UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,

SOCIETY AND POLITICS

 Communit
y

SOCIET
Y

Family People

Different cultures Photo

SOCIETY IS A COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS

UNITED BY CERTAIN RELATIONS.
 Beliefs

Cultur
e
Tradition
Values
s
Different cultures Photo

CULTURE IS A MEANS OF SOCIETY USED IN RESPONDING TO

NATURE/PLACE THEY BELONG.
 power

POLITI
CS

Polic
rule
y
Different cultures Photo

POLITICS IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNANCE OF

A COUNTRY OR IN AN AREA.
 POLITIC
S
SOCIET CULTU
Y
Different cultures Photo
RE
 HUMAN CULTURAL
VARIATION , SOCIAL
DIFFERENCES AND
POLITICAL IDENTITIES
Human cultural variation, social differences and political
identities do exist in every society. People have differences
based on their gender-socio-economic status, ethnicity,
language, religion, nationality among other. The situation of
Filipinos is not far different from that of other people in other
parts of the world. They are confronted by socio-cultural and
political challenges, such as rapid population growth, poverty,
ethnic and religious conflicts and other social problems.
That is why academic discipline from Anthropology and
Sociology to Political science provide different
understandings of the complex ways in which people are
different from one another.
Culture is important for a number of reasons
because it influences an individual’s life in a
variety of ways including values, views, desires,
fears, and worries. In addition, belonging to a
culture provides people with a sense of identity,
purpose and belonging.
 ASPECTS OF CULTURAL
VARIATION.
Culture universals. These are learned behavior patterns,
culture traits and complexes that are collectively shared
by all of humanity. Regardless of where people live in
the world. (family, sexual regulation)
Generalities. These are cultural traits that occur in many
societies but not necessarily all of them. These can be
prevalent but not everybody sees and accept them.
(Asian, Western)
 ASPECTS OF CULTURAL
VARIATION.
Particularities .These are cultural traits that are not
prevalent, generalized or widespread but are instead
confined to a single place, society or culture( Family’s
culture)
Subculture. Shared cultural traits of subculture set
them apart from the rest of the society. (Aetas)
Counterculture. These emerge when a group or
segment of society comes in opposition to some
dominant values.
 ASPECTS OF CULTURAL
VARIATION.
High Culture. This is used to describe the pattern of
cultural experiences and attitudes that exist in the
highest class segment of the society where people often
associate high culture with Intellectualism, knowledge
and prestige.(Ateneo, La Salle)
Popular culture. These consist of all forms of human
activity and lifestyle, including knowledge, beliefs,
traditions, customs and arts that are common to a large
group.
 SOCIAL DIFFERENCES.
Our society offers great diversity. People
identify themselves on the basis of their
physical appearance, class , religion, gender,
and other social differences. These
differences originate from
 SOCIAL DIFFERENCES.
Birth. This is the main reason why people differ from one
another. Upon birth , people already belong to a community
and they are abide by the rule of their community.
Choice. Social differences are not solely because of the
accident by birth but people also differ from one another
because of their choices as to religion, opportunity to study
and what course they want to take in college.
 POLITICAL IDENTITY
Apart from social and cultural differences, individuals
also vary in terms of their political identities. Identity is
a socially constructed concept wherein people learn
through interaction with their family, peers, organizations
and other institutions.
IDENTITY is all about belonging to a group, something
that individuals have in common with other people and
also what differentiates them from others
 POLITICAL IDENTITY
Political Identity then is defined as (Ramon 2009)
as always associated with a group affiliation and
describes the ways in which being a member of a
particular group might direct political opinions and
attitudes.
 FACTORS THAT CONSTRUCT
POLITICAL IDENTITY
Race. Racial inequalities in various aspects like housing,
employment , criminal justice systems shape human, social and
political life.
Economic class. People belonging to different economic class
have different political identities since some classes are put into
advantage positions.
Colonial experience. The history of colonial experiences also
influences people’s political identity
 SIGNIFICANCE IN STUDYING
CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS
. Social and Cultural awareness
1

2. Personal and social reflexivity

3. Recognition of individual and social
differences.
4. Determination to face life challenges.
SOCIOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY
AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
IN THE STUDY OF CULTURE,
SOCIETY AND POLITICS, WE
STUDY THE DIFFERENT
DISCIPLINE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
RELATED TO CULTURE, SOCIETY
AND POLITICS.
ANTHROPOLOGY. RELATES TO
SOCIOLOGY, IT ALWAYS DESCRIBES
HUMAN, HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND
HUMAN SOCIETIES AROUND THE
WORLD. IT IS A COMPARATIVE SCIENCE
THAT EXAMINES ALL SOCIETIES.
It comes from the 2 Greek words Anthropos which means Man
and Logos which means study It is then a scientific study of
human, its works, body and behavior, over time and across
spaces.
SOCIOLOGY IS A DISCIPLINE OF SOCIAL
SCIENCES THAT DEALS PRIMARILY WITH THE
INTERACTION OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE SOCIETY.
IT FOCUSES ON THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION,
CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS,
DIMENSIONS AND BASIC SOCIAL INSTITUTION.
POLITICAL SCIENCE IS A SOCIAL SCIENCE
THAT DEALS WITH HUMANS AND THEIR
INTERACTIONS. IT IS A BRANCH OF
SOCIOLOGY; IT ESSENTIALLY DEALS WITH
THE LARGE-SCALE ACTIONS OF HUMANS,
AND GROUP MENTALITY.

It is a systematic study of government and state , with the relationship of

individuals in the community, their relations to each other and groups and
to the state itself. And the relationship of state to other sovereign state.
 ANTHROPOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Focuses on the study of the full scope of
human diversity and the application of
that knowledge to help people of
different backgrounds.
 FOUR ANTHROPOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES
 cross-cultural or comparative emphasis,
 its evolutionary/historical emphasis,
 its ecological emphasis, and
 its holistic emphasis
 CROSS CULTURAL OR
COMPARATIVE EMPHASIS
 A cross-cultural or comparative approach is central to
anthropological understanding. This emphasis also makes
anthropology unique among the social sciences. ... with very different
understandings of the world, very different customs and styles of life,
leads to what anthropologists refer to as “defamiliarization.”(to present
or render in an unfamiliar artistic form usually to stimulate fresh perception.)
EVOLUTIONARY/HISTORICAL
EMPHASIS
 This approach, coming from archeology and physical anthropology,
focuses upon both the biological and cultural evolution of human
beings. Principles of evolution and natural selection to explain
how gender differences evolve . It is focused on how
evolution has shaped the mind and behavior.
 ECOLOGICAL EMPHASIS
 The ecological perspective posits that many factors
from our environment come together to create the
unique circumstances that shape who we are, seeking
to promote the idea that we are all interdependent
and must handle society's issues in ways that
consider all parts of a functional system. It is
basically our relationship with nature/environment.
 HOLISTIC EMPHASIS
 Holism refers to the principle that societal
phenomena should be explained in terms of
properties of the whole societies analyzed—that
is, that the whole societies should be used as units
of analysis for the explanation. A holistic approach
to social work involves examining all social factors
of a person's life, rather than focusing on one issue.
.
 SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
introduces the discipline of sociology, including something about its
history, questions, theory, and scientific methods, and what
distinguishes It from other social science disciplines. Central
features include social interaction and relationships, social contexts,
social structure, social change, the significance of diversity and
human variation, and the critical, questioning character of sociology.
SOCIOLOGY INCLUDES THREE MAJOR
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES:
1. the Functionalist perspective. Societies are thought to
function like organisms, with various social institutions
working together like organs to maintain and reproduce
societies.
2. the Conflict perspective. sees social life as a
competition, and focuses on the distribution of resources,
power, and inequality.
3. the Symbolic interaction perspective. Focuses on
features that distinguish the similarity.
POLITICAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVES:
Studies the tendencies and actions of people
which cannot be easily quantified or
examined. Political science is more focused
than most social sciences. It sticks to the
political arena and to the realm of politics,
either dealing with situations with two
competing sides or the lateral decisions that
affect the group as a whole.
 ASSIGNMENT:

Give at least 3 beliefs/ values/rules

that exist in your family/ barangay.
What is your own perspectives?
Explain it with clear descriptions in 1
whole sheet of paper.