Social Sciences Reviewer PDF

Summary

This document provides an overview of the social sciences, including their different disciplines and branches. It touches upon core concepts from anthropology, economics, and geography. The document is suitable for undergraduate-level study.

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REVIEWER FOR LONG TEST SCOPE: The Emergence of Social Sciences & The Branches of Social Sciences DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Social Sciences ─ are all academic disciplines which deal with the man in their social context. A science that deals with human behavior in its social and cul...

REVIEWER FOR LONG TEST SCOPE: The Emergence of Social Sciences & The Branches of Social Sciences DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Social Sciences ─ are all academic disciplines which deal with the man in their social context. A science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects. Society - defined as “people in general thought of living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions and values” (Merriam-Webster) What is Social Science? Social Science involves scientific process Involves human interaction and communication Associated with human society and human nature Examples of SOCIAL ISSUES Covid – 19 Pandemic Environmental Degradation Budget Rapid population growth Graft &Corruption Unemployment Inflation Gender Inequality IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Framing of legislative policies in relation to political and social issues of class, gender and power Recommendations on changes on environmental use with respect to geography studies on climate change Preservation of cultural diversity and respect for traditions in this period of globalization Exchange of culture and ideas in the macro level and breakdown of families in the micro level as a result of economic migration by Filipino workers Infrastructural changes resulting from population studies Natural Science ─ explain and attempt to predict various phenomena in nature such cellular composition, atomic particles, weather conditions and earthquake patterns. Humanities ─ It is a branch of knowledge that tends to humanize human as they express themselves in various forms. This includes art and art history; literature, and music among others. ANTHROPOLOGY - study humankind Greek word “anthropos” – human and “logos” – word or study of It is an amalgamation (result) of natural science particularly in biology and social sciences. Therefore, anthropology is partly natural science and partly a social science. Ex: Knowing the origin of humankind. Compared to other social sciences, anthropology is wider in scope both geographically and historically. Anthropologists excavate numerous places for fossils and other material remains that once belongs in the past. BRANCHES OF ANTHROPOLOGY Physical Anthropology It is the study of human biology within the milieu of evolution. The physical anthropologists also analyse human fossil remains. Sub Branches of Physical Anthropology: Paleoanthropology – “human evolution; earlier hominids” Genetics – “gene structure; patterns of inheritance of traits” Primatology – “non-human primates” Osteology – “Skeletal remains” Paleopathology – “traces of disease and injury in human skeletal remains” Forensic Anthropology – “analysis and identification of human remains” Cultural Anthropology – The study of culture of people and social culture Archaeological Anthropology Involves the study of earlier cultures and ways of life by the way of retrieving and examining the material remains of previous human societies. Archaeologist attempt to reconstruct the everyday life and customs of early people, they also seek to explain the different cultural changes that happened over time. Linguistic Anthropology Study of human speech and language as well as the various changes that have taken place over time This tries to comprehend different processes in human communication, language use. ECONOMICS Economics is a discipline that concentrates on how a particular society solves its problem of scarcity of resources. Come from the Greek word “oikos” – house and “nomos” – custom or law The term “oikonomia” literally translates as “management of a house hold” Goal: to develop better policies in order to minimize problems and maximize the benefits of everyday work. What are the two Division of Economics? Micro Economics Focuses on the behaviour of individual agents, like household, industries and firms. Economists evaluate how prices of goods and services are usually pegged and what factors determine the value of land, labor and capital. Experts measures price of specific product, number of workers employed by a single firm or expenditures of a certain family Macro Economics Analyses how the economics functions as a whole or its basic subdivisions such as the government or the business sectors. Also study inflation and unemployment why some nations are well-off while some others under huge dept. Includes total output, total employment, total income and general level of prices GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY- comes from the Greek word “geographia” – to describe the earth (literal) Geo – earth; graphe; – to describe MAP - a representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area. GEOGRAPHY- It is the study of the features of the earth and the locational living things on the planet. Geography is the branch of science that relates to the study of the Earth, its physical features, landmasses, seas, oceans, the natural phenomena occurring on Earth, and the people who inhabit this planet and their interaction with environment. Eratosthenes of Cyrene Father of Geography First person to calculate the circumference of the earth (distance from sun) Concept of latitude and longitude HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Is the study of how the humans have affected by the environment and why civilizations are where they are. Is the study of how the humans have affected by the environment and why civilizations are where they are. Some of the dominant areas of study in human geography include: Social Geography: study of the earth in relation to the social activities of man. Cultural Geography: study of the earth in relation to the cultural activities of man, that is, his mode of living and achievements as they are influenced by the physical environment. This is related to anthropology. HISTORY History is a branch of knowledge that attempts to ascertain, record and explain facts and events that happened in the past Comes from the Greek word “historia” – inquiry One of the oldest Social Science tracing its origin in the myths and traditions of early people that were passed from one generation to the other. HERODOTUS Father of History Herodotus is most well known for his historical accounts. He is remembered as being arguably the very first historian ever. LINGUISTICS LINGUISTICS - Is a field of knowledge involvi ng the scientific study of language as a universal and recognizable aspect of human behavior and capacity. POLITICAL SCIENCE What is Political Science? It deals with both theory and practice of politics, including analysis on public policies and laws. Study of governments and need for the institution, its form and its processes. Key concepts: state, politics, power and ideology as well as the effects of these notions on individuals and groups. NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI “Father of Modern Political Science” PSYCHOLOGY What is Psychology? Deals with the nature of human behaviors, both internal and external factors that affects these behaviors. latin word “psychologia” combining psych – spirit or soul; and logia – study of Literal meaning: study of soul Four Goals: to describe, explain, predict and change behaviors. Key concepts: Cognition, perception, thought, personality and motivation.The scientific study of behavior and mental process. Mental processes: Cognitive activities Dreams Perceptions Thoughts Memories WILHELM WUNDT “Father of Modern Psychology” German physiologist and psychologist who is generally acknowledged as the founder of experimental psychology. Wundt earned a medical degree at the University of Heidelberg in 1856. Wundt founded experimental psychology as a discipline and became a pioneer of cultural psychology. He created a broad research programme in empirical psychology and developed a system of philosophy and ethics from the basic concepts of his psychology – bringing together several disciplines in one person. SOCIOLOGY What is Sociology? Latin word “socius” – companion; Greek word “logos” – word or study of Is a field of study dealing with systematic study of patterns of human interaction Patterns are affected, controlled or arrange by historical events, beliefs and practices or various social influences on an individual , a family or larger group of people DEMOGRAPHY What is Demography? Greek word demos – people; and graphie – to write The study of human populations. Three Demographic processes: 1. Birth; 2. Migration; 3. Aging and Death STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM Structural functionalism is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. OVERVIEW Society is composed of a system of interconnected parts with functions Everything has a function in the society Social Structures: RELIGION, EDUCATION, FAMILY GOVERNMENT, ECONOMY, MASS MEDIA Ultimate Goal: To promote social stability and solidarity Social problems are viewed as disruptions and may pose danger to the system’s total function and equilibrium. Examples: malfunctioning of government due to corruption and inefficiency; lack of affection and broken relationships in the family; irrelevant curriculum and poor quality of education of school may affect social stability, order and progress. Dysfunction─ any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society CAUSES: lack of consensus among people about what is helping or harmful to society. Manifest function Consequences that are intended and commonly recognized Latent function Consequences that are intended and commonly recognized Example of Social Functions: Education Manifest Function - educate children Latent Function - daycare for children which enables parents to go to work - young adults meet potential mates Dysfunction - high school drop-outs CRITICISMS ✓ The idea of functional unity does not take into account that conflicts can and will arise in the society ✓ There are systems within the social structure that are opposed to one another which result in a break in unity. MARXISM Historical Development Begun in the 19th century as a pragmatic view of history that offered the working classes of society an opportunity to change their world It offered humanity a social, political, economic, and cultural understanding of the nature of reality, society and the individual. OVERVIEW Bourgeoisie (factory owners/capitalist) VS. Proletariat (industrial workers/laborers) There’s an exploitation because the capitalist gain profit from the labor and service of workers SOCIAL INEQUALITY – oppression and exploitation SOCIAL INJUSTICE – capitalist steal by taking profit, leaving workers with salary disproportionate to the work they provide MARXIST VIEW Those with economic power have control over the political system and other institutions of society The ideas ruling the class are instilled in society through the institutions it dominates The ruling class manipulates mind so that the masses will remain subservient Therefore, a capitalist society makes people think that certain goods which are sold by capitalist for profit are necessary for human living and happiness The laborers would buy these goods using the wages they received from their employers and the cycles continues = FALSE CLASS CONCIOUSNESS CRITICISMS DO NOT require a revolution to take place It is violent in nature. Societal development takes place not only through material changes but also through ideas, cultures and other aspects of society SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that focuses on the analysis of patterns of communication, interpretation, and adjustment between individuals within a society. It emphasizes the way people create and maintain their social reality through the use of symbols, such as language, gestures, and signs. This theory suggests that human beings interact with each other based on the meanings they attribute to various symbols, and these meanings are not inherent but are derived from social interaction and interpretation. OVERVIEW ▪ Individuals interactions with objects and other people ▪ Behaviour is influenced and can only be examined through social interactions ▪ Explore the social dynamics between people and how they assign meanings to things ▪ Meaning is not to monopolized by a single person or a perspective, something can have different meanings as there are different perspective. INTERACTIONIST VIEW ▪ Action are determined by the meaning people associate with things ▪ EXAMPLE:A tree can be perceived as a source of shade during a hot day or as means to produce a thousand sheets of paper ▪ Symbolic interaction sees reality not just as meaning but sees meanings as constitutive of reality itself ▪ Culture, science, society and mathematics to name a few are only as real as the meanings assigned to them ▪ Capacity of humans to project and plan their actions based on certain goals formed for the betterment of conditions ▪ ▪ The individual can be seen as an active player in the interpretation and modification of the structure’s rules and processes. ▪ Example: ▪ The Filipino word for window is “bintana” which came from Spanish word “ventana.” ▪ Spaniards: window is associated with ventilation which allows cold air to circulate around the house and the hot air to get out. ▪ Filipino: formal word is “dungawan” and something to look outside (on a place where Filipinos could socialize at) ▪ Changes over time – from”dungawan” to “bintana” ▪ Therefore, symbolic interactionism explores not just association of meanings but also the changes that occur within the association HERBERT BLUMER ▪ Human act toward things on the basis of the meanings that things have for them ▪ The meanings of things derive from social interaction ▪ These meanings are handled in and modified through an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things he or she encounters ▪ ROLE PLAY ability to perceive the object of conversation through the eyes of the other CHARLES COOLEY ▪ LOOKING GLASS SELF THEORY self is understood as that which is formed interactions, such as those done with the primary group ▪ Self- consciousness emerges through the lens of the other GEORGE HERBERT MEAD ▪ Language allows communication through which attitudes, opinions, emotions and ideas are conveyed between individuals ▪ Symbols, gestures and sounds ▪ Understand and internalize opinions CRITICISMS ▪ Lack of testability due to its focus on small group interactions ▪ Unsystematic, unreliable in analyzing empirical data and in predicting outcomes of social activities ▪ Relies on qualitative data ▪ Cooley’s development of the self is based on the person’s imagination and reflections ▪ Imagination is not always based on reality and the person might create a self-identity that is separate from reality

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