Understanding Society, Culture, and Politics PDF

UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND POLITICS REVIEW MATERIAL CULTURE- It is defined as the custom beliefs, social forms, and traits that defines a specific racial, religious or social group SOCIETY-Comes from the Latin word "socius" which means com...

UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND POLITICS REVIEW MATERIAL CULTURE- It is defined as the custom beliefs, social forms, and traits that defines a specific racial, religious or social group SOCIETY-Comes from the Latin word "socius" which means comrade, companion or friend Pertains to a group of individuals involved in social interaction or sharing the same geographical or social territory POLITICS- Comes from the Greek word "Politika" which means affairs of the cities. Refer to achieving and exercising positions of governance over a human community ANTHROPOLOGY - the study of what makes us human -It is derived from two Greek words, anthropos and logos, which intensively studies humans and the respective cultures where they were born and actively belong to. -It is considered the father, or even grandfather, of all social and behavioral sciences like sociology, economics, and psychology, to name a few. -The discipline had its humble beginnings with early European explorers and their accounts, which produced initial impressions about the native peoples they encountered in their explorations. THE PROPONENTS 1. FRANZ BOAS -the father of American Anthropology. He strongly believed that the same method and strategy could be applied in measuring culture and behavior while conducting research among humans, including the uniqueness of their cultures. -CONTIBUTIONS: CULTURAL RELATIVISM, EMPIRICAL DATA COLLECTION, LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY, AND REJECTING BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM 2. ALFRED KROEBER and WILLIAM HENRY MORGAN -were an early American Anthropologist since their specialization included the championing of indigenous rights like traditional cultural preservation and ancestral domain of the American Indian tribes they intensively studied 3. RUTH BENEDICT -She was a student of Franz Boas and she became a specialist in anthropology and folklore and authored one of the three famous books utilized in the academic scene for reference purposes, known as Patterns of Culture. 4. MARGARET MEAD - She is described in the academic circle as "controversial" for intensively studying the sexual practices among native populations. Such views gave rise to a relatively new liberal view on sex and sexual practices in the United States, at a time when most Americans were still labeled as conventional and conservative. She was a colleague of Ruth Benedict 5. BRONISLAW MALINOWSKI - he was the founding father of participant observation strategy which is central to ethnography or the ethnographic approach SOCIOLOGY Definitions Sociology is the study of society, social institutions, and social relationships. MERRIAM-WEBSTER Sociology is interested in describing and explaining human behavior, especially as it occurs within a social context. C. Wright Mills (1959) calls it the sociological imagination, which he defined as "the vivid awareness of the relationship between private experience and the wider society." Peter Berger explains that the perspective of sociology enables us to see "general patterns in particular events" W.I. Thomas an American sociologist, (1928) "if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. Hence, if cult members consider their leader powerful, then he can perform magic. HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGY Sociology emerged during the French Revolution of 1789, along with the industrial Revolution in England during the eighteenth century, tremendously changed people's lives. Industrial Revolution French Revolution It brought invention of the steam engine which New political ideas spreaded in from France and caused many countryside folks were pushed into America which a created strong negative the towns, as their land was taken away by the sentiment against the monarchy which lead to landlords to give way to a factory-based shift from monarchy to democracy. economy. Europe saw the beginning of industrial economy, the growth of cities, and the emergence of different political ideas, which in turn transformed social life. However, problems such as massive unemployment, increasing crime rate, widespread poverty among others also emerged. THINKERS OF SOCIOLOGY Auguste Comte (1798-1857) the person who "invented" sociology in 1842, by bringing together the Greek word socius or "companion, and the Latin word logos or "study." He grew up in the wake of the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. He proposed that to understand society, it should be analyzed as it really was, unlike the early philosophers and theologians who looked at society in its ideal state. He further favored positivism, an approach to understanding the world based on science. He believed that society operates according to certain laws, just as the physical world operates according to gravity and other laws of nature. KARL MARX (1818-1883) the forerunner of the conflict theory, one of the most important sociological theories. Marx, a native of Germany, wrote The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels in 1847. This book focused on the misery of the lower classes caused by the existing social order. He reiterated that political revolution was vital in the evolutionary process of society, the only means to achieve improvement of social conditions. He felt that conflict, revolution, and the overthrow of capitalism were inevitable. He predicted that the bourgeoisie (middle class and owners of factories) would be overthrown by the proletariat (the factory workers), because they could no longer contain their frustration over the treatment that the former inflict on them. Although his predictions did not come true, sociologists still study his insights regarding class conflict, economic determinism, social stratification, and social change. HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903) is associated with the birth of sociology in his native England. He likened society to an organism, with a life and vitality of its own. He first used the phrase "survival of the fittest" when he proposed the policy of noninterference in human affairs and society, believing that doing something to help the weak, poor, and needy would interfere with the natural selection process. Hence, governments should not rescue the needy because this would disturb ongoing natural processes. He first used the phrase "survival of the fittest" when he proposed the policy of noninterference in human affairs and society, believing that doing something to help the weak, poor, and needy would interfere with the natural selection process. Hence, governments should not rescue the needy because this would disturb ongoing natural processes. In this way, society gets better as time passes. His ideas justified the enslavement of the Blacks. However, his inhuman philosophy later on met with strong resistance, eventually leading to its demise. EMILE DURKHEIM (1858-1917) is the first French sociologist. Durkheim put forward the idea that individuals are more the products rather than the creators of society; the society itself is external to the individual. In his book Suicide, Durkheim proved that social forces strongly impact on people's lives, and that a seemingly personal event is not personal after all. MAX WEBER (1864-1920) A german and the most important proponent of interpretive sociology. Weber believed that a "sympathetic understanding, verstehen, of the mind of others" was essential to understanding the behavior of others. Weber asserted that religion is very influential in the actions and thoughts of people. The qualitative, subjective methods as well as objective, quantitative methods should be used in the study of social actions. The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism Theory of Social and Economic Organization dwelt on the significance of subjective meanings people give to their interactions with others.  SOCIALIZATION Human beings develop through social interaction. This development process acquired through social interaction is called “socialization”. Socialization is a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity (attitude, values and behavior) and learn the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his and her social position. It teaches as how to behave and act within our society. AGENT OF SOCIALIZATION 1. Family-Most important agent of socialization; the center of a child’s life; parental attention is very important; provides encourage 2. Religion-It has significant role in ‘meaning- making’ of life; promote welfare of the individual. 3. School-Provides individuals an opportunity to confront diversity; introduces gender role socialization and even clustering of skills and competencies according to gender and class; hidden curriculum: informal aspect of schooling; impersonal relationship is prevalent. 4. Neighborhood-Local social units larger than the household. Neighborhoods are social communities with face- to- face interaction among members 5. Peer Groups-Provides avenue for individuals to develop a sense of self that goes beyond the family; peer groups also provide venues for anticipatory socialization; practice at working toward gaining desired positions 6. Mass Media-Mass media create images that reinforce social stereotypes based on sex, class, ethnicity and religion. IDENTITY FORMATION starts when one learns to socialize and be aware of the culture, behaviors, language, morals, and norms of where he or she belongs in. IDENTITY it is what makes a person distinct from others. It is the total knowledge and understanding of an individual about who he or she is. 2 TYPES OF IDENTITY 1. Personal the concept an individual develops about himself or herself the sense of oneself as a distinct or unique individual may depend on the age and circumstances of a person 2. Cultural the identity of the culture to which a person belongs in the feeling or sense of belongingness to a group a collective sense of companionship that involves the same beliefs, interests, and fundamental principles of living DISCIPLINE a way of behaving that expresses a willingness to obey rules or laws behavior that is judged by how well a person follows a set of rules or orders 3 TYPES OD DISCIPLINE 1. Discipline of Nature or Reality- A person learns to do things on his or her own without the supervision of others. 2. Discipline of Culture or Society - A person learns according to what he sees in his society or his culture. 3. Discipline of Superior Force - In this training, a person learns through supervision and guidance. ASPIRATION-It is a strong desire and ambition with which someone is motivated to work hard. NORMS AND VALUES Norms It is a rule that guides the behavior of members of a society or group. Things that exist in society independent of individuals and that shape our thoughts and behavior. Normative Refers to what we perceive as normal, or what we think should be normal, regardless of whether it actually is Values Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful and that serve as broad guidelines for social living. STATUSES AND ROLES STATUS These are the position an individual occupies in a particular setting, in group, or in society. It defines and clarifies the rights and obligation expected from a person. 2 types of status 1. ASCRIBED-A position a person holds in a social system that one attains involuntarily or by birth. Inherited and not based on the persons abilities, accomplishments, or efforts. 2. ACHIEVED-A position one holds in a social system that one attains based on merit or effort. Acquired due to unique skills, knowledge or abilities, and are based on standards that can be controlled. ROLES Expectations that are set for a person given the status he or she occupies. Pertains to the norms, behaviors, values, and personal characteristics that are attached to the status of the person. ROLE EXIT Pertains to the course of disengaging a person from bis or her role that is essential to his or her self- identity. ROLE CONFLICT It arises when incompatible expectations occur from two or more statuses that a person is occupying. Performing the assigned role of one status makes it challenging for a person to play the assigned role of another status.  CONFORMITY involves the acceptance of the cultural goals and means of attaining those goals. 4 types of Conformity 1. Compliance- An individual adopts the induced behavior because it is congruent or consistent with his value system. 2. Internalization- An individual accepts influence because he hopes to achieve a favorable reaction from another person or group. He/she adopts because of the expectation of a specific reward and avoids specific punishment. 3. Identification-An individual accepts influence because he/she wants to establish or maintain a satisfying self-defining relationship to another person or group. Individual conform to expectation of a social role (e.g. nurses, police officers). 4. Ingratiation - This is when a person conforms to impress or gain favor/acceptance from other people. DEVIANCE Is a behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations or social norms of a group or society. Alcoholics, gamblers, sex deviants, drug addicts or latecomers in the class are all classified as deviants or deviant acts. 1. RITUALISM is a concept developed by American sociologist Robert K. Merton as a part of his structural strain theory. It refers to the common practice of going through the motions of daily life even though one does not accept the goals or values that align with those practices. 2. RETREATISM is the attitude of being resigned to the abandonment of an original goal or the means of attaining it (as in political or cultural matters 3. REBELLION is a special case wherein the individual rejects both the cultural goals and traditional means of achieving them but actively attempts to replace both elements of the society with different goals and means. 4. INNOVATION involves the acceptance of the goals of a culture but the rejection of the traditional and/or legitimate means of attaining those goals. For example, a member of the Mafia values wealth but employs alternative means of attaining his wealth; in this example, the Mafia member’s means would be deviant. Wrong achieving the goals.