Week 2 Defining Culture and Society PDF

MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Week 2 People of the same society share aspects of their culture, such as language or beliefs. In this lesson, we will discuss culture, whic...

MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Week 2 People of the same society share aspects of their culture, such as language or beliefs. In this lesson, we will discuss culture, which refers to our language, values, beliefs, behavior, and material objects that constitute our way of life. Culture is a defining element of society. At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: 1. Articulate observations on human cultural variation, social differences, social change, and political identities 2. Demonstrate curiosity and an openness to explore the origins and dynamics of culture and society, and political identities. Definition of Culture Culture is everything that is made, learned, or shared by the members of a society, including values, beliefs, behaviors, and material objects. Two parts of Culture Manual Title 1 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION 1. Material culture is the visible part. It may be the food we eat, your cars, your houses or anything that members of society make, use and share. 2. Non-material culture is intangible but this influences our behavior like our language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns and political system Five Components of Culture 1. Technology is one component that makes our life easier. We can have volume production of goods that can be used by us through this component. 2. Symbols are cultural representations of reality. They give meanings to events and things like a statue, handshake, college ring, flag etc. 3. Language is the most powerful of all human symbols as it allows us to communicate with one another. It also conveys our beliefs and culture. 4. Values are ideas. They determine our character. They are the standards by which we assess goodness, acceptability, beauty or desirability. Manual Title 2 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION 5. The fifth component is norm. Norm is a rule that guides our behavior. It gives concrete terms how we should behave – what we should do and what we should not do. Classification of Norms: 1. Mores distinguish right from wrong 2. Folkways distinguish between right and rude. They are referred as customs. They are measurements of behavior but not approved by society. 3. Laws are written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by government 4. Taboo is an activity that is forbidden or sacred based on religious beliefs or morals. Breaking a taboo is extremely objectionable in society as a whole. Around the world, an act may be taboo in one culture and not in another. Examples are: 1. Mores laws: child abuse, rape, carnapping, etc. 2. Folkway laws: jaywalking, counterflowing, etc. Manual Title 3 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION 3. Law: Driving while drunk, theft, murder, and trespassing are all examples of laws. If violated, the person violating the law could get reprimanded, pay a fine, or go to jail. 4. Taboos: abortion, addiction, cannibalism, offensive language, slavery, etc. Difference between Culture and Society Society – consists of people who interact to share a common culture Culture – consists of beliefs, behaviors, objects and other characteristics common to a particular group or society. Where did culture originate? Biological or Societal? Nature or nurture? Nature refers to your innate qualities or nativism while nurture is your personal experiences. Nature is your genes, the physical and personality traits determined by your genes which stays with you wherever you were born or raised. Nurture refers to your childhood, or how you were brought up. Nature is built from your biological and family factors while nurture from your societal or environmental factor. Manual Title 4 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Cultural Change We can say that culture is learned – from our families, peers, institutions and media. As we absorb other’s culture, we change ours. It is shared as we share it with our group members. It is based on symbols because these symbols give meaning to people either to agree or not on their use. Culture is integrated because if we learn culture, we should be ready to relate all of the aspects, not only a part or a few. It is also dynamic because of interaction and change. These changes may be in the form of discoveries, inventions or cultural borrowings. However, cultural diversity is also present in society. Because of the existence of multiple cultures, it creates differences within the society. Sub-cultures You must also be informed about subcultures. Subcultures exist in small cultural groups but differ in some way. Examples of subcultures include: “heavy metal” music devotees, tattoo enthusiasts, gangs, skinheads, etc. Manual Title 5 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION When you oppose to the norms and values of a dominant culture, you possess a counterculture. Examples of this are: protest groups, hippies, etc. When your culture is dominant, and it absorbs subcultural and countercultural groups, the process is called assimilation. If culture respects cultural variations, we call this multiculturalism. To end this session, we add ethnocentrism which involves judging other cultures against the standards of one’s culture; and cultural relativism which says that a culture should be sociologically evaluated according to its standards, and not those of any other culture. This lesson might have presented you with important concepts to improve your behavior and ways of dealing with other people like your parents, siblings, peers and play groups. Social Groups and Organization This lesson deals with how man needs other members of society to survive and to enjoy life. The issue here is how to organize ourselves to for alliance into groups and organizations. Manual Title 6 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Classification of People “No man is an island” goes the saying. Man can not thrive without the presence of other men. There is a natural tendency for man to live with others in a group, to look for a companion or group of companions in order to fulfill the need to belong and to experience some form of comfort. People are usually classified based on the group he or she is an aggregate of. This group may be something he consciously chose for himself or something he was born into. GROUP A group serves many functions like giving an individual a sense of identity as well as emotional intimacy. It consists of two or more people who are distinct in the following three ways: a. Interact overtime b. Have a sense of identity or belonging c. Have norms that non-members don’t have. For example: A class of students is a group who meet a few times in a week for an entire semester and identify themselves on the basis of Manual Title 7 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION what classes they are taking. Students in a class must follow their professor’s class and test schedule, as well as rules for behavior and contribution in class. AGGREGATE An aggregate is a collection of people who happen to be at the same place at the same time but who have no other connection to one another. An example: the people in a restaurant on a particular evening are an example of an aggregate, not a group. Those people do not know one another, and they will likely never see again in the same place and the same time. CATEGORY Third classification is category, which is a collection of people who share a particular characteristic. They do not necessarily interact with one another and have nothing else in common. Examples of categories may include people who have green eyes, or people who were born in the Philippines, or women who gave birth to twins. Manual Title 8 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION One important characteristic of a group is for group members interact on a regular basis through communication. Social Group Those who interact with one another and share similar characteristics and a sense of unity is called a social group. These groups may be families, companies, circles of friends, fraternities and sororities and local religious congregations Nature of Social Group The group provides specific form as to the nature of interaction in the society. Members should develop a structure where each member assumes a specific status and adopts a particular role. Certain orderly procedures and values are agreed upon. The members of the group feel a sense of identity. Types of Social Group 1. Social Group according to Ties (This is considered a primary group)  It is the most fundamental unit of human society Manual Title 9 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION  A long-lasting group characterized by strong ties of love and affection  Do’s and don’ts of behavior are learned in this group Examples: families, gangs, cliques, play groups, friendship groups 2. Social Group according to Ties (A Secondary Group)  Group with which the individual comes in contact later in life  Characterized by impersonal business-like, contractual, formal and casual relationship.  Usually large in size, not very enduring and limited relationships.  People needed other people for the satisfaction of their complex needs. Examples: Industrial Workers, business associates. Faculty staff, Company employees 3. Social Group to Form of Organization (Informal Group)  Arises spontaneously out of the interactions of two or more persons  It is unplanned  Has no explicit rules for membership and does not have specific objectives to be attained Manual Title 10 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION  members are bound by emotion and sentiments 4. Social Group according to Form of Organization (Formal Group)  Social organization  Deliberately formed and their purpose and objectives are explicitly defined.  Their goals are clearly stated and the division of labor is based on member’s ability or merit 5. Social Group according to Self identification (In-Group) It is a social unit in which individuals feel at home and with which they identify themselves 6. Social Group according to Self identification (Out-Group) It is a social unit to which individuals do not belong due to differences in social categories and with which they do not identify. 7. Social Group according to Purpose (Special Interest Group) A group which is organized to meet the special interest of the members 8. Social Group according to Purpose (Task Force) Manual Title 11 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION A group is assigned to accomplish jobs which cannot be done by one person. 9. Social Group according to Geographical Location and Degree of Relationship (Gemeinschaft)  A social system in which most relationships are personal and traditional  It is a community of intimate, private and exclusive living and familism  Culture is homogeneous and traditional-bound 10. Social Group according to Geographical Location and Degree of Relationship (Gesselschaft)  A social system in which most relationships are impersonal, formal, sontractuaal or bargain-like  Relationship is individualistic, business-like, secondary and rationalized  Culture is heterogeneous and mored advanced Social Organization Social organization The type of collectivity established for the pursuit of specific aims or goods Manual Title 12 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION Characterized by a formal structure of rules, authority relations, a division of labor and limited membership or admission Organization is an orderly relationship or arrangement of parts. It is used to refer the interdependence and inter-related of parts in groups Examples of social organization: Family, church, college, factory, a play group, a political party, a community Types of Social Organization 1. Political Organization: State (Government) 2. Economic Organization: Factory 3. Religious Organization: Church 4. Financial organization: Bank 5. Educational organization: School and Colleges Goal of Social organization That members of an organization are inter-related to each other for the pursuit of a common goal Preparedness to accept one’s role and status: Manual Title 13 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION  Organization is an arrangement of persons and parts  By arrangement, it is meant that every member of the organization has an assigned role, a positon and a status Norms and Mores of Social Organization: Every organization has its norms and mores which control its members, as a result, an organization can function smoothly if its members follow the organization norms. Sanctions: If a member does not follow the norms he is compelled to follow them through sanctions (conditions) which may range from warning to physical punishment. For example; a member may be expelled, or dismissed. To end our discussion on Social Groups and Organization, remember that a group is a major source of solidarity and cohesion in society. Manual Title 14 MODULE OF INSTRUCTION References Acton, Ashton Q. (2014). Issues in international sociology and social work research and application. USA: Scholarly Editions. Difference Between Anthropology and Sociology. Retrieved from: www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/...anthropology-and- sociology. (06 June 2015) Ferrante, J. (2014). Sociology a Global Perspective. 9th edition. USA: cengage Learning. Print Mauss, M. (2005). The Nature of Sociology Berghahn Series. USA: Durkheim Press. Print Sociology/Anthropology. Retrieved from: www.stolaf.edu/catalog/9697/socanthro.html. (06 June 2015) Manual Title 15