UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

Culture Shock
Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel when
experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new
country, or to a move between social environments. One of the most
common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign country.
There is no true way to entirely prevent culture shock, as individuals in any
society are personally affected by cultural contrasts differently.

The Filipino Values and Practices

The Philippines has unique cultural and historical development. Due
to its various influences, Filipino personality is a byproduct of the
confluence of socio-cultural, political and religious perspectives of different
nationalities. Hence, a Filipino of today is the “unity of Asian, American and
European cultural influences”. Let us then try to understand who the
Filipino is by examining some of the positive and negative traits of the
Filipinos.
Positive Values

 Pakikipagkapwa – tao.
It refers to Filipinos’ openness to others especially to their
friends and relatives. They value relationship which entails a
sense of belongingness with deep personal concern.
 Family-Oriented.
Filipinos valued most their loved ones. The family is one
of the major reasons for their triumphs and sacrifices and
source of name, support and security.

 Joy and Humor.

Filipinos manifest a sense of humor whether in bad times
or good times. No matter how difficult the situation a Filipino
will try to find its brighter side.
 Generosity and Helpfulness.
Filipinos’ willingness to share what they have and help
those in need are clearly shown in times of trials and
difficulties.
 Strong Work Ethic.
One of the best assets of Filipinos is being hard-working
people. This is the reason why employers abroad have high
respect to Overseas Filipino Workers.

1
  Faith and Religiosity.
Filipinos are known for strong religious faith which are
manifested in devotions, attending prayer meetings and
religious services.
 Ability to survive.
Filipinos could endure through difficult times. They are
resilient and have the will power to overcome trials and
challenges in life.
Negative Values
 Crab mentality.
It refers to pushing each other down to clear the way for
personal gain. This is most evident during election time or when
there is competition for promotion among colleagues.
 Extreme family-centeredness.
The breadwinner of the family has tendency to support
one’s family at all cost even if it means committing illegal and
immoral acts.
 Lack of Discipline.
Filipinos have relaxed attitude towards time that’s why we
have the so-called “Filipino Time”, which actually deviates from
its original meaning of being early as what the early Filipino
farmers exemplified. Lack of discipline is also observable in
violating traffic rules.
 Colonial Mentality.
Filipinos tend to prefer foreign products instead of
patronizing Filipino-made. We have the stigma to look at foreign
products and talents as superior to our own.
 Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection.
We have the tendency to be superficial in the face of
serious problems. Oftentimes, we give emphasis on form rather
than substance.

Social Symbols and Practices

A social symbol is an external or visible indicator of one’s social
position or economic status. It has the function to “facilitate the
transmission of culture from group to group, facilitate preservation and
promote the harmony of the group”. The following are examples of social
symbols and practices.

 Material possessions: In a commercial society, wealth and money are

considered status symbols. Other forms of material things such
luxury cars, mansion and expensive jewelries are under this category

2
  Societal recognition: A uniform symbolizes membership or rank in an
organization. It also represents one’s honor and identity such as the
military symbol of excellence.
 Symbol of love: The heart shape is a symbol that expresses the “heart”
in its symbolic sense as the center of emotion. We normally use this
symbol during Valentine’s Day or even in occasion that expresses love.
 Symbol of peace: The Christians used symbolically the dove for peace
symbol as the peace Christ has given them through the power Holy
Spirit. As believers of Christ, they are always challenged to live and
share the same spirit of peace to others.
 Flag symbol: It represents a particular nation. The design and color
depict meanings which are rooted in cultural and historical
significance. In the case of Filipinos, Philippine flag is the nation’s
emblem for liberty, equality and patriotism.
 Symbol of friendship: In many countries, handshake expresses
gratitude or congratulations. It can also mean a sign of good
sportsmanship in a competition.
 Symbol of wedding: wedding ring is considered as a symbol of love and
commitment. This is usually worn by engaged and wedded couple.

Agents of Socialization
Socialization is a lifelong social experience which begins from birth
and ends at one’s death. There are different agents that have significant
contribution in the socialization process. These includes family, school,
church, peer group, and mass media. The family, being the basic unit of
society is the first setting of socialization which has a great and most
important impact on the attitudes and the behavior of a person that play an
important role in the development and socialization of a child. It provides
initial human behavior patterns and initial interpersonal relationships.
The school on one hand, is where a person learns basic to complex
numeracy and literacy skills. Through it, one will learn different knowledge
and skills needed for later life and will also be exposed to greater social
diversity. Socialization in school may prompt students to being even more
politically mindful in their life that will affect how they associate or interact
as grown-ups in the future.
On the other hand, peer group are those considered as your friends,
best friends, ‘barkada’ or clique because you have the same age, interest,
social status, or background. Teachers and student are not peers because
they play different roles and experiences. Peers have great impact on the
social life of a person especially during the stage of adolescence for they tend
to spend more time with their peers and with less adult supervision.
Teenagers tend to change their personality based on how others want them

3
to be and aspire to join peer groups that will accept them even if these were
involved in negative activities.
Meanwhile, mass or social media has been the most and sometimes
abused agent of socialization. In this modern society where computer
becomes one of the basic necessities and technologies become part of daily
activities, mass or social media plays significant role in expanding the
socialization capability of a person. One can socialize even outside his/her
own place or country. A massive exchange of cultures, views, perspectives,
and beliefs happens because of such mediums. Culture encompasses the
values and norms while socialization teaches how to apply those cultural
values and norms in everyday life. The way a person deals with others has
been changed throughout time as he/she continues to be exposed
himself/herself to diverse cultures and settings through the different mass
and social media.
Furthermore, socialization being a process of preparing individuals to
become members of a given society, they get to learn the norms and values
set by such society. Values are the standards of living based on its own
cultural context, it is the way of deciding what are good, pleasing, desirable
and acceptable ways, actions or behaviors that served as significant guide
on how they should live their life in harmony with others. Norms, on the
other hand, are the rules and expectations that serve as a society’s guide on
the behavior of its members. It may be defined also as the pattern of
behavior and internalized values which is very important in keeping social
order. Norms may be prescriptive (encouraging positive behavior; for
example, “be honest,” be punctual”) or proscriptive (discouraging negative
behavior; for example, “do not cheat”).
As a person socialize with others – from his/her own family,
neighbors, peers, and the like – from its birth to adulthood, he/she get to
understand and possess these two concepts. Following such, can make
his/her social life in harmony with others that promotes acceptance and
belongingness within his/her own social group or society.
Moreover, according to Sociologists, socialization prepares individuals
to occupy statuses and roles. Status refers to the social position that a
person may hold in relation to another or others, especially about social or
professional standing. For instance, a woman may have the status of being
a mother in her family. Due to this status, she is required to satisfy a part
for her kids (in Philippine setting) to support, instruct, guide, and care them.
Of course, same goes to a father who usually have complementary roles.
There are two types of status, the ascribed status and achieved status.
Ascribed status refers to the kind of social position a person receives at
birth or take on involuntarily later in life. Example of suchs status is being a
Filipino, a daughter, or a widow or widower. Another example is a kid who
becomes rich even right after being born because his/her parents are
already rich. Similarly, a kid becomes instant celebrity without going
through a screening or audition because his/her parents are already known

4
celebrities. Or shall we say, Prince Harry become a prince because he
belongs to the Royal Family. Whereas, achieved status is a social position
where a person takes hold voluntarily because of his/her own personal
effort, ability, or capability. For example, you become an honor student in
the class because you have studied very hard. Being an honor student do
not come along your birth or given to you involuntarily. You need to work
hard for to achieve it. Another is Manny Pacquiao who become rich because
of his hard work and dedication to his boxing career. Moreover, to be a
professional like teacher, nurse, doctor, engineer, politician, athlete, writer,
broadcaster, etc. is achieved status in life.
Meanwhile, role refers to a behavior expected for someone who holds
a particular status. Each person plays different roles in life depending on
his/her social status. How an individual plays role based on his/her status
will affect his/her interaction with others that matters most in the
development of his/her social skills and life.
LESSON 7: FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Types of Social Groups
Social groups vary in the structure, size, purpose, quality of
interaction or mixture of all attributes. These can be seen in the following
classifications:

1. The Primary Group and Secondary Group

Primary group is characterized by intimacy, personalized interaction,
stable and profound interpersonal relationship (Ramos & Fernandez, 2012).
Members cultivate good relationship, experience sense of belongingness and
strive to realize the interest of the group. Yet, social control is informal.
Typically, family is the best example of this type of group. Family usually
nurture care and love to its member. Further, persistence and sustenance
depend on each member’s collective effort and concern for one another.
While secondary group is characterized by imposed form of
conformity that should be observed by each member. Members focus on the
attainment of institutional targets and endeavors rather building a personal
relationship. These attributes may be seen in the business organization,
government offices, educational institution, and religious organization
(Panopio, Macdonald & Raymundo, 1995). However, a secondary group may
eventually become a primary group because the members may develop
genuine friendship, bonding and loyalty as time goes by.

5
2. In-group and out-group
In group is a type of group that nurtures individuals’ sense of
belongingness in the group. It creates genuine friendship, good rapport and
profound devotion to the group. It also promotes the kind of “we” feeling
(Ramos & Fernandez, 2012). Family, relatives, close friends can be
considered as in-group.
While out-group characterized by individuality, insignificance,
discomfort and resentment (Panopio, Macdonald & Raymundo, 1995). Out
group attitude displays from disliking to hating one another. The “they”
feeling is highly observable (Ramos & Fernandez, 2012). The out group may
include sports rivals, gangs, different religious and ethnics groups, and
antagonistic workmates and superiors.

3. Reference group
It is the type of group that is considered as symbolic reference group
of an individual (Panopio, Macdonald & Raymundo, 1995). It becomes the
basis and source of organizing his or her perception, life experience and
outlook in life. Hence, it develops the reference of comparing, contrasting
and evaluating individual’s appearance and performance. For instance, if
someone has an extraordinary cognitive capacities, distinctive passion,
exceptional attributes or talents, she or he will be considered as “role model”
or “idol” (Ramos & Fernandez, 2012).
4. Formal group and Informal group
Formal group is purposely formed, and its purpose and target are
deliberately defined (Ramos & Fernandez, 2012). The scheme of
interpersonal relationship is highly formalized. There are people who should
possess organizational authority in order to systematize the group.
Individuals’ job or task is based on their personal capacities. This type of
group is typically existing in highly industrialized entities and in complex
type of social institution such schools, religious congregations, government
offices, economic associations, law enforcement agencies, political parties,
etc.
While an informal group ascends extemporaneously out from the
unprompted interaction made by members of a certain group (Panopio,
Macdonald & Raymundo, 1995). There is no certain rule to be observed and
does not have any institutional targets to be attained by each member.
Members share sense of belongingness, warm care, genuine trust and
sudden confidence.