Understanding

Culture,
Society, &
Politics

Lara May L. Domingo

12 - Vega
Personal Prayer
Dear God,

I am bowing my head to you again at this

moment to thank you for all the blessings
that you have given me. I am grateful for
the food that you have put on our tables
that gives us energy to do our work and
tasks every single day.

Thank you for giving me my parents, my

friends and my partner. They are all the
people I cherish the most. I am eternally
appreciative to have met them in this life.
Please keep them healthy. Make them
happy and distance them from evil.

Lastly, dear God, please give me an

abundance of patience to endure and to
control my emotions when I am faced with
situations that ignites my rage. Please
shower me with kindness so that I may
forgive those people who have wronged
me, and give me courage to apologize
when I am the one at fault . Thank you, Lord
for being here and for listening to me
again. Amen
Rules & Regulations
Importance of Studying Culture, Society, and Politics

Culture contributes to the totality of living of humankind as well as on how they can
make their lives enjoyable, easier, and comfortable.
Culture creates creativity and resourcefulness by adapting and integrating oneself in
the environment to survive.
Culture determines outline of acceptable social behavior such as protocols, good
manners, roles, and duties established by folkways, mores, and laws.
Culture carry-out meanings through different forms of verbal and non-verbal
communication.
Culture produces tangible objects relevant to man such as instruments, tools,
equipment, structures, and all technological advancements.

Human connection and interconnectedness.

Symbolizing identity of members.

Characterizing the boundaries of a territory.

Representing political independence and economic interdependence .

Understand the theories, concepts and knowledge, and principles of governance as

well as public administration and political dynamics.

Manifest the underlying principles of state policies and laws to be abided and
respected by all.

Prepares the student for possible career path in the legal profession, government
service and other profession with high respect to legal matters and procedures.

- Distinctive characteristics the define an individual and can vary from person to person.
 CHAPTER 1
- The categories what we possess as
Form othe
r individuals - labels that we are
of a concepts or
Firm grasp
phenomen
on
relate conc
epts ascribed or given to us individually
r
to each othe
and collectively - are testament to
the operation of these forces which
Culture
, leave us unsuspecting of their
, and
Soc iety
s
intrusive and punitive implications
Politic
in our lives.
- Our categories as male/female,
rich/poor, or tall/short and even
Exist in the
realm of id
eas
t
problematic effect of the color of
and though
our skins are evidences of the
operation of these social forces.
- Our sociality is defend by the very
categories that we possess.
The category assigned to us by the
society at large. These labels so to
- The unlimited power of thinking speak, function, as tags with which
(the mind) our society read our worth and
value.

- The way we live our lives - or

- Identity is the distinctive
should we say, the way we are
characteristics that defines an
being steered to live our lives -
individual or is shared by these
presupposes omnipotent forces
belonging to a particular group.
shaping the very fabric of our
existence.
AL, POLITICAL, & CULTU
- THREE THINGS FROM GOD SOC I H AV I O R A N D P H E NOM E NAR A L
1. INTELLECT
BE
- knowing what is good
- NORMS:
2. FREEWILL
Every society has its own norms
- choosing what is good
to follow. These norms serve as
3. CONSCIENCE
guides or models of behavior
- applying what is right
which tell us what is proper or
- inner voice
improper.
Appropriate or inappropriate, in the world worked and lives in
right or wrong. small group in the same locale.
They set limits within which
individuals may seek alternative
ways to achieve their goals.

1. MATERIAL
2. NON-MATERIAL

- Way of life of a group of people -

the behaviors, beliefs, values,
and symbols that they accept
- Each has their own symbolism
generally without thinking about
- Material culture includes;
them. And that are passed along
1. Weapons
by communication and imitation
2. Machines
from one generation to the next.
3. Jewelry
Includes knowledge, belief, art,
4. Art
law, morals custom. And other
5. Hair styles
capabilities and habits acquired
6. Clothing
by man as a member of society.
- They set limits within which
individuals may seek alternative
ways to achieve their goals.
- Refers to abstract human
creations, included in this
category are:
1. Language
- The people who interact in such 2. Gestures
a way as to share a common 3. Values
culture. 4. Beliefs
- The term society can also have 5. Rules (norms)
a geographic meaning refer to 6. Philosophies
people who share a common 7. Customs
culture in particular location. 8. Governments
- Culture and society are 9. Institutions
intricately related. A culture
consist of the "Objects" of a
society, whereas society consists
of "People" who share a common
culture.
- When the term culture and
society first acquired their Perception of reality. Belief are
current meanings, most people the convictions that people hold
to be true. Individuals in a - Conformity is expected, but not
society have specific beliefs, but absolutely insisted on.
they also share collective values. - Folkways are not strictly enforced.
- Are norms that are little strength
and may, within broad limits, be
easily broken. Some examples are
manners of eating and dressing,
- Shared ideas, right or wrong.
food preferences, use of po and
- Values are a culture's standard
opo, among others.
for discerning what is good and
Example;
just in society. Values are deeply
1. Correct manners
embedded and critical for
2. Appropriate dress
transmitting and teaching a
3. Proper eating behavior
culture's beliefs.
Other examples;
1. Pagmamano when meeting an
elder.
- Are rules that govern our lives 2. Harana - serenading of the
and values are the goal of our woman when a man is courting.
lives. It is the expectations, or 3. The use of "Po" and "Opo" when a
rules of behavior that develop person is talking to an elder or older
out of values. They are person, a person of superior or of
guidelines for our behavior. higher status.
- Norms may be informal or they 4. Another is the "Pamamanhikan"
may formalized into laws. wherein the man's family bring
- Are often in the form of rules. some food to the woman's family to
- Standards, or prescription that a conference to affirm their
are strictly followed by people children's engagement.
who adhere on certain
conventions and perform
specific roles. Often norms
indicate a society's standards of - Are norms taken more seriously
property, morality, ethics and and are strictly enforced.
legality. - Considered as "essential to our
Example: Pagmamano core values" we insist on
conformity.
- Are norms that are strongly
held, considered essential, and
therefore must be strictly
enforced. Some mores are
enacted by the state and are
- Are norms that ordinary people referred to as laws/for example,
follows in everyday life. rules against cheating in exams
and having extramarital affairs are
mores.
Example; - Temporary outcomes of
1. Flag burning interactions and occur pursuant.
2. Murder

Example of social mores;

1. Talking to oneself in public is not
considered a normal behaviour.
2. Nudity in public is not acceptable
in most areas.
3. Picking one's nose in public is
- Norms and values that a society
not an acceptable behaviour.
professes to hold.
4. Rising for the national anthem is
- Describe models to emulate
an expected behaviour.
and which as worth aspiring to.
5. When dressing for a job interview
in an office, men should wear suit
and tie.

- Norms and values that are

followed in practice.

- Deeply held that even the

thought of violation then upsets
people.
Ex: Incest taboo is universal
- Prohibition of an action based
on belief that such behavior is
either too sacred and - Is learned through families,
consecrated or too dangerous friends and institutions and
and accursed for ordinary media.
individuals to undertake. - Culture is learned, most of the
- Approximate super mores behavior is learned in society.
- Strongly ingrained that even This learning might be conscious
the thought of its violation is or unconscious but no body can
greeted with disapproval, deny the process of learning.
disgust or hate. Culture is something learned and
Examples: acquired.
1. Abortion
2. Addiction Enculturation - Process of
3. Adultery learning about culture.
4. Bestiality/ Zoophobia Example: wearing of clothes or
5. Cannibalism dancing.
- It is not something natural to the conditions.
person. - Culture are dynamic systems
that responds to motions and
actions within around them.
- A culture must be flexible
enough to allow such
- Groups of people usually share
adjustments in the face of
similar behaviour patterns which
unstable or changing
develop overtime.
circumstances.
- But shared cultured does not
- From hunter - gatherer - to
mean that it is homogenous.
globalized world.
- People living together in a
society share culture.
“CULTURE IS NOT STATIC. IT’S
DYNAMIC. EVERYDAY YOU ARE
Example: almost all people living
CREATING YOUR CULTURE BY
in the Philippines share the
WHAT YOU THINK. WHAT YOU
Filipino language, dress in
SAY AND WHAT YOU DO”
similar styles, eat many of the
same foods, and celebrate many
of the same holidays.

- No single tangible
- Culture integration is a form of manifestation that can take the
cultural exchange in which one form of culture itself.
group assumes the beliefs, - Exist in the minds of the
practices and result of another individual interacting with one
group without sacrificing the another with a particular society
characteristic of its own culture. or even across societies.
- Integrating cultures usually - Manifest through behaviour,
refer to several cultures coming habits, mannerisms and
together to form a new, activities.
multicultural society and each
culture keeps its character,
features and values.

- Societies developed a way to

Example: Luzon, Visayas and
manifest concepts and ideas,
Mindanao
and a symbolic stands for
different meaning for different
societies.

- Adopts to various Example: White for western

environmental and geographical countries is a symbol of purity
and peace. - Promotes greater appreciation of
White for Eastern and Asian the cultures one encountered
culture is death, mourning and along the way.
misfortune. - Social Scientist strives to treat
cultural differences as neither
inferior nor superior.
- Cultural diversity/ No universal
standard for judging it.

Example: Forced marriage

- Comes from the Greeks and it

refers to a people, nation, or
cultural grouping.
- Centric is a Latin word meaning - Refers to a reference for the
"center". foreign.
- It is to judge other cultures as - A culturally-based tendency to
inferior. value other cultures more highly
- It has the tendency to use one's than one's own, which is the
own culture as a standard against opposite of ethnocentrism.
which to judge other people's - Xenocentric people are more
cultures. Although it brings appreciative of other societies
together people and builds culture. Hence, social solidarity
solidarity within a particular among the people is difficult to
society, it can justify prejudice establish.
and discrimination.
“FILIPINO SEEMS HAPPY TO BUY
IMPORTED GOODS RATHER
THAN LOCAT PRODUCTS
BECAUSE OF THE ASSUMPTION
- The belief that people and their THAT ANYTHING ABROAD IS
ways of doing things can be BETTER.”
understood only in terms of the
cultural context of those people.
It is not saying that all cultures
are good, or that any way of - The fear of what is perceived as a
doing is acceptable. foreign or strange. Relations and
- It means being objective perceptions of an in-group toward
enough to understand people's an out-group.
behaviors in terms of their
cultures in social situation.
- Idea that all norms, belief, and
- One’s time culture is important
values are dependent on their
than other time culture.
cultural context and should be
Ex. Old people
treated as such.
 Two Types of Innovation:
1. Primary innovation
- Occurs when an individual or a
- SOCIAL CHANGE - alteration in group comes up with a
patterns of culture, social completely new idea, method, or
structure, and social behavior device (Haviland, Prins, Walrath,
over time. and McBride, 2008). Original
- HERACLITUS observed that no maker/ implementer/
society can successfully prevent proponent/innovator.
change, not even those who try
to do so. Example: The invention of
- CULTURAL CHANGE is the photography, for example, has
change in cultural patterns of altered how people view reality as
behavior and values. The change it allowed individual to capture
in tangible or material aspects of moments and, later on, record
culture and intangible or non- events through video cameras.
material aspects of people's lives
are also part of cultural change. 2. Secondary Innovation
- POLITICAL CHANGE is change - Occurs when an individual or a
in the political patterns of group further develops or
behavior and value of individuals improves on an already existing
as well as political institutions idea, method, or device (Haviland,
that hold power and control Prins, Walrath, and McBride,
society. 2008)

Example: Smart phones and other

forms of wireless communication
are improvised versions of the
- Sociologists identified 4 key telephone. Minifans and
sources of social, cultural, and “Pamaypay”
political change:
1. Innovation
2. Diffusion
3. Acculturation - It is the act of spreading culture,
4. Assimilation tradition, objects, and ideas to
other societies.

Two Types of Diiffusion

1. Direct diffusion
It is defined as an “independent
- Occurs through trade, marriage,
invention to creatively find
and war (Kottak, 2000).
solutions to problems” (Kottak,
2000).
Example: The use of silk cloth was
introduced by the Chinese to the minority culture adopting element
Filipinos through trade (barter). of a majority culture
However, it’s also a two way
2. Indirect diffusion process.
- Occurs when a group comes in Since the majority culture also
contact with another group adopts elements of the minority
indirectly through a third party. culture(s).

Example: When merchants bring

new products, languages,
customs, and beliefs that
- Occurs when the minority group
originated from a certain area
loses its distinctive cultural traits
and carry those things to another
and adopts or absorbs those of the
place. In this case, the two places
dominant culture (Robertson,
have no direct contact, but
1987).
influences are shared through
the arrival of the merchants.
Example: Various racial groups
have also assimilated to the
pluralistic culture of the US.

- Is the third source of social, - Cultural assimilation occurs

cultural, and political change. when an ethnic minority sacrifices
- It is a product of a massive its own culture to integrate into
cultural change. society.
- It entails a show of force by one
party over another (Haviland, Overall, social, cultural, and
Prins, Walrath, and McBride, political change matter to human
2008). life, society, and progress because
they serve as barometers to the
Example: in the Philippine rise and fall of civilization.
setting, Filipinos became
accustomed to the Spanish
penchant for fiestas and
merriment that such celebrations
assumed a local flavor. - Social, cultural, and political
change are often positively seen
*Additional: Acculturation is the as a mark of human progress.
process by which an individual or However, societal changes do
group adopts the practices and NOT always start and ascend
values of one culture while still smoothly and peacefully.
retaining their own culture of - Revolutions are sometimes
origin. waged to create a just society.
Typically used in reference to a
 recent years, international
terrorism is strongly connected
with radical and extremist groups
- The cultural feature of a specific that commit violent acts such as
group of people is called bombings, hijackings,
ethnicity. From a sociological assassinations and kidnappings.
viewpoint, an ethnic group is a
category of people who, as result
of their shared cultural heritage,
are regarded as socially distinct.
- Is the simplest form of
expressing disgust,
contradictions and tensions
through a collective manner.
- Tensions are contradictions
- A protest can be expressed in
significantly operate in a class
written verbal or non-verbal
system, which is an open form of
forms.
stratification based primarily on
economic statuses, which may
be subject to change.
- Class membership. Then, is an
achieved status, one that - Are often the primary causes of
depends to some extent on tensions and conflicts.
characteristics over which the - Gender is defined as the
individual has some control. culturally learned differences
between men and women as
opposed to sex which is the
biological distinction. Each
society expects an individual to
- Armed conflicts happen in play his or her specific gender
many parts of the world because roles, or the behaviour patterns,
of attempts to settle through obligations, and privileges that
violence disputes over political are appropriate for each sex.
power, territorial and ethnic
issues, and societal stresses,
such as injustice and poverty
(Holdstock & Jarquin).
- Major transformations in the new
world order as a result of
deteriorating environment and
social conditions like the increase
- Is a violent and potent means of in the population and
pushing social change and advancement in technology
gaining worldwide attention. In create new challenges to human
adaptation and social change. simulacrum, thus turning the
- Modernization after all, is impersonal to the quite personal
viewed not as a series of and even political.
adjustments in indigenous
economic systems but a
qualitative change in the
organization of society, culture,
and even in the individual self. - Since change is generally
inevitable in a society, people use
different ways and means to
respond to change and manage
the impact it can generate both to
- Occurs when there is a sudden
an individual and society.
heating up of the Earth’s surface
brought about by excess
hydrocarbons and pollutants
emitted from industries.
- These factors, in turn, destroy - Fast and reliable internet
the ozone layer, which traps the connection gave people an
Sun’s ultraviolet rays from its equitable access to information
direct entry towards Earth. and ideas.
- Theoretically, this technological
development is “a great victory for
democracy as popular
- In the Philippines, transnational participation can be handily
migration provides a strong realized with one click” (Magstadt,
impetus for reinvention of roles 2013).
especially within the threshold of
the family and society.
- Wives left by their husbands who
work abroad as OFWs adapt the - Social movements are activities
traditional “masculine” role as organized by groups of people
pillar of the household in the intended to create effects beyond
absence of a partner. their own group (Zurcher and
- In the same way, husbands who Snow, 1982 in Newman, 2012).
were left home by their wives - Social movements are often
working overseas adapt the created when people are
traditional “feminine” role rearing dissatisfied with their social
children. conditions and are unable to meet
- Nonetheless, modern their daily needs (Newman, 2012).
technology, like the existence of - Undeniably many social
broadband networks, the movements in the world advocate
Internet, and social media sites pro-poor platforms by ensuring
eases the pain and anxiety of that the plight of the latter are
separation through digital
ventilated to higher authorities,
especially in countries under
oppressive regimes.
- The first definite Hominid, their
AND CULTURAL EVOLUT teeth share basic hominid
OGICAL I
B I O LM H OMO H A B I L I S T O H O MO S A P I EO N : characteristic of small canine, flat
FRO NS
IN THE FOSSIL RECORD
and thickly enameled molars and a
parabolic dental arch, and there is
ambiguous evidence that even the
- The earth contains many buried
earliest australopithecines were
subjects from the pre-historic past.
bipedal. Bipedal refers to using two
Imagine yourself that you are an
feet in moving.
archeologist or anthropologist
looking for evidence of materials
remains of the prehistoric past as
well as other midence of human
activity.

Answer the following questions:

1. What specific evidence will you
look for?
2. What material evidence will you
be interested to know and learn * YOU MUST KNOW!
about? - Lived: 3.7 million to three million
3. What technology will you use? years ago.
- Where: East Africa.
- Appearance: a projecting face, an
upright stance and a mixture of ape-
like and human-like body features.
- According to (Ember of 2002) that
- Brain size: about 385-550cm³
one of the most controversial
- Height: about 1-1.7m (females
aspects of larwin's theory, suggest
were much shorter than males)
that one species could avelve into
another species. It is one of the
earliest members of the primate
family hominid, containing humans,
their Inmediate ancestors, class - Is known from Tanzania. Kenya and
extinct relatives. South Africa. Species with a brain
broca's area which is associated
- Hominids are the group of primates with speech in modern humans and
that includes humans, gorillas, and was the first to make stone tools.
chimpanzees, among others. You The ability to make and use tools is
are a person, but you can also call unique quality to humans such that
yourself a hominid. the species is recognized to be the
first true human. The specie names
mean "Handy Man". Lived about 2.4
 to 1.4 million years ago scavenging * FACTS!
for food. - The extinct ancient human Homo
erectus is a species of firsts. It was
* FACTS! the first of our relatives to have
• Homo habilis is a species of early human-like body proportions, with
humans whose fossils were shorter arms and longer legs relative
discovered in the eastern African to its torso. It was also the first
country of Tanzania. This species of known hominin to migrate out of
human that lived more than 1.4 Africa, and possibly the first to cook
million years ago earned the food.
nickname the "Handy Man" because
it is thought that they were some of
the first humans to make and use
stone tools. - The species name means "Wise
Man" that appeared form 200,000
years ago. The present human race
belongs to this species.
- The species names "Upright Man"
with body proportion similar to that
modern humans. Lived 189 to
143.000 years ago: adapted to hot
climates and most spread in Africa
and Asia. They were the first hunters
with improvised tools such as axes
and knives, and were the first to
produce fire.

* FACTS!
- "Homo sapien" means "the wise
human"
- Homo sapiens are species of all the
primates on the earth that are highly
developed and well evolved, and
humans belong to this category. The
primates in this category are lemurs,
lorises, apes, monkeys, to name a
few. Humans fall into the domain
Eukarya. Such entities have DNA as
their genetic material, held in the
form of chromosomes seen in the
nucleus in the cells of eukaryotic
living things. Homo sapiens can be
seen in this domain in the Kingdom
Animalia under the Phylum
Chordata, and further under the
class Mammalia, categorized under
the order Primates. - Unpolished stone implements
- Hunting and gathering
- Nomadic way of living

- Polished stone tools

- Domestication of plants and
animals
- Living in permanent places

A. Paleolithic Age
- Men hunted for food and women
gathered food from around the
environment.

B. Neolithic Age
- People learned how to grow their
own food, and people domesticated
animals.
- Farming and herding was an
important part of the Neolithic Age.

A. Paleolithic Age
- There were no permanent homes.
- Because people hunted and
gathered, they had to move to
where the food was. Therefore,
homes were temporary.

B. Neolithic Age
- They had permanent homes.
- Homes were usually made from
timber or bricks.
A. Paleolithic Age
- Clothing was made primarily from
fur.
- The climate during the time was
cold, so people dressed to stay
warm.

B. Neolithic Age
- Animal skins
- In some places, people were able to
make fabric.

A. Paleolithic Age
- Simple shaped stone tools like
cutters and hand axes. Also, they
used spear tips and sticks.

B. Neolithic age
- More advanced shaped tools like
bows and arrows and harpoons.
Also, they used spear lips.
- Early societies started to emerge as
a result of man interaction with his
environment.
- Every society is organized in such a
way that there will be rules of
conduct, customs, traditions,
folkways and mores, and
expectations that ensure
appropriate behavior among
members (Palispis, 2007 p.254).