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The Concept of Society

Meaning and Nature of Society

According to sociologist, a society is a group of people with common territory,

interaction, and culture. Arcinas (2016) in his book, Undertanding Culture, Society,
and Politics, defined society as group of people who share a common territory snd
culture. It is a group of people living together in a definite territory, having a sense
of belongingness, mutually interdependent of each other, and follow a certain way
of life. Society is deerived from the Latin term “societas”, from socius, which means
companion or associate. Thus, it refers to all people, collectively regarded as
constituting a community of related, interdependent individuals living in a definite
place, following a certain mode of life (Ariola, 2012).

Definition of society has two types - the functional definition and the
structural definition. From the functional point of view, society is defined as a
complex of groups in reciprocal relationships, interacting upon one another,
enabling human organisms to carry on their life-activities and helping each person
to fulfill his wishes and accomplish his interests in association with his fellows.
From the structural point of view, society is the total social heritage of folkways,
mores and institutions; of habits, sentiments and ideals. The important aspect of
society is the system of relationships, the pattern of the norms of interaction by
which the members of the society maintain themselves.

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 dependsn upon his parents and from
others. The care, support, and protection given by them are
importnt factors for survival.
b. Feeling of gregariousness – This is the desire of people to be with
other people, esecially 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
socioeconmic classess. The more the person is needy, the more he
craves sympathy and understanding from someone else.
c. Specialization – Teachers, businessmen, students, physicians,
nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, and other professionals organize
themselves into societies or associations to promote and protect
their own professions.

Characteristics of Society
Society comprises of a group of people who share a common culture, live in
a particular area and feel themselves to constitute a unified and distinct entity.
Society or human society is a group of people related to each other through

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persistent relations such as kinship, marriage, social status, roles and social
networks. By extension, society denotes the people of a region or country,
sometimes even the world, taken as a whole.
Society has the following characteristics:

1. 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.
2. It is relatively large. The people must be socialy integrated to be
considered relatively large than if the people are individually scattered.
Thus, the people in a family, clan, tribe, neighborhood, community are
socially integrated to be relatively large in scope.
3. It socializes its members and from those from without. Since most of
society’s members are born to it, they are taught the basic norms and
expectations. Those who come from other societies, before being
accepted as functioning members, are socialized and taught the basic
norms and expectations of the society.
4. It endures, produces and sustains its members for generations. For
society to survive, it must have the ability to produce, endure and
sustain its new members for at least several generations. For instance, if
a society cannot assist its members during their extreme conditions of
hunger and poverty, that society will not survive long.
5. It holds its members through a common culture. The individuals in a
society are held together because that society has symbols, norms,
values, patterns of interaction, vision and mission that are commonly
shared by the members of such society.
6. It has clearly-defined geographical territory. The members in a
society must live in a certain specific habitat or place and have a
common belongingness and sense of purpose.

Major Functions of Society

A society is important because they have the following functions:

1. It provides a system of socialization. Knowledge and skills, dominant

patterns of behavior, moral and social values, and aspects of personality
are transmitted to each members, especially to the young. the family, the
peer group, the school, the church and other government and
nongovernment organizations play a role in the individual’s development.
2. It provides the basic needs of its members. Food, clothing, shelter,
medicine, education, transportations and communication facilities,
among others must be provided by society to satisfy the basic needds of
its members.
3. It regulates and controls people’s behavior. Conformity to the
prevailing norms of conduct ensures social control. The police, armed
forces, law enforcement agencies and even the church and other
government and non-government organizations exist as means of social

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control. Peace and order are created through a system of norms and
formal organizations.
4. It provides the means of social participation. Through social
participation, the individuals in a society learn to interact with each
other, present and discuss their concerns and solve their own problems
or renew their commitment and values. the people are give the
opportunities to contribute to their knowledge and skills for the
betterment of their family, neighborhood and community. religious
organizations, civic organizations, people’s organizations (PO) and non-
government organizations (NGOs) do their part in community
developement.
5. It provides mutual support to the members. Mutual support is
provided to the members of society in the form of relief in any form and
solution to problems met by them. This form of assistance may come
from the family, neighbors, clans, government and non-government
agencies, civic and religious organizations.
Types of Societies
Societies exist in particular places and times, and they change over time.
Societies are organized in particular patterns, patterns that are shaped by a range
of factors, including the way people procure food, the availability of resources,
contact with other societies, and cultural beliefs. For example, people can change
from herding to farming only if they have the knowledge, skills, and desire to do so
and only in environments that will support agriculture. As societies develop,
changes take place in the social structures and relationships between people that
characterize each type of society. For example, in industrialized societies,
relationships between people typically must become more formal because people
must interact with strangers and not just relatives. It is important to note that not
all societies go through all stages. Some are jolted into the future by political
events or changes in the global system, and some resist pressures to become
modernized and continue to live in simpler social systems.

Sociologists and anthropologists (experts who study early and tribal

cultures) identified different types and classification of societies. Below are the
different types of societies as mentioned by Ariola (2012) in his book Sociology and
Anthropology with Family Planning:
According to Economic According to According to People’s
and Material System Evolutionary View Substinence

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1. Pre-class Societies – 1.Simple Societies – 1.Food Gathering
They are characterized by These were Societies (more than
communal ownership of predominantly small, 16, 000 years ago) – The
property and division of nomadic and leadership people survived from day
labor. Examples of these is unstable. The people to day through hunting
societies are earliest had no specialization of larger animals, collecting
clans and tribes. skills,thus they lived in a shellfish and vegetable
simple life. gathering. Their tools
were made of stones,
wood and bones.

2.Asiatic Societies – The 2.Compound Societies – 2.Horticultural

people are economically Two or more simple Societies (12, 000 to 15,
self-sufficient but their societies merged to form 000 years ago) - The
leaders are despotic and a new and bigger society. people planted seeds as a
powerful. These societies tended to means of production for
be predominantly settled subsistence.
agriicultural societies and
tended to be
characterized by a
division of four or five
social classes.

3. Ancient Societies – 3. Doubly Compound 3. Pastoral Societies –

These are characterized Societies – These are Most of the people are
by private land completely integrated, nomadic who follow their
ownership. The rich more definite in political herds in quest of animals
(those who haves) owned and religious structure for food and clothing to
big tract of private and more complex satisfy their needs. they
properties while the poor division of labor. raised animals to provide
(those who-have-nots) Considerable progress in milk, fur and blood for
worked as laborers. Thus, infrastructure and protein. These societies
wealth is linited to a few knowledge in arts had typically are relatively small,
people. taken place. wandering communities
organized along male-
centered kinship groups.

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4.Feudal Societies – The 4.Militant Societies – 4.Agricultural
aristocrats (feudal lords) These are characterized Societies – In the early
owned the wealth of the by the following: (a) the agricultural socieities,
country due to their existence of military people used plow than hoe
ownership of big tracts of organization and military in food production. By the
lands. The peasants rank; (b) individual lives use of plow, it turns the
workeed on the lands of and private possessions topsoil deeper allowing for
the feudal lords with only better aerating and
are at the disposal of the
few benefits received by dertilizing thus improving
State; and (c) individual
them. However, these better yield when harvested.
activities such as
types of societies Irrigation farming was
recreation, movements,
collapsed due to the rise introduced which reulted to
of cities and metropolis satisfaction of biological
a larger yield of production
as a result of the rise of needs, and production of that can even feed large
trades and industries. goods are totally number of people who did
regulated by the State. not know how to produce
In other words, food by themselves.
individuals exist to serve
the State.

5.Capitalists Societies – 5.Industrial Societies – 5.Industrial Societies

These societies existed in These socities are These societies began in the
societies where two characterized by the 18th century during the
classes of people following: (a) people elect Industrial Revolution and
appeared. The bourgeoise their representatives to gained momentum by the
(property owners) who protect their individual turn of the 19th century.
owned the capital and the initiatives; (b) freedom of This period is characterized
means of production and belief, religion, production by the use of machines as
the ploretariat (the of industrial goods exist; means of food production.
laborers or workers) who (c) disputes and Mass production of guns,
are compelled to work for grievances are settled invention of steam
the capitalists or sell their through peaceful locomotives and large
small properties to the arbitration; and (d) production of steel, and
capitalists. business organizations

appear where well-coordinated labor

cooperative efforts force took place. Thus, to
between management the people began
and labor are based on highly skilled and be
contractual agreement. diversiifieed in highly
In other words, occupation. their
individual freedom,
rights and initiatives are
being protected.

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6.Democratic 6.Post-Industrial 6.Post-Industrial
Societies – These Societies – These are Socieities or
societies are characterizzed by: (a) Information Societies –
characterized by free spread of computer Information and
enterprise where people machines and existence communication
are free to engage in any of information and technology is the hallmark
lawful business for profit communication; (b) of these modern socieities.
or gain. People had to inventions and These are characterized by
work on their own discoveries in medicines, the spread of computer
livelihood accoeding to agriculture, business technology, advances in
what the law mandates. whether in physical and this technology are made
natural sciences by highly-trained computer
emerged; and (c) specialists who work to
pollution, diseases, increase the capabilities of
calamities are prevalent computers and internet.
as a result of the use of The use of modern
advanced technology. technology gave rise to
several technological
problems such as
pollution, lung illness, skin
problems and other.

Dissolution of a Society
There are several ways by which a society is dissolved: (1) when the people
kill each other through civil revolution; (2) when an outside force exterminates the
members of the society; (3) when the members become apathetic among
themselves or have no more sense of belongingness; (4) when a small society is
absorbed by a stronger and larger society by means of conquest or territorial
absorption; (5) when an existing society is submerged in water killing all the people
and other living things in it; or (60 when the people living in such a society
voluntarily attach themselves to another existing society.
The Concept of Culture
In general, culture is a term used by social scientists, like anthropologists
and sociologists, to encompass all the facets of human experience that extend
beyond our physical fact. It simply refers to the way we understand ourselves both
as individuals and as members of society, and includes stories, religion, media,
rituals, and even language itself. Irrespective of the various definitions,
conceptions and approaches to the understanding of the concept of culture, it is
however agreed that culture is a way of life and morality is a part of culture.
Practically all modern definitions share key features.
Characteristics of Culture
Importance/Functions of Culture
In the book of (David and Macaraeg, 2010), the following functions of culture
were given emphasis: (1) it serves as the “trademark” of the people in the society; (2)
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it gives meaning and direction to one’s existence; (3) it promotes meaning to
individual’s existence; (4) it predicts social behavior; (5) it unifies diverse behavior;
(6) it provides social solidarity; (7) it establishes social personality; (8) it provides
systematic behavioral pattern; (9) it provides social structure category; (10) it
maintains the biologic functioning of the group; (11) it offers ready-made solutions
to man’s material and immaterial problems; and (12) it develops man’s attitude and
values and gives him a conscience.

Elements of Culture

1. Symbols refers to anything that is used to stand for something else. It is

anything that gives meaning to the culture. People who share a culture
often attach a specific meaning to an object, gesture, sound, or image. An
example of which are the feasts we are celebrating. Those particular events
give a representation of a particular culture. Even the meanings we provide
to things such as colors and graphic symbols provide understanding which
is common to a certain group of people (David and Macaraeg, 2010). For
instance, a cross is a significant symbol to Christians. It is not simply two
pieces of wood attached to each other, nor is it just an old object of torture
and execution. To Christians, it represents the basis of their entire religion,
and they have great reverence for the symbol.
2. Language is known as the storehouse of culture ( Arcinas, 2016). It system
of words and symbols used to communicate with other people. We have a lot
of dialects in the Phillipines that provide a means of understanding.
Through these, culture is hereby transmitted to future generation through
learning (David and Macaraeg, 2010).
3. Technology refers to the application of knowledge and equipment to ease
the task of living and maintaining the environment; it includes artifacts,
methods and devices created and used by people (Arcinas, 2016).
4. Values are culturally defined standards for what is good or desirable.
Values determine how individuals will probably respond in any given
circumstances. Members of the culture use the shared system of values to
decide what is good and what is bad. This also refers to the abstract concept
of what is important and worthwhile (Davidand Macaraeg, 2010). What is
considered as good, proper and desirable, or bad, improper or undesirable,
in a culture can be called as values (Arcinas, 2016). It influence people’s
behavior and serve as a benchmark for evaluating the actions of others.
Majority of Philippine population is bonded together by common values and
traits that are first taught at home and being applied in our day to day lives.
Filipinos are known for the following values: (a) compassionate; (b) spirit of
kinship and camaraderie; (c) hardwork and industry; (d) ability to survive;
(e) faith and religiosity; (f) flexibility, adaptability and creativity; (g) joy and
humor; (h) family orientation; (i) hospitality; and (j) pakikipagkapwa-tao.
5. Beliefs refers to the faith of an individual ( David and Macaraeg, 2010).
They are conceptions or ideas of people have about what is true in the
environment around them like what is life, how to value it and how one’s
belied on the value of life relate with his or her interaction with others and

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the world. These maybe based on common sense, folk wisdom, religion,
science or a combination of all of these (Arcinas, 2016).
6. Norms are specific rules/standards to guide for appropriate behavior
(Arcinas, 2016). These are societal expectations that mandate specific
behaviors in specific situations (David and Macaraeg, 2010). Like in school,
we are expected to behave in a particular way. If violate norms, we look
different. Thus, we can be called as social deviants. For example, Filipino
males are expected to wear pants, not skirts and females are expected to
have a long hair not a short one like that of males. Social norms are indeed
very essential in understanding the nature of man’s social relationship.
They are of different types and forms According to Palispis (2007), as
mention by Baleña (2016), in the social interaction process, each member
possesses certain expectations about the responses of another member.
Therefore, it is very important to determine the different forms of societal
norms.

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 are also known as customs (customary/repetitive
ways of doing things); they are forms of norms for everyday
behavior that people follow for the sake of tradition or
convenience. Breaking them does not usually have serious
consequences. We have certain customs that were passed on
by our forebears that make up a large part of our day to day
existence and we do not question their practicality. Since they
are being practiced, it is expected that we do them also. For
example, we Filipinos eat with our bear hands.
b. Mores are strict norms that control moral and ethical
behavior; they are based on definitions of right and wrong
(Arcinas, 2016). They are norms also but with moral
understones (David and Macaraeg, 2010). For example, since
our country Philippines is a Christian nation, we are expected
to practice monogamous marriage. So if a person who has two
or more partners is looked upon as immoral. Polygamy is
considered taboo in
Philippine society.
c. Laws are controlled ethics and they are morally agreed, written
down and enforced by an official law enforcement agency
(Arcinas, 2016). They are institutionalized norms and mores
that were enacted by the state to ensure stricter punishment
in order for the people to adhere to the standards set by
society (David and Macaraeg, 2010).

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Two Components of Culture
Sociologists describe two interrelated aspects of human culture: the
physical objects of the culture (material culture) and the ideas associated with
these objects (non-material culture).
1. Material culture consists of tangible things (Banaag, 2012). It refers to the
physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their
culture. These include homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches,
synagogues, temples, mosques, offices, factories and plants, tools, means of
production, goods and products, stores, and so forth. All of these physical
aspects of a culture help to define its members' behaviors and perceptions.
Everything that is created, produced, changed and utilized by men is
included in the material culture (Arcinas, 2016).
2. Non-material culture consists of intangible things (Banaag, 2012). Non‐
material culture refers to the nonphysical ideas that people have about their
culture, including beliefs, values, rules, norms, morals, language,
organizations, and institutions. For instance, the non‐material cultural
concept of religion consists of a set of ideas and beliefs about God, worship,
morals, and ethics. These beliefs, then, determine how the culture responds
to its religious topics, issues, and events. When considering non‐material
culture, sociologists refer to several processes that a culture uses to shape
its members' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Four of the most important
of these are symbols, language, values, and norms. Non-material culture
can be categorized into cognitive and normative culture. The former
includes ideas, concepts, philosophies, designs etc. that are product of
mental or intellectual functioning and reasoning of the human mind.
Whereas, the latter includes all expectations, standards and rules for
human behaviour (Arcinas, 2016).
Modes of Acquiring Culture
1. Imitation - Children and adults alike have the tendency to imitate the
values, attitudes, language and all other things in their social environment.
Some of those things imitated are internalized in their personality and
become a part of their attitude, character and other behavioral patterns.
2. Indoctrination or Suggestion - This may take the form of formal training
or informal teaching. Formally, the person learns from school. Informally,
he may acquire those behaviors from listening or watching, reading,
attending training activities or through interaction.
3. Conditioning - The values, beliefs, and attitudes of other people are
acquired through conditioning. This conditioning can be reinforced through
reward and punishment.

Adaptation of Culture
1. Parallelism means that the same culture may take place in two or more
different places.
Example: The domestication of dogs, cats, pigs and other animals
may have semblance in other places

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2. Diffusion refers to those behavioral patterns that pass back and forth from
one culture to another. This is the transfer or spread of culture traits from
one another brought about by change agents such as people or media
Examples: food and eating practices, marriage and wedding
ceremonies, burial rituals, feast celebrations
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 takes place when people break away from their original culture and
start developing a different culture of their own.
5. Acculturation refers to the process wherein individuals incorporate the
behavioral patterns of other cultures into their own either voluntarily or by
force. Voluntary acculturation occurs through imitation, borrowing, or
personal contact with other people.
6. Assimilation occurs when the culture of a larger society is adopted by a
smaller society, that smaller society 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 is already a
prolonged contact of each other’s culture.
Causes of Cultural Change
1. Discovery is the process of finding a new place or an object, artefact or
anything that previously existed. For example, the discovery of fire led to the
art of cooking; discovery of oil, of organisms and substances; of diseases; of
atoms and sources of energy.
2. Invention implies a creative mental process of devising, creating and
producing something new, novel or original; and also the utilization and
combination of previously known elements to produce that an original or
novel product. It could be either social or material or it could also be
invention of new methods or techniques.
Example of social invention: invention of number system,
government, language, democracy, religion, and alphabet
Example of Material Invention: invention of the wheel, machines
3. Diffusion is the spread of cultural traits or social practices from a society or
group to another belonging to the same society or to another through direct
contact with each other and exposure to new forms. It involves the following
social processes:
a. Acculturation – cultural borrowing and cultural imitation
Example: The Filipinos are said to be the best Englishspeaking
people of Asia.
b. Assimilation – the blending or fusion of two distinct cultures
through long periods of interaction
Example: Americanization of Filipino immigrants to the US
c. Amalgamation – the biological or hereditary fusion of members of
different societies
Example: Marriage between a Filipino and an American
d. Enculturation – the deliberate infusion of a new culture to another
Example: The teaching of American history and culture to the
Filipinos during the early American Regime
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4. Colonization refers to the political, social, and political policy of
establishing a colony which would be subject to the rule or governance of
the colonizing state. For example, the Hispanization of Filipino culture when
the Spaniards came and conquered the Philippines.
5. Rebellon and revolutionary movements aim to change the whole social
order and replace the leadership. The challenge the existing folkways and
mores, and propose a new scheme of norms, values and organization

xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s culture

is inferior compared to others. People are highly influenced by the culture or many
culture outside the realm of their society. This could be one of the effects of
globalization. Exposure to cultural practices of others may make one individual or
group of individuals to give preference to the ideas, lifestyle and products of of
other culture.

Other Important Terms Related to Culture

1. Cultural diversity refers the differentiation of culture all over the world
which means there is no right or wrong culture but there is appropriate
culture for the need of a specific group of people.
2. Sub-culture refers to a smaller group within a larger culture.
3. Counterculture refers cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely
accepted within a society (example in the 1960”s counter culture among
teenagers reflect long hair, blue jeans, peace sign, rock and roll music and
drug abuse).
4. Culture lag is experienced when some parts of the society do not change as
fast as with other parts and they are left behind
5. Culture shock is the inability to read meaning in one’s surroundings,
feeling of lost and isolation, unsure to act as a consequence of being outside
the symbolic web of culture that binds others.
6. Ideal culture refers to the social patterns mandated by cultural values and
norms.
7. Real culture refers to the actual patterns that only approximate cultural
expectations.
8. High culture refers to the cultural patterns that distinguish a society’s elite
9. Popular culture refers to the cultural patterns that are widespread among a
society’s population.
10.Culture change is the manner by which culture evolves.

We all belong to one species. You may have noticed that we have different physical
characteristics, behavioral patterns, languages, cultural patterns and
environmental conditions.
Human are social being. Since the dawn of Homo sapiens around 250,000 years
ago, people formed groups or communities in order to survive. Living together as
one in one community, people had formed common habits and behaviors from
hunting techniques to family fostering.

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As each human group experiences different environmental conditions, cultural
variations are established.

Cultural Variation refers to the rich diversity in social patterns that different
human group exhibit around the world. Music, dance, languages, cuisine, and art
are different from one culture to another.
The variation in human conditions promotes diversity in cultural traditions. What
may be considered good practice in one culture may be considered bad practice in
one another.
Comparing the traditions practiced by Muslims that pork serve in their meals are
forbidden because it says in their Holy Quran while for Christian community, pork
is a part of their meal.
As people travel farther, moving from different regions to entirely different parts of
world, certain aspects of culture becomes dramatically unfamiliar. What happened
when we encounter different cultures? As we interact with different cultures other
than our own, we become aware of the differences or diversity and commonalities
between our own and the others’ world.

Note: We must remember that cultural variation or diversity do not only occur
between people’s culture coming from different countries, but also between people
with different practices within the same country.
Comparison of one’s culture to another reveal obvious differences but all cultures
share common elements.
Cultural Universals are patterns or traits that are globally common to all societies.
One example of cultural universal is the family unit. Every human group
recognizes family as the building blocks of the society that regulates sexual
reproduction and care of their children.
Another example of cultural universal is the language and the concept of giving
names to member of the family.

Variation between Cultures

Within a human group, certain segments of the society develop cultural patterns
that differs from the patterns of the dominant society.
1. Subculture is a culture that is shared with a distinctive pattern of mores,
folkways, and values which differ from a larger society. The group of society who
exhibit subculture have a specific and unique set of beliefs and values that set
them apart from the dominant culture.

2. Counter Culture is a culture practice by groups whose values and norms

place it at odds with mainstream society or a group that actively rejects the
dominant cultural values and norms.
Example:
Paramilitary is a semi-militarized force whose organizational

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structure, tactics, trainings, and functions are similar to professional
military and not included as a parts of formal armed forces like NPA and
ISIS groups.
3. High Culture is a culture practiced and patronized by the upper classes of
the society.

Example: watching opera, classical music and live theater

4. Popular Culture is a culture practiced or patronized by the middle and

working classes of the society.

Example: Watching soap opera over the televisions, movies and rock concerts

Many cultures around the world believe that their beliefs, practices are in
fact superior to that of others. This mentality sometime leads to discrimination and
ostracism.

Ethnocentrism is the regard that one’s own culture and society is the center of
everything and seen as the most efficient and superior among the cultures in the
world.
A person who exhibits ethnocentrism feels that his or her culture is correct and
appropriate as compared to other cultures thus an ethnocentric attitude can be a
problem in understanding each other culture and foster tensions,
misunderstanding and conflicts between societies.
Ethnocentrism can be so strong but when confronted with all of the differences of
a new culture, one may experience culture shock.
Culture Shock is the feeling of disoriented, uncertain, out of place or even
fearful when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.
As people experience unanticipated differences from their own culture, their
excitement gives way to discomfort and doubts how to behave appropriately in the
new situation. However, while people learn more about the culture, eventually they
will recover from culture shock.
Culture shocks may appear because people aren’t always expecting cultural
differences. People evaluates the particular culture based on their own culture
which often give problems and bias due to his or her own perspective that his or
her culture is the efficient and appropriate for the environment.
When faced with plurality of culture, one must adapt the conceptual tool of
cultural relativism.
Cultural Relativism is the practice by assessing a culture by its own
standards rather that viewing it through the lens of one’s own culture. It is the
practice that one must understood in the context of their locality.
Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider,
and even adapt to, new values and norms. Using the lens of cultural relativism,
member of the society can be more tolerant towards different attitudes and

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practices of others’ culture. It also promotes the idea that a society has to be viewed
from inside so that the inner aspects can be explained.
Ferraro and Andretta as mentioned by Custodio advocate that cultural relativism
is more culturally relative approach in understanding human group. They said that
one can build emotional resilience by understanding one’s culture by not
necessarily mean to offend them but be guided by their own cultural norms.

Advantages of Cultural Relativism:

1. It promotes cooperation. Embracing the differences of the different society
can create cooperation because it allows a stronger bond with one another in the
society.
2. Respect and Equality is encouraged. People from different culture with
different ideas that share their own perspectives and experiences in the society can
promote respect and equality.
3. It preserves human cultures. Respect with the diverse set of traditions,
ideas and practices would help preserve the culture.
4. Cultural relativism creates a society without judgement. Worrying and
practicing your own culture prevent disagreement & judgement in the society.

Culture is evolving. New things are added to material cultures every day can cause
cultural change.
Cultural Change is observed when new opens up new ways of living and when
new ideas enter a culture as a result of globalization.

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