The Concept, Aspects and Changes in/of Culture, decision making, and proper Etiquette

Society and Politics during meals.

What is CULTURE? Forms of Social Norms
- refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, 1. Folkways - everyday habits, traditions, and
behaviors, and artifacts that characterize a convections people obey without giving much
particular group or civilization. thought to the matter (pattern of repetitive
- It is the way of life of a group of people, behavior). Ex. Different styles of greetings,
including their ideas, beliefs, traditions, mountainous people are use to eat foods using
language, and arts their bare hands, while city people tend to use
- It is learned, shared, and transmitted from fork and spoon in eating, Kwentong bayan,
generation to generation mountainous people tend to walk bare footed,
- Cultures is what shapes and defines a group’s while in city people tend to used slippers and
identity, worldview, and way of life. shoes while walking.
- Ex. Language, Religions, Cuisine, Values, 2. Mores - Set of Ethical and Moral standards;
Music and Arts they are based on definition of right and
Two types of Culture: wrong.
1. Material Culture – Physical, tangible things a. Positive Mores – commonly known as
and artifacts made, used and left by past Thou Shall. Ex. When you borrow money
human civilization. Ex: Tools, Homes, School, then you have to pay it back.
Offices, Factories, Plants, and Churches b. Negative Mores/Taboo – commonly
2. Non-Material Culture – Intangible one. Ex. known as Thou shall not do. Ex. Thou
Beliefs, Values, Rules, Norms, Moral, shall not kill
Language, and Organizations Ex. Hiya (Shame/Shyness), Pakikisama (group
Elements of Culture: harmony), Bahala na (Fatalism), Bayanihan
1. Symbols - Anything that carries particular (communal cooperation), Lakas ng Loob (courage/self-
meaning recognized by people who share confidence) and Diskarte (resourcefulness)
culture. 3. Values – Helps us to develop our personality.
2. Language - Is known as the storehouse of Ex. Love of Country, strong religious faith,
culture. System of words and symbols used to strong family ties, respect for the elderly and
communicate with other people hospitality.
3. Technology - Knowledge that people use to 4. Technology – practical application of
make a way of life in their surroundings knowledge
4. Beliefs - Refers to the faith of an individual. 5. Laws - controlled ethics and they are morally
(David and Macaraeg 2010). Ex. Superstitious agreed, written down and enforced by an
belief in a wedding official law enforcement agency.
5. Social Norms - Established expectations of Aspects of Culture
society. (unwritten rules and standards). Ex. - Culture is diverse because of its aspects that
Respecting elders by doing “Mano po”, You develop man’s social interaction. These
are supposed to cry and depress during burial, aspects are essential to its concept of
taking off shoes when entering the house, complexity.
using of nicknames, cover the mouth with our 1. Actions – Cultural norms, rituals, and values
hands every time we laugh, can’t use eye to that shape behavior. Ex. Showing re to others,
eye contact with other person, and giving gifts rituals
to other people. 2. Language - Primary languages, linguistic
a. Proscriptive Norm – states what we should styles, and the role of language in culture. Ex.
not do. Ex. Do not drink alcoholic drinks, mother tongue, lingo, dialect
showing PDA, interrupting someone, 3. Space - Cultural meanings of physical
pointing someone using their fingers, and environments and use of personal/public
neglecting or declining gits or offers from space. Ex. spatial experience, functional
the other. spaces, living space
b. Prescriptive Norm – defines and tells us 4. Identity - Collective sense of belonging,
the things to do. Ex. When someone heritage, and cultural markers. Ex. self-
dropped his money then you have to return consciousness, self esteem
it, respect for elders, hospitality, 5. Validity - Cultural frameworks for determining
generosity, Bayanihan, Family-centered truth, value, and legitimacy. Ex. values,
opinions, laws, metaphors, meanings
 6. Origin stories, significant events, and What is Social Change?
collective memory that shape culture. Ex. time - Variations or modifications in the social
experience milestone, myths patterns. Ex. Politics, economy, calamities,
Anthropologist Philosophical Perspectives Health, geographic and climate
1. EDWARD BURNETT TYLOR - complex - CULTURAL CHANGE - Alterations to the
whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, elements of culture
law, morals, custom, and any other Sociologist Philosophical Perspectives
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a 1. Auguste Comte (1798-1857) - Founder of
member of society sociology, coined the word sociology from
2. ROBERT RANULP MARRETT - defined Latin word “socius” and Greek word “logos”.
culture in terms of communicable intelligence, Society is the sum of individual actions.
conventional understanding or communicated 2. KARL MARX (1818-1883) - Developed a
ideas complex theory of history and society that
3. RADCLIFFE BROWN - culture as cultivation greatly influence the modern sociology. (1)
the process of transmitting and acquiring organic totality of society, (2) importance of
traditions as a result of which society is economic sector, (3) historical process
perpetuated 3. GEORGE SIMMEL (1858-1916) - Society
Characteristics of a Culture was the patterned interactions among members
1. Culture is Learned and Acquired - Culture is of group, the sum of responses to ordinary life
not innate but learned through socialization events.
and passed down from one generation to the Characteristics of Society:
next. 1. Society is ABSTRACT - Society is the
2. Culture is shared by a group of people - network of relationships and shared
Members of a cultural group share the same experiences between people. It's not a physical
traditions, beliefs, values and behaviors. thing, but rather the intangible way that people
3. Culture is continuous and cumulative - builds organize and interact with each other.
upon the knowledge, experiences, and 2. Society is a PROCESS not a product - It is an
achievements of previous generations ongoing process, not a fixed product. It's the
4. Culture Changes - It is not static, but rather dynamic network of human interactions and
constantly evolving and changing. relationships, constantly adapting and
5. Culture is Dynamic - cultures is not static or evolving.
fixed, but rather a dynamic and fluid 3. Society is a system of Stratification - a
phenomenon. hierarchical framework with unequal access to
6. Culture gives us a scope of passable standards resources and power
of conduct - how people should behave and 4. It endures, produce and sustain the members
interact appropriately within that cultural for generation - For the society to survive, it
setting must have the ability to produce, endure and
7. Culture is Diverse - vast differences observed sustain its new member for the least several
across societies, communities, and even within generations.
the same broader cultural context. 5. It holds its member through common culture -
8. Culture is Ideational - it is primarily composed Individuals in society are held together
of ideas, beliefs, and knowledge rather than because that society has symbols, norms,
just physical artifacts. values, patterns of interaction that are
WHAT IS SOCIETY? commonly shared by the members of such
- Comes a Latin root “socius”, signifying society.
“buddy” or “being with others” and “Logos” 6. It has clearly-defied geographical territory -
or “Logus” which intend to contemplate. Members in society must live in a certain
(Auguste Comte 1798-1857) specific habitat or place and have a common
- Complex network of people that are belongingness and sense of purpose.
interconnected What are the major functions of Society?
- Organized group of people that shares a 1. It provides the system of socialization.
common interest or goals 2. It provides the basic needs of the member
- FAMILY “The basic unit of society” 3. It regulates and controls people behavior
4. It provides the means of social participation.
5. It provides mutual support to the members.
What is POLITICS?
- Greek word “Polis” (city state)
- It managed all the exercises and undertakings
of the city state.
- Politics was an all-out investigation of man,
culture, state ethical quality etc.
- Politics is the way a society makes collective
decisions and distributes power, rights, and
resources.
Characteristics of Politics
1. Use or threat of LEGAL FORCE - Politics
relies on the legitimate use of force through
legal authority. Law enforcement: Police
officers can use authorized force, such as
arrests or detainment, to uphold laws and
maintain public order.
2. INTERACTIONS - Politics involves the
interactions between government, parties,
citizens, media, and international actors
through policymaking, elections, lobbying,
and public discourse.
3. INTERDEPENDENCE of parts - Politics is a
system where the various components -
institutions, actors, processes - are
interdependent and influence one another.