Lesson 2

THE SELF, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE

Abstraction Values
"We are born into a social environment; ● are ideal behaviors or principles that set the standard
we fully develop in to human beings in a of what is acceptable and admirable from a person Status
social environment; and we live our lives who is a part of a society ● position in a society or a particular group. You may
in a social environment. What we think, Example: you kiss the hand of your elders (pagmamano) to be the first child, a teenager, a student, or a president
how we feel, and what we say and do all show respect of a student organization among others.
are shaped by our interactions with ● The distinguishing title is relative to the other
other people. Society members of the group.
● composed of people ● Status can either be ascribed, which is inherited, or
Key Concepts! given at birth, ex.prince, or achieved, which is
Every person lives in a society which is Culture personally acquired for achieving something,
defined as a group of people sharing ex. President
● composed of ideas, behavior, and material possessions
the same culture and typically interacts
They coexist and independent to each other
in a definite territory. each society has Theoretical Approaches
culture or a way of life for those living in ● Theoretical approaches and frameworks enable us to
that specific society. combine and use concepts in a meaningful way to look
- To maintain a smooth-functioning society, social
institutions are created, which are sets of ideas, norms, and understand a part of reality--in this case, the
Culture connection of self, society, and culture.
practices, or mechanisms organized and focused on
Divided into two:
addressing the needs of the community (Mclntyre
1. Material Culture - attires, tools, weapons, Symbolic Interactionism
2002). Ex: Government
architectural designs, religious implements
- As a person grows into a society, he or she imbibes the ● George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) claimed that the
2. Non Material Culture (belief System) _ values, norms,
culture of that society through the processes of self is created, developed, and changed through
expected behaviors, shared language and behavior
socialization. Socialization (or enculturation in human interaction (Hogg andVaughan 2010).
anthropology) is a lifelong process of learning, Basically, there are at least three reasons why self
Norms teaching, internalizing, and living the culture of a and identity are social products.
● rules on what to do or what not to do in a certain society.
situation.

KYLA ELYSHA MARIE P. RONDAN BSN 1-F

 Lesson 2
THE SELF, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE
based on blood-relations, like sibling relation
(consanguineal), by marriage, like a husband and a
wife (affinal), or social, which are relationships not
● In her famous anthropological books, "Coming of Age falling under the first two but you still consider them
3 Reasons why Self and Identity are in Samoa" and "Sex and Temperament in Three as family.
Social Products Primitive Societies," Ruth Benedict concluded that
1. The "self" did not just come out of thin air personal development, expecially on gender roles and 2. Economics/ Market
2. Whether we like to admit it or not, we actually need traits is not actually based on biological traits. Most of ● This system aims to regulate the flow of resources and
others to affirm and reinforce who we think we are. these roles are based on cultural expectations services. Ideally, this should ensure that everyone gets
We also need them as reference points about our a fair share of goods or that a person in need will get
identity. Clifford James Geertz the service he or she needs in order to address a
3. Our notion of what is personally important to us is ● Clifford James Geertz from the school of symbolic and necessity.
also influenced by the current trends of what is interpretive anthropology looks at culture as a ● Price regulation.
important in our society. collection of symbols with meanings, and these ● Fair competition among producers and sellers
meanings are made, communicated, and negotiated ● Ex. The committee on food makes sure that everyone
by each person to make sense of their lives and gets to eat; Calculate and announce the budget.
Culture and Personality interactions.
● Another school of thought is the Culture and 3. Politics/ Government
Personality founded by Ruth Benedict (1887-1948) Social Institutions ● This is usually composed of various organizations
and Margaret Mead(1901-1078) ● As mentioned earlier, social institutions are organized ensuring peace and order by legitimizing the use of
● They argued that personality or the self is dependent to address the needs of society and they, too, have a power of certain people or groups.
on the cultural practices and socialization process of a profound effect on our concept of "self". ● 3 equal branches
certain group.Thus studying a person's personality ● There are five (5) sample social institutions. - Executive
can already provide us an idea of his or her cultural - Legislative
background and social upbringing and vice versa. 1. Kinship/ family - Judiciary
This is especially highlighted in Mead'smasterpiece, ● This is the most basic social institution of a society that
"Patterns of Culture", in which she studied native organizes us based on our family ties. It can be
American Indian societies.

KYLA ELYSHA MARIE P. RONDAN BSN 1-F

 Lesson 2
THE SELF, SOCIETY, AND CULTURE

As pointed out by Geertz, a person can still choose what to

4. Education/ School adopt, reject,or change.
● The basic function of schools is to ensure that the The self, or our identity if we want to call it, is a result of the
knowledge of the past and the culture of the society interaction and discourse between a person and society. We
gets transmitted from one generation to another. It are introduced and socialized into our groups, teaching us all
safeguards continuity or brings about changes to the status, roles, values, and norms that we need to live in this
other social institutions. It aims to produce people society which became a part of our description of ourselves.
who can live harmoniously in the given social
environment as well as be able to be productive citizens
for the economy.

5. Religion/ Church
● This is an organized set of practices, symbols, and
artifacts regarding the belief of the supernatural.
● There are several reasons why people believe in the
supernatural.
a. explanation of the unexplainable
b. meaning and purpose of life
c. continuity of relationship with the people that
we care about even after death among others.

KYLA ELYSHA MARIE P. RONDAN BSN 1-F