2. TARGET
• CULTURE AND SOCIETY ARE COMPLEXLY RELATED. AS THE SOCIETY CHANGES,
CULTURE FOLLOWS AND VICE VERSA. TODAY, WE CONSIDER THE WORLD VERY
COMPLICATED, HENCE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE
INTERPLAY OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE. THESE TWO ARE FUNDAMENTALS IN
UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR, CONDUCT AND ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL
GROUPS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF GLOBALIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION.
THEREFORE, STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS AND VITAL MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ARE
EXPECTED TO VALUE THEIR ROLES IN THE SOCIETY, APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE THEY
LEARNED FROM SCHOOL, AND TRANSLATE THE GAINED KNOWLEDGE/IDEAS INTO
ACTIONS BENEFICIAL TO NATION BUILDING.
3. THIS LESSON WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION AND
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE
CONCEPTS, ASPECTS AND CHANGES IN/OF CULTURE AND SOCIETY.
AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS LESSON, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO
ANALYZE THE CONCEPTS, ASPECTS AND CHANGES IN/OF CULTURE
AND SOCIETY (UCSP11/12SPU-LB-3).
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE;
2. DESCRIBE SOME MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE;
3. DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF CULTURE WITHIN SOCIETY; AND
4. APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE IN THE SOCIETY
8. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIETY
SOCIETY COMPRISES OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON CULTURE, LIVE IN A PARTICULAR AREA AND FEEL
THEMSELVES TO CONSTITUTE A UNIFIED AND DISTINCT ENTITY. SOCIETY OR HUMAN SOCIETY IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE
RELATED TO EACH OTHER THROUGH PERSISTENT RELATIONS SUCH AS KINSHIP, MARRIAGE, SOCIAL STATUS, ROLES AND
SOCIAL NETWORKS. BY EXTENSION, SOCIETY DENOTES THE PEOPLE OF A REGION OR COUNTRY, SOMETIMES EVEN THE
WORLD, TAKEN AS A WHOLE. SOCIETY HAS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:
1. IT IS A SOCIAL SYSTEM. A SOCIAL SYSTEM CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUALS INTERACTING WITH RACH OTHER. A
SYSTEM CONSISTS OF SUB-PARTS WHEREBY A CHANGE IN ONE PART AFFECTS THE OTHER PARTS. THUS, A CHANGE
IN ONE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WILL AFFECT THE STABILITY OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM.
2. IT IS RELATIVELY LARGE. THE PEOPLE MUST BE SOCIALLY INTEGRATED TO BE CONSIDERED RELATIVELY LARGE THAN
IF THE PEOPLE ARE INDIVIDUALLY SCATTERED. THUS, THE PEOPLE IN A FAMILY, CLAN, TRIBE, NEIGHBORHOOD,
COMMUNITY ARE SOCIALLY INTEGRATED TO BE RELATIVELY LARGE IN SCOPE.
9. 3. IT SOCIALIZES ITS MEMBERS AND FROM THOSE FROM WITHOUT. SINCE MOST OF SOCIETY’S MEMBERS ARE BORN TO
IT, THEY ARE TAUGHT THE BASIC NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS. THOSE WHO COME FROM OTHER SOCIETIES, BEFORE
BEING ACCEPTED AS FUNCTIONING MEMBERS, ARE SOCIALIZED AND TAUGHT THE BASIC NORMS AND EXPECTATIONS OF
THE SOCIETY.
4. IT ENDURES, PRODUCES AND SUSTAINS ITS MEMBERS FOR GENERATIONS. FOR SOCIETY TO SURVIVE, IT MUST HAVE
THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE, ENDURE AND SUSTAIN ITS NEW MEMBERS FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL GENERATIONS. FOR
INSTANCE, IF A SOCIETY CANNOT ASSIST ITS MEMBERS DURING THEIR EXTREME CONDITIONS OF HUNGER AND
POVERTY, THAT SOCIETY WILL NOT SURVIVE LONG.
5. IT HOLDS ITS MEMBERS THROUGH A COMMON CULTURE. THE INDIVIDUALS IN A SOCIETY ARE HELD TOGETHER
BECAUSE THAT SOCIETY HAS SYMBOLS, NORMS, VALUES, PATTERNS OF INTERACTION, VISION AND MISSION THAT ARE
COMMONLY SHARED BY THE MEMBERS OF SUCH SOCIETY.
6. IT HAS CLEARLY-DEFINED GEOGRAPHICAL TERRITORY. THE MEMBERS IN A SOCIETY MUST LIVE IN A CERTAIN
SPECIFIC HABITAT OR PLACE AND HAVE A COMMON BELONGINGNESS AND SENSE OF PURPOSE.
10. MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF SOCIETY
A SOCIETY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:
1. IT PROVIDES A SYSTEM OF SOCIALIZATION. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, DOMINANT PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, MORAL
AND SOCIAL VALUES, AND ASPECTS OF PERSONALITY ARE TRANSMITTED TO EACH MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY TO THE
YOUNG. THE FAMILY, THE PEER GROUP, THE SCHOOL, THE CHURCH AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AND NON GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A ROLE IN THE INDIVIDUAL’S DEVELOPMENT.
2. IT PROVIDES THE BASIC NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS. FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, MEDICINE, EDUCATION,
TRANSPORTATIONS AND COMMUNICATION FACILITIES, AMONG OTHERS MUST BE PROVIDED BY SOCIETY TO SATISFY
THE BASIC NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS.
3. IT REGULATES AND CONTROLS PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOR. CONFORMITY TO THE PREVAILING NORMS OF CONDUCT
ENSURES SOCIAL CONTROL. THE POLICE, ARMED FORCES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND EVEN THE CHURCH AND
OTHER GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS EXIST AS MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL. PEACE AND
ORDER ARE CREATED THROUGH A SYSTEM OF NORMS AND FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS.
11. 4. IT PROVIDES THE MEANS OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION. THROUGH SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, THE
INDIVIDUALS IN A SOCIETY LEARN TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, PRESENT AND DISCUSS
THEIR CONCERNS AND SOLVE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS OR RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT AND
VALUES. THE PEOPLE ARE GIVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND
SKILLS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR FAMILY, NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY. RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATIONS (PO) AND NON-
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) DO THEIR PART IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
5. IT PROVIDES MUTUAL SUPPORT TO THE MEMBERS. MUTUAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO THE
MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IN THE FORM OF RELIEF IN ANY FORM AND SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS MET
BY THEM. THIS FORM OF ASSISTANCE MAY COME FROM THE FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, CLANS,
GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
19. DISSOLUTION OF A SOCIETY
• THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS BY WHICH A SOCIETY IS DISSOLVED: (1) WHEN THE
PEOPLE KILL EACH OTHER THROUGH CIVIL REVOLUTION; (2) WHEN AN OUTSIDE
FORCE EXTERMINATES THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY; (3) WHEN THE MEMBERS
BECOME APATHETIC AMONG THEMSELVES OR HAVE NO MORE SENSE OF
BELONGINGNESS; (4) WHEN A SMALL SOCIETY IS ABSORBED BY A STRONGER AND
LARGER SOCIETY BY MEANS OF CONQUEST OR TERRITORIAL ABSORPTION; (5)
WHEN AN EXISTING SOCIETY IS SUBMERGED IN WATER KILLING ALL THE PEOPLE
AND OTHER LIVING THINGS IN IT; OR (60 WHEN THE PEOPLE LIVING IN SUCH A
SOCIETY VOLUNTARILY ATTACH THEMSELVES TO ANOTHER EXISTING SOCIETY.
20. MEANING AND NATURE OF CULTURE
IT WAS E.B. TAYLOR WHO CONCEPTUALIZED THE DEFINITION OF CULTURE IN
1860S. ACCORDING TO HIM, CULTURE IS A COMPLEX WHOLE WHICH CONSIST OF
KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS, IDEAS, HABITS, ATTITUDES, SKILLS, ABILITIES, VALUES,
NORMS, ART, LAW, MORALS, CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS, FEELINGS AND OTHER
CAPABILITIES OF MAN WHICH ARE ACQUIRED, LEARNED AND SOCIALLY
TRANSMITTED BY MAN FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER THROUGH LANGUAGE
AND LIVING TOGETHER AS MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY (ARCINAS, 2016).
24. CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
•IN GENERAL, CULTURE IS A TERM USED BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, LIKE ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND
SOCIOLOGISTS, TO ENCOMPASS ALL THE FACETS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT EXTEND BEYOND
OUR PHYSICAL FACT. IT SIMPLY REFERS TO THE WAY WE UNDERSTAND OURSELVES BOTH AS
INDIVIDUALS AND AS MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, AND INCLUDES STORIES, RELIGION, MEDIA,
RITUALS, AND EVEN LANGUAGE ITSELF. IRRESPECTIVE OF THE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS,
CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE, IT IS
HOWEVER AGREED THAT CULTURE IS A WAY OF LIFE AND MORALITY IS A PART OF CULTURE.
PRACTICALLY ALL MODERN DEFINITIONS SHARE KEY FEATURES.
41. ETHNOCENTRISM, XENOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM AS
ORIENTATIONS IN VIEWING OTHER CULTURES CULTURAL
VARIATION IS THE DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL BEHAVIORS THAT
DIFFERENT CULTURES EXHBIT AROUND THE WORLD. WHAT MAY BE
CONSIDERED GOOD ETIQUETTE IN ONE CULTURE MAY BE
CONSIDERED BAD ETIQUETTE IN ANOTHER. IN RELATION TO THIS,
THERE ARE IMPORTANT PERCEPTIONS ON CULTURAL VARIABILITY:
ETHNOCENTRISM, XENOCENTRISM AND CULTURAL RELATIVISM.
42. ETNOCENTRISM
IS A PERCEPTION THAT ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT CULTURES DIFFER AND EACH CULTURE
DEFINES REALITY DIFFERENTLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN JUDGING ANOTHER CULTURE SOLELY BY THE
VALUES AND STANDARDS OF ONE’S OWN CULTURE (BALEÑA, ET.AL,2016). THIS IS THE TENDENCY TO
SEE AND EVALUATE OTHER CULTURES IN TERMS OF ONE’S OWN RACE, NATION OR CULTURE. THIS IS
THE FEELING OR BELIEF THAT ONE’S CULTURE IS BETTER THAN THE REST. WHEREAS, XENOCENTRISM
IS THE OPPOSITE OF ETHNOCENTRISM, THE BELIEF THAT ONE’S CULTURE IS INFERIOR COMPARED TO
OTHERS. PEOPLE ARE HIGHLY INFLUENCED BY THE CULTURE OR MANY CULTURE OUTSIDE THE REALM
OF THEIR SOCIETY. THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION. EXPOSURE TO
CULTURAL PRACTICES OF OTHERS MAY MAKE ONE INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE
PREFERENCE TO THE IDEAS, LIFESTYLE AND PRODUCTS OF OF OTHER CULTURE.
43. CULTURAL RELATIVISM
IS AN ATTEMPT TO JUDGE BEHAVIOR ACCORDING TO ITS CULTURAL CONTEXT (BALEÑA,
ET.AL,2016). IT IS A PRINCIPLE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON’S BELIEFS AND ACTIVITIES
SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY OTHERS IN TERMS OF THAT INDIVIDUAL’S OWN CULTURE. THIS
CONCEPT EMPHASIZES THE PERSPECTIVE THAT NO CULTURE IS SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER
CULTURE (ARCINAS, 2016) BECAUSE (A) DIFFERENT SOCIEITIES HAVE DIFFERENT MORAL CODE;
(B) THE MORAL CODE OF A SOCIETY DETERMINES WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG WITHIN THE
SOCIETY; (C) THERE ARE NO MORAL TRUTHS THAT HOLD FOR ALL PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES; (D) THE
MORAL CODE OF OUR OWN SOCIETY HAS NO SPECIAL STATUS, IT IS BUT ONE AMONG MANY;
AND (E) IT IS ARROGANT FOR US TO JUDGE OTHER CULTURES, SO WE HAVE TO BE TOLERANT TO
THEM.
