Module 4

 Culture

Lesson 1
Introduction:

CULTURE
- as a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any
other capabilities, and habits acquired by people as members of society.
- Is derived from the Latin word cultus which means “care” – a care and attention provided to
a human person as he grows into a mature person.
- transmitted from one generation to another through language.
- cultures vary from society to another.

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE:
1. Knowledge
- total range of what has been learned or perceived as true trough experience, study or
investigation.
- it may change: truth before, error today and error before, truth today.
Types:
a. Natural Knowledge
- accumulated facts about the natural world both the biological and physical
aspects.
b. Technological Knowledge
- practicality of things such as acquiring of food or treating a disease.
c. Supernatural Knowledge
-spiritual beliefs such as witches or albularyo
d. Magical Knowledge
-laws of nature
2. Social Norms
- standards of behavior expected to be followed
- what people should do, ought to do or are expected to do under certain circumstances.
- They regulate people’s behavior in a given society; a societal prescription on how one is to
act in given situations – for example in any sport, restaurant, church, school or any place for
that matter.
- if not followed might result to punishment or sanctions (he can be ostracized)
- Types:
A. Folkways
o are customary ways of behaving which have become habitual and
repetitive. They are simply the way people usually do things.
o If the person violates the folkways, he may be regarded as weird, or
crazy but not criminal or immoral. Sanctions or punishment for violating
the folkways are: ridicule, raised eyebrows, sarcastic remarks,
disapproval, embarrassment or disapproval.

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 o Example: shaking of hands, regular bathing, drinking liquor, standing in
line, etc.
o Forms of Folkways:
a. Customs – are repetitive ways of doing things such as manner
and style of dressing, marriage ceremony, activities in eating,
birth, death burial, etc.
b. Traditions – are the ways of believing such as belief in God,
belief in afterlife, belief in superstition.
B. Mores
o Are norms that become more compulsive and necessary for the welfare
of society and take on MORAL significance.
o Example: prohibition of incest, cannibalism, abuse of children, respect of
authority, sex and marriage behavior, private ownership of property and
the 10 commandents.
o Society does not tolerate violation of the mores. Punishment in the
violation of the mores is in the form of ostracism, beating, withdrawal of
privileges, etc.
C. Law
o Formalized norms enacted by people and are enforced formally by a
special political organization. The enforcing agencies are the police,
courts and prisons, etc.
o Many mores are incorporated into law. Example: traffic laws, criminal
laws, civil laws, school laws, ordinances, etc.
D. Values
o These are abstract ideas of what is desirable, correct and good that most
members of a society share. It represents the standards we use to
evaluate the desirability of things.
o Each society has certain values that sets it apart and distinguished it from
other societies.
E. Language
o A system of symbols that have a specific and arbitrary meaning in a given
society. It is language that makes us higher than animals.
o Language makes it possible for us to learn from other’s experiences.
F. Fashion, Fads and Crazes
o Fashion – it follows a special pattern of behavior and has a direct
relationship with prestige. It lasts longer than fads and crazes.
o Fads – either in verbal on non-verbal. It eventually dies out. Example:
tattoo, piercing, “uso”, etc.
o Crazes – sometimes called rages or social epidemics. Example: hair color,
manicure, etc.

THINK!

Give one example each of the 6 types of Social Norms that

can be found in the Philippine Culture and explain why it is
considered as such.

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Lesson 2
Characteristics of Culture:

1. Learned / Acquired
- It is acquired through the senses and experiences – from the neighbors,
family, playmates, schools, churches and other agents of socialization.

2. Shared / Transmitted
- To preserve culture, it is transmitted from one generation to the next or
else it will die naturally. It is transmitted through language (oral, written
or symbolic).

3. Adaptive / Dynamic
- culture is always changing. People must be prepared and ready to
conform to these changes.

4. Cumulative
- Culture is modified and innovated to make them new and updated.

5. Ideational
- Culture is an ideal pattern of behavior which the members are expected to
follow.

6. Gratifies human needs

- Culture continues to exist if it satisfies human needs biologically and
psychologically.

7. Social
- Out of sharing ideas, culture sprouts.

8. Integration
- Some elements of culture are often integrated in the personality of
individuals and become a part of their behavior and are very difficult to
remove as they were internalized over the years.

 YOUR IDEA!

Choose 4 out of the 8 Characteristics of Culture that would

best describe the Philippine Culture and explain why.

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Lesson 3
Organizations of Culture:

1. Subculture
- They are smaller groups which are distinct from the broader society. They are
different kinds with their own beliefs, values and norms. Small culture within a
culture. They have solidarity and sense of belongingness. They also use symbols to
signify their unity.
- Example: Philippine Subgroups – Negritos, Cordillera, Muslim, Tagalogs, Ilokanos,
Pangasinense, Pampangano. Under these are also subgroups: Rich and Poor.
- “Contra – Culture” they oppose the larger society. Example: delinquents,
homosexuals, druf addicts, prostitutes, rebels which are classified under Deviant
Behavior (considered as a social problem).
2. Ethnocentrism
- They define reality from their own point of view. Also, to regard one’s culture as the
best and better than those of others.
- “center” or “superior” – People who spent their entire lives in their own society.
- Advantage: increase in one’s appreciation and commitment to one’s cultural group.
- Disadvantage: “extreme” - isolated
- Example: Americans and Tagalogs
3. Xenocentrism
- What is foreign is the best and that one’s lifestyle, products or ideas are inferior of
others.
- Example: Imported goods, prefer to live abroad, “colonial mentality”
4. Culture Shock
- When people go to other places and are confronted with a different culture of their
own, there is inability to perform natural functions.
- Example: sleeping, unable to communicate and do bodily functions.
- Disoriented and disorganized migrants
- Practices on: eating, courtships, punctuality, weddings and others.
5. Culture Relativism
- Tendency to judge the new ways as strange/immoral
- Difference in culture and practices.
- No culture is good or bad it is relative.

MODES OF ACQUIRING CULTURE

1. Imitation – children and adults alike have the tendency to imitate the values, attitudes,
language and all other things in their social environment.
2. Indoctrination / Suggestion – Formally, the person learns from the school and
informally, he may acquire those behaviors through interactions.
3. Conditioning – it can be reinforced through reward and punishment.

 YOUR IDEA!

Describe one example of Culture Shock and Culture Relativism

that you personally experience and explain why.

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Lesson 4
Filipino Cultural Values and Practices:

POSITIVE:

1. “Balikatan” System
- When an individual is confronted with a problem, everybody shares the burden of
helping the person who is in need of assistance.

2. “Bayanihan” System
- A task is effectively and easily completed if everybody shares his time, effort and
money.

3. “Pakikisama” / Conformity
- A way of yielding to the group’s unanimous or majority’s decision so as to complete
a task or else there would be disunity. Often referred to as “Magaling Makisama”.

4. Smooth Interpersonal Relationship (SIR)

- It is based on good relationship with people. SIR is characterized by the use of go-
between or middleman to act as a ‘bridge’.

5. “Pakikiramay”
- This is a sympathetic attitude to another person and it is emphasized by the
statement “di ka nag-iisa”

6. “Compadre” System
- The closeness of family ties is extended to ritual kinship to include “ninong” or
“ninang” who can help their godchildren in times of needs.

7. “Utang na Loob”
- It cannot be repaid in kind and remain outstanding throughout life.

8. Importance of Education
- Parents feel that education can bring success to their children as if it is the only
legacy they can give to their children. Parents would sacrifice comfort and spend
their money or even borrow money just so they can send their children to school.

9. Hospitality Value
- It is done by welcoming visitors with warmth and enthusiasm at home and can
promote goodwill and cooperation.

10. Fiesta Celebration

- Celebration can serve very important purposes for family, friends, work, and other
special occasions.

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Negative:

1. Indolence
- Many Filipinos are lazy, lacking of initiative and ambition. Some are parasites and are
waiting for relief or “awa”.

2. “Ningas Cogon” Attitude

- An attitude with great interest and enthusiasm in the beginning but eventually dies
down at the end.

3. “Manana Habit”
- It is the tomorrow-attitude or procrastination attitude.

4. “Bahala-na Attitude”
- a kind of Fatalism in which the person leaves everything to fate. He lets fate control
his destiny and decides his success.

5. Gambling
- Favorite past time of Filipinos like jueteng, tong-its, cara y cruz, sabong (pintakasi)
and majong.

6. “Hiya” Complex
- this is an uncomfortable feeling of being found in an unacceptable position or
uncomfortable feeling of doing something not socially acceptable, accompanied by
feeling of shame or embarrassment.

7. Amor Propio
- A Spanish term which means “self love” or “self esteem”. A feeling of hurt or insulted
whenever a person is criticized.

8. “Lagay” or “Areglo”
- A socio-political connection for some material consideration to be able to obtain
favors.

9. “Palakasan” Scheme
- It is manifested in a society where there is a strong family ties and the influence of
power and wealth.

10. The “suerte”, “tadhana”, “malas”, and “buenas” forms of fatalism

- Beliefs in fate, predestination, in horoscope and hula (fortune telling).

11. The existence of spirits, ghosts and supernatural beings

- The beliefs on the “unseen beings” still persists in our thoughts and we imagine
them to be existing.

12. The “Gaya-Gaya” practice

- It indicates lack of creativity, imitativeness, and not bringing ingenuity and
resourcefulness.

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 “No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

 YOUR ACTIVITY!

Give your Top 5 Positive and Top 5 Negative Filipino Values

that you think you possess and explain why.