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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS 1ST QUARTER Lesson 1: Nature, Goals and Perspectives in Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science ANTHROPOLOGY Where did it start?  Anthropology started as a science during the time of exploration when European countries started to col...

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS 1ST QUARTER Lesson 1: Nature, Goals and Perspectives in Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science ANTHROPOLOGY Where did it start?  Anthropology started as a science during the time of exploration when European countries started to colonize what they considered as primitive societies where people were believed to be savages and barbaric.  Let it be clear that anthropology started as the study of nonEuropean people by European people (outward). Who started this field?  Franz Boas –considered as the father of modern American anthropology. His study led to the doctrine of “historical particularism,” where he stated that each society is considered as having a unique form of culture that cannot be understood under an overall definition of general culture. Concept  Anthropology is the study of people and their culture.  It uses a special research method known as ethnography in which anthropologists are required to live with their subject of study for a long period of time in order to make their writings more reliable and credible. Subjects of Inquiry  Biological anthropology refers to the study of human origins (genetics, race, evolutions, fossils, primates).  Cultural anthropology is the study of living people (religion, social system, language, clothing, foods, beliefs, traditions, etc.).  Linguistics is the study of language, its evolution, its connection to other languages, and others.  Archeology refers to the study of dead culture (religion, social system, language, how they dress, foods, beliefs, traditions, etc.). Goals The goals of anthropology are the following: -See the commonalities among people (tradition, language, kinship, etc.). - Look at what makes us the same to understand more about human nature.  - Discover what makes people different from each other in order to understand and preserve diversity. - Produce new knowledge and new theories about mankind and behavior. - Look at one’s own culture more objectively. SOCIOLOGY Where did it start?  Sociology emerged as an academic field right at the height of Industrial Revolution in Europe which mobilized the entire population in a way that had never been before in human history. These era had brought great changes in the way people live in a society.  Sociology started as the study of European society by European people (inward). Who started this field?  Auguste Comte – French philosopher and mathematician. He coined the term sociology. He saw the need for a systematic science of studying society and in dealing with the solution of its basic problems. Concept  Sociology is the study of society, patterns of social interactions, and culture of everyday life. Unlike anthropology, the knowledge created by sociology is used to understand one’s own society.  Sociologists use qualitative research method in doing their studies. Subjects of Inquiry  Anything in a society that influences people’s lives can be subjects of inquiry, like different social phenomena, issues, and problems.  Sociologists can also look into things that influence life like family background, socio- economic status, ethnicity, social classes, religion, gender, beliefs, traditions, norms, among others.  Some fields are social organization, social psychology, applied sociology, and human ecology Goals The goals of Sociology are the following: -Obtain possible theories and principles about society as well as various aspects of social life. -Study the nature of humanity to further examine our roles within a society. - Appreciate that all things in society are interdependent. - Expose our minds to different perspectives in attaining truth. POLITICAL SCIENCE Where did it start?  The study of political science was started by the ancient Greeks.  Aristotle on his book “Politics” stated that Man is a political animal. It means that it is our nature to live in a society and to have power over another. Concepts  Political Science is the systematic study of government, politics, and political power.  It is often defined as who gets what, when, where and how. Subjects of Inquiry  political theory, philosophy and different political ideologies  public management  human rights  international relations and foreign policies Goals - Make people a better citizen. - Keep social order and harmony among different group of people. - Protect the rights of an individual. - Avoid conflict and promote cooperation. Lesson 2: Concepts, Aspects, and Changes of Culture and Society Culture -refers to the “way of life” of individuals in a community. CHARACTERISTICS of CULTURE 1. Culture is social because it is the product of behavior. Culture does not exist in isolation. It is a product of society. It develops through social interaction. No man can acquire culture without association with others. 2. Culture varies from society to society. Every society has a culture of its own that differs from other societies. The culture of every society is unique by itself. Cultures are not uniform. Cultural elements like customs, traditions, morals, values, and beliefs are not constant. 3. Culture is shared. Culture is not something that an individual alone can possess. Culture, in sociological sense, is shared. For example, people of a society share all customs, traditions, beliefs, ideas, values, morals, etc. 4. Culture is learned. Culture is not inborn. It is learned. Unlearned behavior then, is not culture. Shaking hands, saying thanks, etc. are cultural behaviors. Not all behaviors are learned, but most of these can be. Combing hair, standing in line, telling jokes, criticizing the president, and going to movies all constitute behaviors that need to be learned. 5. Culture is transmitted among members of society. Cultural ways are learned by people from others. Many of these ways are handed down from elders, parents, teachers, and others (most likely individuals of older generation), while other cultural behaviors are handed up to elders. Transmission of culture is made possible by language. Language is the main vehicle of culture. It is a system of words and symbols used to communicate with other people. Example of forms of language are: Gestures or body language, Speaking and Writing. Transmission of culture may take place also through imitation as well as through instruction. 6. Culture is continuous and cumulative. Culture exists as a continuous process. In its historical growth, it tends to become cumulative. Ralph Linton called culture “the social heritage” of man. No culture ever remains constant or permanent. It is subject to slow but constant variation. Likewise, culture is responsive to the changing conditions of the physical world; hence, it is dynamic. 7. Culture is gratifying and idealistic. Culture provides proper opportunities for the satisfaction of our needs and desires. Our needs, both biological and social, are fulfilled in cultural ways. Culture consists of the intellectual, artistic, and social ideals, and institutions where members of the society profess and strive to confirm. Lesson 3: Cultural Relativism and Ethnocentrism What is Ethnocentrism?  Ethnocentrism is a belief that one’s own culture is better than others. They tend to compare, evaluate, and even judge other people’s ways based on the values and standards set in one’s own culture.  Their worldview is based on the beliefs, assumptions, expectations, and values shaped by one’s language, behavior, customs, values, religions and other aspects.  Due to ethnocentric beliefs, many people are blinded from seeing things in another perspective.  Ethnocentric people tend to dislike or make false judgment on other cultures. They tend becoming biased and judge another culture as bad and wrong. Even though we deny it, most of us are ethnocentric at some point in our lives. Some do not even realize that they are being ethnocentric at that moment. Below are some of the examples of ethnocentrism: a. The American society sees themselves as a world leader. As a result, they interfere in the political affairs of other countries and try to control them, leading to misunderstanding and miscommunication amongst nations which sometimes result to war.  b. During the time of Adolf Hitler, Germans believed that they are a superior race. This led to the death of 6 million Jews whom they considered as an inferior race. c. European countries go beyond their ethnocentric biases and saw non- European cultures as uncivilized and underdeveloped countries of savages and barbarians. They used this perspective to justify colonialism and imperialism. d. Cases of hate crimes and terrorism violence can usually be traced back to religious conflicts and misunderstandings. Cultural Relativism as the Opposite View  Cultural relativism is a belief that cultures are equally complex. There is no such thing as superior or inferior culture. Cultural relativism is very important in studying the culture of other people.  It is a way of viewing the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from its own viewpoint. Another way to say this is that others should understand an individual’s beliefs and activities in terms of that person’s own culture. Cultural relativism promotes greater appreciation of the cultures that an individual might encounter along the way. Cultural relativism is a good way to rehearse the norms and values of a society –-- a requirement that one must subscribe to, regardless of his/her cultural origin. It means that the function and meaning of a trait are relative to its cultural setting. Lesson 4: Significance of Cultural, Social, Political and Economic Symbols and Practices HUMAN CULTURAL EVOLUTION  It is a saying that “human has no contentment”. As the environment changes, we continuously grow and find ways to make maximize our effort as we live.  It is very evident in the different stages of human cultural evolution: Palaeolithic Period, Neolithic Period, and Age of Metal.  Palaeolithic Period  The term “Palaeolithic” was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865. It is derived the from Greek word, palaios, which means "old"; and, lithos, "stone", In short, the Palaeolithic Period, which happened 2.5 million years ago, is also known as "Old Stone Age".  In the Palaeolithic period, the Earth was extremely cold and ocean levels were much lower than they are now. Due to the cold climate, much of the Stone Age is also called the Ice Age.  During these years, people were nomads and able to use simple tools and weapons made of unpolished stone. The caves served as their shelter.  Similarly, this was the time when people discovered to use the fire, through the use of stone, for their protection against cold temperature and to cook their own food.  Human beings in this time were grouped together in small societies such as bands, and subsisted by gathering plants and fishing, hunting or scavenging wild animals.  Neolithic Period  Likewise, the term “Neolithic” also comes from the same archaeologist and from the Greek word “neo” which means new and “lithos” meaning stone or in short, the “New Stone Age” which was happened for about 10,000 B.C.  The Neolithic Revolution is also called as the First Agricultural Revolution. During this period, there was a wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to of agriculture and settlement kind of society which eventually led to population increase.  People depend on domesticated plants and animals. They learned to create such crafts as pottery and weaving. They likewise developed boat as means of transportation and for fishing as well.  From being nomads during the early stage, human began to develop a sedentary type of society of which they built-up villages and towns.  Age of Metal  Furthermore, they were never contented of their accomplishments. They kept on discovering things for their own convenience. So, they discovered metals, and they gradually abandoned stone as the basic element for their instrument and tools.  This period was known as Age of Metals (4000 B.C – 1500 B.C). The used of metal such as bronze, copper, and iron produced a new historical development from the cradle civilization of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia including the India, and China which later spread throughout Asia. There were three stages distinguished within this Age due to the different types of metals that were used: The Copper Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age; copper was the first known metal, it is of a low hardness and it was used to make ornaments; bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and it is harder and stronger than copper. Several eastern Mediterranean peoples discovered this metallurgy and progressed rapidly.  During this age, agricultural tools were developed with bronze, such as plows and sickles, military weapons like swords, spears and shields, as well as household utensils like jars, bowls and cups. Likewise, a more developed social, cultural, political, and economic system were improved. Tribes, empires, and state were recognized at this point. Lesson 5: Socialization Socialization simply means the process of learning one’s society and its culture. It is moreover the same as interacting, mingling and being with other people or groups within/ outside of your society.  Through socialization, one learns the culture’s language, their roles in life, and what is expected from them. Without socialization, a person will develop different physical and mental disabilities.  It is sad to know that individuals with no successful socialization develop mental illness, abnormal or odd behavior and self -isolation.  Do you know that there are different groups of people that influence your orientations and perspectives to life? These groups are called agents of socialization. These agents play a crucial role in developing yourself as a person and a member of the society.  Family is the first agent of socialization. Most of the habits, manners, beliefs and the way we think are develop in the family. A huge part of your personality is molded by your family because this is where you spent your childhood. Your family influences you on the way you behave and act as a person. This is when socialization process is crucial and intense.  Do you still remember your happy moments in school? Of course, you do. School is another agent of socialization. Here, you interact or socialize with other people- your classmates, teachers, administrators and others which are outside your family within a society. Your socialization with them has made a lot of experiences in you. It is in the school that your behavior and attitude are shape to become a better member of society. So, a part of your personality is developed by this agent. Do you agree?  Your circle of friends is also an agent of socialization. It is called peer group. Your peers usually have similar ages, social status and share interests. Your peer group influences  you on the way you can accept yourself. It is with your peer group that you find yourself belonged. I’m sure you learned a lot from your friends, didn’t you? So, you are right when you think that they are also important agent in shaping your personality.  Social media as agent of socialization plays a crucial role in shaping your personality as well. Majority of us, young and old, are connected through social media. Much of our waking time is spent on using social media. So, this agent of socialization influences your way of life intensively thus doing large part in your personal development. There are other socialization agents who are also important in molding you as a person: the community, the church and the government. You, see? What you are now is a product of socialization. You have been socializing from the time you were born until now. Socialization is a continuing process until we die. Socialization is really a necessity for it develops you as person. Lesson 6: Social Organizations CONCEPT OF SOCIAL GROUPS  Everyone belongs to a group; your race, gender, favorite sports team, your college, even the place where you were born were all examples of groups. Sometimes groupings are determined by factors related to who we are (sex, age, race/ethnicity) but in many other cases, they arrive in a somewhat arbitrary fashion. In school, you would likely associate with classmates who share the same interests as you do like having a common hobby or sports affiliation or even fashion sense or even love of a certain type of music. What is a Group? A group is composed of two or more persons interacting with each other and guided by a set of norms. It is also defined as specified number of individuals where each recognizes members as distinct from non-members. Basic Classifications of Social Groups 1. Primary Groups Primary groups are marked by concern for one another, shared activities and culture, and long periods of time spent together. They are influential in developing an individual’s personal identity. The goal of primary groups is actually the relationships themselves rather than achieving some other purpose. The examples of a primary group but not limited to be your family and childhood and close friends. 2. Secondary Groups Secondary relationships involve weak emotional ties and little personal knowledge of one another. In contrast to primary groups, secondary groups don’t have the goal of maintaining and developing the relationships themselves. These groups are based on  usual or habitual interests or affairs. It includes groups in which one exchanges explicit commodities, such as labor for wages, services for payments, and such. 3. In-group Belonging to the same group as others who share the same common bond and interests who are more likely to understand each other refers to an in- group. 4. Out-group Those who do not belong to the in-group are part of the out-group, which exist in the perceptions of the in-group members and takes on social reality as a result of behavior by in-group members who use the out group as a negative point of reference. 5. Reference Groups A reference group is a collection of people that we use as a standard of comparison for ourselves regardless of whether we are part of that group. We rely on reference groups to understand social norms, which then shape our values, ideas, behavior, and appearance. This means that we also use them to evaluate the relative worth, desirability, or appropriateness of these things. By looking to reference groups--be they those of race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, region, ethnicity, age, or localized groups defined by neighborhood or school, among others-- we see norms and dominant values, and we choose to either embrace and reproduce them in our own thoughts, behavior, and interactions with others; or, we reject and refute them by thinking and acting in ways that break from them. 6. Network A network is a collection of people tied together by a specific pattern of connections. They can be characterized by the number of people involved, as in the dyad (by twos) and triad (by threes), but also in terms of their structures (who is connected to whom) and functions (what flows across ties). Networks indeed, are able to do more things and different things than individuals acting on their own could. Networks have this effect, regardless of the content of the connections or persons involved. Nowadays, the giving of information and establishing of connections and various relationships can be done through social networking sites.