Understanding Society and

Culture
Classic Definition of Society
 The complex whole which
encompasses beliefs, practices,
values, attitudes, laws, norms,
artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and
everything that a person learns and
shares as a member of society.
 Elements
A. Social Solidarity
B. Shared identity and culture
C. Common language
D. Large population and the ability to
sustain succeeding generations
E. Definite geographical area
F. Political, economic, social organization
 Five Major Types
 Hunting and Gathering Society
 Horticultural & Pastoral Society
 Agricultural Society
 Industrial Society
 Post-Industrialist Society
Culture
 Refersto set of beliefs, ideas, values,
practices, knowledge, history, shared
experiences, attitudes, as well as
material objects and possessions
accumulated over time and shared by
members of society.
 Two Categories
A. Material Culture – physical or tangible
objects produced
Examples: tools, paintings, weaponry, toys
B. Nonmaterial Culture – intangible
properties
Examples: Language, beliefs, values,
attitudes, ideas, and norms
 Four Vital Components
 Symbols – things that convey meaning or
represent idea
 Language – is a set of symbols that
enables members of society to
communicate verbally and nonverbally
 Values – shared ideas, norms, and
principles that provide standards that
pertain to what is right and wrong
 Norms – shared rules of conduct that
determine specific behavior among
society members.
A.Folkways – norms that may be violated
without serious consequences
B.Mores – norms with moral connotation
C.Laws – norms that are legally enacted and
enforced
 Culture and Identity Formation
Socialization – refers to the lifelong process of
forging identity through social interaction.
Enculturation – the process which an individual
learns the important aspects of his society’s
culture
Context – refers to particular circumstances of a
certain culture and is defined by location,
weather, time period, and other factors.
Society and Culture according
to the Three Disciplines
 Anthropology
 Culture  central focus if its discipline
 Provides explanations for the existence of
different cultural patterns
 Explains the similarities and differences
between different cultures
Relativistic Approach – culture is equal; no
superior or inferior
Ethnocentric Approach – one’s native culture is
superior that others
Ethnocentrism
 Diminishes or invalidates “other” ways of
life and creates a distorted view of one’s
own.

Xenocentrism
 The belief where a person consider his
culture as inferior to others.
Cultural Relativism
 Accepts the cultural differences between
societies
 Believes that every aspect of a culture can
be justified by the context in which the
culture has been formed.
Sociology
 Relates culture with the overall context of
social order.
 Different Sociological Perspective
 Structural Functionalism – operates on the
assumption that society is a stable and orderly
system.
 Conflict Theory – assumes that there is a
constant power struggle among the various
social groups.
 Symbolic Interactionism – views individual
and group behavior and social interactions as
defining features of society.
Political Science
 Examines culture as a vital aspect of
society.

Multiculturalism – an ideology that

acknowledges and promotes cultural
diversity within the society.
Cultural Sensitivity
 Advances awareness and acceptance of
cultural differences but encourages a
critical stance in dealing with issues
regarding diversity.