UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY ,  Ethnocentrism
AND POLITICS -diminishes or invalidates other ways of life and
 IDENTITY
-is the distinctive characteristics that defines an
individual or is shared by those belonging to a
particular group.
- people may have multiple identities depending
on the groups to which they belong.
-Identity can also change over the course of a
person’s lifetime. It is continuously shaped and
reshaped through the passage of time as well as
the overall context of one’s life cycle, including his
or her activities within the society and interaction
with other people.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTITY?
-Identities are important because they shape both
individual and group behavior as well as people’s
views about other people and society.
 CULTURE
-Believes that every aspect of a culture can be
justified.
- it allows people to understand themselves in
relation to others and provides them a lens
through which they base what is considered the
“right way” of doing things.
 SOCIETY
-refers to a group of people living in a community.
- according to Maclver and Page, it is a web of
social relationship , which is always changing.
 SOCIAL SCIENCES
-this is a disciplines under which identity, culture,
society and politics are studied.
- it also focuses on the study of human behavior.
 ANTHROPOLOGY
-it is a systematic study of the biological, cultural
and social aspects of man.
- it is derived from two Greek words “Anthropos”
which means “man” and “logos” which means to
“ study or inquiry”.
 RELATIVISTIC APPROACH
-considers cultures as equal.
- this view holds that there is no “superior “ and
“inferior” cultures, and it is unique in its own
way.
 ETHNOCENTRIC APPROACH
- is the belief that one’s native culture is superior
to other culture.
- it tends to have a negative view of other
countries and people.
creates a distorted view of one’s own.
-Evaluation of other cultures according to
preconceptions originating in the standards and
customs of one’s own culture.
 XENOCENTRISM
-efers to the desire to engage in the elements of
another culture rather than their own.
- inferior culture
 CULTURAL RELATIVISM
-recognizes and accepts the cultural differences
between societies.
-Believes that every aspect of a culture can be
justified.
-no particular therefore can claim superiority
over other cultures
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONISM
-operates on the assumption that society is a
stable and orderly system.
-consider that culture as a glue that binds society
together, leading to social order.
 SOCIOLOGY
-the study of human social life, groups and
society.
- it is an academic discipline that attempts to
provide a deeper assessment of individual and
group behavior, as well as social phenomena, by
explaining the interplay between economic,
political and social factors
 POLITICAL SCIENCE
-is the systematic study of politics.
- it describes as the activity through which people
make, preserve, and amend the general rules
under which they live.
- it focuses on the fundamental values of equality,
freedom and justice and its processes are linked
into dynamics of conflict, resolution and
cooperation.
5 MAJOR TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 HUNTING AND GATHERING
-communities date as far back as several million
years ago and were considered the first
societies.
-the basic social and economic units were
family and local clan which organized hunting
and gathering activities and distributed the
accumulated food supply.
 HORTICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES
-Their emergence was brought about by the
gradual shift from hunting and gathering
 lifestyle to sedentary life, and the introduction
of agriculture as a more stable food production.
- these societies relied on the cultivation of
plants and animals as the source of their food.
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
-food production became more efficient due to
the new methods of farming, the invention of
more advanced tools and the establishment of
permanent settlement.
 INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
-Technological advancements resulted in the
invention of machines that improved
production.
- The rise of urban centers or cities was also a
major development during this period.
 POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
-where knowledge is a commodity and
technological innovation is the key to long-
lasting growth and development.
 2 PRIMARY CATEGORIES OF CULTURE
 MATERIAL CULTURE
-is composed of the physical or tangible objects
produced, shared, and utilized within society
such as: tools, paintings, and work of arts, other
architectural styles and toys.
 NON-MATERIAL CULTURE
-It is consists of intangible properties and
elements of society that influence the patterns
of action and behavior of its members. Such as :
beliefs, values, attitudes, ideas and norms.
o DIFFERENT TYPES OF NON-MATERIAL CULTURE
 SYMBOLS
-Refers to things that convey meaning or
represent idea.
-Shaping thoughts and ideas, and defining a
society’s culture.
 LANGUAGE
-Is a set of symbols that enables members of
society to communicate verbally (spoken) and
non-verbally(written, gestures).
 VALUES
-Are shared ideas, norms and principles that
provide members of society standards that
pertain what is right or wrong or good or bad.
 NORMS
-Are shared rules of conduct that determine
specific behavior among members of society.
 3 categories of norms
I. FOLKWAYS
-Are norms that may be violated without
serious consequences.
II. MORES
-Are norms with moral connotation.
III. LAWS
-Are norms that are legally enacted and
enforced.
BECOMING A MEMBER OF A SOCIETY
 JOHN LOCKE
-A British philosopher , said that the human
mind at birth is nothing but a blank slate or
TABULA RASA.
 SOCIALIZATION
-Refers to a lifelong process of social interaction
through which people acquire their identities
and necessary survival skills in society.
- Include activities , orientation of a student to
his or her new school. Initiation of an
organization and attendance in Sunday school.
 POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION
-A process which enables the development of
citizens to function effectively within a
particular political system.
 1. INTERNALIZATION
=Refers to the process of accepting the social
norms, attitudes, roles, and values transmitted
by the people and social groups within the
society.
 2. CONTENT
=Refers to ideas, beliefs, behavior and other
information that are passed on by members of
society to the individual.
 3. PROCESS
=Refers to a methods of interaction that enable
the content to be given to the person
undergoing socialization.
 4. RESULTS
=Refers to the outcomes of socialization and are
evident when individuals begin to practice the
behaviors, attitudes and values that society
considers necessary for them to function
effectively as its members.
 5. SELF IDENTITY
=Refers to the establishment of a unique sense
of identity and an awareness of how it relates
to their society and the world.
 SOCIALIZATION AND ENCULTURATION
-It goes hand –in-hand in instilling in the
individual the accepted values, norms, and
 standards of behavior in society through social
rules on behavior and laws.
- These processes also impart social status, roles
and identity on members of society.
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION AND
ENCULTURATION
1. THE FAMILY
-Is the primary agent of socialization of an individual
upon birth throughout infancy and up to childhood.
-Parents and other family members are essential for the
early care and development of the child, the family
becomes an important venue for social engagement
and socialization.
What makes socialization in the family so important
and influential?
- Foundation for all civilized behavior: ƒ
-Language abilities (learning to talk) ƒ
-Body control (e.g., toilet training) ƒ
-Emotional control (e.g., "don't hit your sister")
-Rules of public conduct (e.g., "don't throw food")
-Moral values (e.g., "lying is a sin")
2. SCHOOLS
-Have a critical and active role in socialization ,as their
various academic and social activities mold students’
beliefs, values and attitudes.
- Schools teach students important values like,
competitiveness, cooperation, conformity, innovation,
punctuality, orderliness and respect for authority.
3.PEER GROUP
-Refer to people who share the same interests or
characteristics such as age and social background.
-Attains a sense of belonging and a shared identity with
other members of the group because of mutual
support, shared activities and common interest.
4. MASS MEDIA
-Includes forms of communication such as books,
magazine, newspaper, and other print materials, radio,
television and movies.
- It is a powerful agent of socialization which is widely
used by many institution and organizations involved in
the use of print and electronic communication.
THEORIES OF MASS MEDIA :
 PLURALIST MODEL
Portrays media as an ideological marketplace
that enhances debate and electoral choice.
 MARKET MODEL
-Suggests that media reflects the views of the
general public, and that media presents what
they think people want.
-This is seen in the television networks where
telenovelas and reality shows are dominant on
air, since these types of shows are seen by the
media owners and executives as the most
popular forms of entertainment among the
people.
 ELITE-VALUES MODEL
Recognizes media bias as a product of the
personal views of media professionals such as,
journalists, broadcasters and editors.
 DOMINANT IDEOLOGY MODEL
-Traces this bias to links between media and
the political and social life.
-Denotes the attitudes, beliefs, and ,morals
shared by the majority of the people in a given
society.
 RELIGION AND STATE
-Religion exerts a great influence on the views
of a person, legitimizes accepted practices,
provides stability to society, and can even be
source of social change.
-State participates in socialization through laws
and regulations that reinforce appropriate
behavior, and help form values and attitudes
and responsibilities.
- Has an overwhelming influence over the lives
of its citizens, society, on the other hand , also
defines certain aspects of the state.
CONFORMITY, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL
CONTROL
 CONFORMITY
refers to the process and altering one’s
thoughts and actions to adapt to the accepted
behavior within his or her group or society.
THREE TYPES CONFORMITY:
o COMPLIANCE
Refers to the outward conformity to social
pressure but privately disagreeing with it.
o IDENTIFICATION
Refers to individual adopting a certain behavior
because enables him or her to have satisfying
relationship with the members of his or her
group.
o

I
NTERNALIZATION
Ex change religion

 DEVIANCE
Describes an action or behavior that
violates social norms, including a formally
enacted rule as well as informal violations of
social norms rejecting folkways and mores.
Deviance is a behavioral disposition that is not
in conformity with an institutionalized set-up or
code of conduct. .

 STRUCTURAL STRAIN THEORY

-Robert Merton
-Argues that the tension and strain between
socially approved goals and an individuals
ability to meet them will lead to deviance.

 SUBCULTURAL VIEW
-The emergence of deviant behavior within
certain groups in society or subcultures.
-The set of values and behavior prevalent within
these groups makes them very prone to deviant
or criminal behavior.
 LABELING THEORY
-Believes that there is actually no deviance in
the society.
-Deviance only emerges when society begins
labeling certain actions as “deviant” or
“undesirable.
 CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES
-Analyzes deviance in the framework of
competing interests between social groups and
the maintenance of power among the elite.
-This view considers concepts of deviance as a
reflection of society’s inequalities as those who
are less powerful in the society or minorities
are most likely to be considered as deviants or
criminals.