curricula like public law,
Based political theory, public administration, political philosophy, and
political dynamics.

Competency Inculcates the objectives and underlying principles of

Based the state that should be abided by the officials and its
citizens.

Prepares the students for future career path, be it in

Skills Based legal profession, government service, politics,
teaching, and many more.
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
Sociology is the scientific study of patterned, shared
human behavior. It analyzes human interaction
which is essential in understanding man’s cultural
make-up. It may focus its attention on all kinds of
social interactions: social, arts, social relationships.
Social organization, social structures, and social
processes (Palispis, 2009 p.3) This social
relationship will provide sociological information
that will help in understanding society objectively
through the use of scientific investigation or
method. UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
The outcomes of sociological investigations are essential
for leaders, businessmen or entreprenuers, and
government officials in maintaining social stability and
creation of program as well as policies for development.
The study of sociology broadens the experience of
individuals as they learn to discard prejudices and
become more understanding of the customs of other
people and realize that the truth is relative and “good”
or “bad” behavior depends upon the norms of conduct
of the society in which behavior takes place
UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir
Valenzuela
 Social
Arts
Social Social
Processes Relationship

Social
Interaction
Social Social
Structures Organization

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela
Class Activity:

UCSP (Understanding Culture, Society, & Politics) - Sir

Valenzuela