FACTSHEET Module 1

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS- GRADE 11
Lesson 1: Anthropology
People are really different. Our socio-economic background, political and cultural behaviour and
phenomenon vary. As the old saying goes, there are different strokes for different folks. Society across the
globe are very different. As a species, we are social beings who live out our lives in the company of other
humans. We organize ourselves into various kinds of social groupings, such as nomadic bands, villages,
cities, and countries, in which we work, trade, play, reproduce, and interact in many other ways. Unlike
other species, we combine socialization with deliberate changes in social behaviour and organization over
time. Consequently, the patterns of human society differ from place to place and era to era and across
cultures, making the social world a very complex and dynamic environment.
What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of what makes us human. Anthropologists take a broad approach to
understanding the many different aspects of the human experience, which we call holism. They consider
the past, through archaeology, to see how human groups lived hundreds or thousands of years ago and
what was important to them. They consider what makes up our biological bodies and genetics, as well as
our bones, diet, and health. Anthropologists also compare humans with other animals (most often, other
primates like monkeys and chimpanzees) to see what we have in common with them and what makes us
unique. Even though nearly all humans need the same things to survive, like food, water, and
companionship, the ways people meet these needs can be very different.
Cultural variation refers to the differences in social behaviours that different cultures exhibit around
the world. What may be considered good etiquette in one culture may be considered bad etiquette in
another.
Fields of Anthropology
1. Biological Anthropology
Biological (or physical) anthropologists carry out systematic studies of the non-cultural
aspects of humans and near-humans. Non-cultural refers to all of those biological characteristics
that are genetically inherited in contrast to learned. Near-human is a category that includes
monkeys, apes, and the other primates as well as our fossil ancestors. The primary interest of most
biological anthropologists today is human evolution--they want to learn how our ancestors changed
through time to become what we are today. Biological anthropologists also are interested in
understanding the mechanisms of evolution and genetic inheritance as well as human variation and
adaptations to different environmental stresses, such as those found at high altitudes and in
environments that have temperature extremes.
2. Cultural Anthropology
Cultural (or socio-cultural) anthropologists are interested in learning about the cultural
aspects of human societies all over the world. They usually focus their research on such things as
the social and political organizations, marriage patterns and kinship systems, subsistence and
economic patterns, and religious beliefs of different societies. Most cultural anthropologists study
contemporary societies rather than ancient ones.
3. Linguistic Anthropology
Linguistic anthropologists study the human communication process. They focus their
research on understanding such phenomena as the physiology of speech, the structure and
function of languages, social and cultural influences on speech and writing, nonverbal
communication, how languages developed over time, and how they differ from each other.
4. Archaeology
Archaeologists are interested in recovering the prehistory and early history of societies and
their cultures. They systematically uncover the evidence by excavating, dating, and analysing the
MS. JEAN ROSE G. GENTIZON
(WEEK 2)
material remains left by people in the past. Archaeologists are essentially detectives who search
through many thousands of pieces of fragmentary pots and other artefacts as well as environmental
data in order to reconstruct ancient life ways. In a sense, this makes archaeology the cultural
anthropology of the past. Archaeology is also related to biological anthropology in its use of the
same methods in excavating and analysing human skeletal remains found in archaeological sites.
Lesson 2: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state,
from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social
stability to radical change in whole societies.
The differences among the individuals on the basis of social characteristics and qualities are known
as social differences. Social differences are the complex differences and they include class, race, culture,
age, ability, sex etc. Social differences can create discrimination among the individuals on the basis of their
social characteristics. For example, if in a society, individuals with high status are given more respect and
importance as compare to the poor or homeless people then it is a social difference. Social differences can
create a lot of problems in a society because discrimination always result in inequality, inferiority complex
and other social problems.
Sociology is the systematic study of social behaviour and human groups. It focuses primarily on the
influence of social relationships upon people’s attitudes and behaviour and on how societies are
established and change.
What is the purpose of Sociology?

Sociology is a vast area of study, with hundreds of officially recognized sub fields which examine
human thought, actions, structures, and systems. Virtually every type and purpose of human thought and
activity and action is studied in one field of sociology or another. Human action and thought are on one side
of the equation. The cultural and social structures that people have around them are on the other side of
the equation. Sociology’s purpose is to understand how the cultural and social structures shape human
action and thought; and, conversely, how human action and thought shape cultural and social structures.
Lesson 3: Political Science
Political science Political Science deals extensively with the analysis of political systems, the
theoretical and practical applications to politics, and the examination of political behaviour. The Greek
thinker, Aristotle, defined political science as the study of the state. Many political scientists view
themselves as being engaged in fleshing out the connections between political events and conditions, and
by this understanding they hope to construct a system of general principles that posit the way the world of
politics works. Political science is not a standalone field and it intersects many other branches like
sociology, economics, history, anthropology, public policy among others.
Scope of Political Science

The scope of political science is vast and experts have divided the field of political science into five
sub-disciplines that are political theory, public administration, comparative politics, international relations,
and public law. The study of the matters concerning the allocation and distribution as well as the transfer of
power is one of the main preoccupations of political scientists.

(WEEK 2)
Types of Political ideologies and styles of Government
1. Absolutism- System where the rulers have unlimited control.

2. Anarchism- Society without government, laws, police or other authority. A system of self-control.
3. Aristocracy- The privilege of social class whose members possess a disproportionately large
percentage of society's wealth, prestige and political influence.
4. Autocracy- Supreme political power is in the hands of one person whose decisions are
unregulated.
5. Communism- Collective ownership and a planned economy. Each should work to their capability
and receive according to their needs.
6. Conservatism- Governmental system where the existing institutions are maintained, emphasising
free-enterprise and minimal governmental intervention.
7. Democracy- Government by the people, usually through elected representatives.
8. Dictatorship- Government by a single person with absolute control over the resources of the state.

(WEEK 2)

FACTSHEET Module 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

FACTSHEET Module 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS- GRADE 11

What is the purpose of Sociology?

Lesson 3: Political Science

Scope of Political Science

MS. JEAN ROSE G. GENTIZON

1. Absolutism- System where the rulers have unlimited control.

MS. JEAN ROSE G. GENTIZON

You might also like