Understanding Culture, Society and Politics - Lecture 3 PDF

**Understanding Culture, Society and Politics** **Lecture 3** All cultures in the world project similarities. Sociologists enumerate an extensive list of these similarities such as speech, language, art, cooking, eating, courting and a host of other. **The Primary Causes of Cultural Similarities*...

**Understanding Culture, Society and Politics** **Lecture 3** All cultures in the world project similarities. Sociologists enumerate an extensive list of these similarities such as speech, language, art, cooking, eating, courting and a host of other. **The Primary Causes of Cultural Similarities** a. **Biological Similarities** - this means that all people in the world have the same biological needs, namely food, clothing, shelter and health care. b. **Necessary Prerequisites for Social Being** - society must fulfill some requirements in order to function, such as replacing members, teaching new members to participate and the need to have participation in production and distribution. c. **Psychic Unity of Mankind** - all human beings are alike in having similar ranges of emotion - the need for love, security and language. d. **Geographical Environment** - the geographical environment is characterized by certain limitations such as limited food, limited source of energy, and other delimiting factors of the people's environment. Every society in the world is unique from one another. Everyone has his/her own cultural practices, values and interests. Each culture has its distinct features and characteristics. This is socially called cultural diversity. These differences in culture can be attributed to the following factors: a. Though men all over the world have the same biological needs, they differ in ways in meeting them. Each culture adapts to its environment. b. Differences in geographical characteristics like climate, topography or social condition c. The absence or presence of natural resources. Specific Forms of the Cultural Traits may vary significantly from Society to Society ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | - may be defined as | - the Cebuano in | | | a modified | Manila, the gay , | | | culture within a | and military | | | larger culture | officers maybe | | | practice by a | consider | | | society. Let us | subculture. | | | take the rock | | | | culture in music | | | | as an example. In | | | | general, rock | | | | music is a | | | | culture observed | | | | in many societies | | | | all over the | | | | globe. | | | | | | | | - is an ethnic, | | | | regional, | | | | economic or | | | | social group | | | | exhibiting | | | | characteristics | | | | patterns of | | | | behavior | | | | sufficient to | | | | distinguish it | | | | from others | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | - is a culture with | - rebel groups are | | | values and | a good example in | | | | counter- culture | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | - People of all cultures become | - People have tended to stick | | used to one another and learn | with other than their own | | more about each other as | culture when living in | | individuals. | situations of interactive | | | cultural differences. | | - People get to take pride in | | | themselves while also living | - | | with people who may be | | | different. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | - It includes the values and | - It includes the values and | | norms that a culture claims | norms that are actually | | to have. | followed by a culture. | | | | | - It involves an idealized, | - It involves an adaptable | | uncompromising value system | value system that is used | | that dictates perfect | mostly as a set of guidelines | | behavior. | for preferred behavior. | | | | | - Using ideal culture as a | - Right and wrong are | | standard, you are either | separated, but exceptions | | right or wrong. Rules are | exist for pretty much | | black and white, with no | everything | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Types of Acculturation ---------------------- +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | - It refers to the free | - It occurs when one group | | borrowing and modification of | establishes dominance over | | cultural elements and occurs | another through military | | when people of different | conquest or political | | cultures maintain contact as | control; thus, imperialism is | | well as political and social | the most common precursor to | | self-determination. | directed change. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Ethnocentrism ------------- - **Ethnocentrism** basically pertains to the belief that one's native culture is superior to or the most natural among other cultures. An ethnocentric person sees and weighs another culture based upon the values and standards of his/her own. - The word "ethnocentrism" was coined by American social scientist William Sumner in 1906 to provide a technical term for viewing one's ethnicity (ethno) in the center of all cultures (centrism). - It is a perception that arises from the fact that cultures differ and each culture defines reality differently. Judging another culture solely by the values and standard of one's own culture. Xenocentrism ------------ - Xenocentrism has an opposite relative or the belief that one culture is inferior to another. A xenocentric person usually has a high regard for other cultures but disdains his/her own or is embarrassed by it. - Xenocentrism is evident in many Filipino, especially those who are influenced by other cultures. Many Filipino prefer imported products rather than locally-made ones, thinking that the quality is better if the product is made abroad. Cultural Relativism ------------------- - To avoid highlighting personal biases and assumptions in studying culture, sociologists have endeavored to review other cultures as neither inferior nor superior. This method is rooted in the idea of cultural relativism, or the practice of viewing another culture by its own context rather than assessing it based on the standards of one's own culture. - Cultural relativism requires an open mind and enthusiasm to adapt to new cultures. An example is an American traveler who encountered balut for the first time. Although told what *balut* is, the tourist has never tried eating it before. Instead of being grossed out or terrified, he/she may instill in mind that balut is just as edible as the burgers and corndogs in his/her own country. He/she then tasted the delicacy to get acquainted with its flavor. This is what cultural relativism is all about. To immerse oneself in another culture in order to appreciate it fully.