Exploring Culture, Society, and Politics through one another.

Socialization is important because it allows for a nation to

continue or transmit its social, cultural, and political identity from one
the Lenses of Anthropology, Sociology and generation to another. Socialization is made possible through social
Political Science interactions, When two people interact with each other, may be
through words or actions, an exchange of culture occurs.
Politics in also greatly influenced by culture and society. Politics refers
Lesson 1 : Identify the nature, goals and perspectives of to a set of activities and actions that are used to hold power in a
Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science government. All government are keen on building up its country's
Aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intertwined economy and capability by leveraging on cultural norms and
concepts of culture, society, and politics. It explores these topics to the capitalizing on the current social system to enable macro-level growth
perspective of anthropology, sociology, and political science offering while simultaneously preserving local traditions and practices. For
students a multidisciplinary approach to critically analyzed and instance, political dynasties are a successful local practice. Many
appreciate the complexities of human societies. Filipinos prefer to vote for candidates who bear a particular surname
or who are well-known family members of previous politicians, The
Society, Politics and Culture success of this system may be attributed to the familial nature of
All countries are made up of a structured society, a political system, Filipinos, who based on culture and history, place great value in family
and a rich set of tangible and intangible cultures. In sociological terms, and camaraderie.
a society is a group of people with a shared environment, cultural
beliefs, and ways of living. On the other hand, culture is a group’s The study of culture, society, and politics are all encapsulated under
shared belief and value system that are preserved either through the larger discipline of the social sciences. Unlike the natural science
material or non-material ways. Sociologist view culture and society as that focus on scientific methodologies to predict the behavior of non-
interrelated factors in the development of a national identity. An human environmental components, social sciences are more
individual’s beliefs system is primarily influenced by their local culture concerned with the development and prediction of human behavior as
and traditions that have been usually passed down from one influenced by cultural, social, and political phenomena. This chapter
generation to another. Because every nation in the world has a unique will give focus on three major disciplines in social sciences
history and has promptly developed an organized cultural system, no anthropology, sociology, and political science.
two cultures are alike. Nevertheless, for some countries which are
geographically close to each other, similar cultural practices may still Anthropology
surmise. The study of anthropology aims to scientifically examine the behavior,
origin, social, physical, and cultural development of humans.
REMEMBER! Anthropologists seek to determine and predict human origin and
A society’s culture is not stagnant. While new cultures may arise, behavior by studying archeological excavation or artifacts and by
common cultural practices are continuously passed on through observing various living cultures worldwide.
effective social interaction. The science of anthropology peaked during the late 190 century when
the first generation of anthropologist relied on art factual evidence,
This process of immersing oneself in particular society and culture, previous writings, and travel reports to conduct archeological activities
even at birth, is called socialization. It is through socialization where and discover remnants of the past. From there, the discipline
individual adapt all aspects of society and exchange local practices to continued to grow, and several sub-disciplines began to flourish.
 Engels’s Communist Manifesto. The book considered one of the most
Sub-discipline Area of Focus Prominent Figures influential in political history, presented by Marx’s theory of society and
Physical • Primatology • Jane Goodall radical views against capitalism. From there on, sociology began to
Anthropology • Paleoanthropology (1934-) peek among social scientists.
• Human Variation • Raymond Dart Sociology is the systematic study of social interaction and society.
(Darwinian Theories) (1893-1988) Sociologist believed that understanding micro and macro-level
• Charles Darwin phenomena requires an understanding of the whole social system that
(1809-1882) are primarily influenced by interacting social institutions such as
Archeology • Prehistoric • Kathleen Kenyon
education, religion, economy, family, and government. Sociology looks
Archeology (1893-1988)
at individuals and society as inseparable components of a nation and
• Historic Archeology • Howard carter
(1874-1952) as such, both depend on each other for continuity. German sociologist
Cultural • Ethnology • Franz Boas (1858- Norbert Ellias used the term figuration to describe the simultaneous
Anthropology • Linguistic 1952) analysis of individual and society to understand social behavior.
Anthropology • Noam Chomsky
(1928-) Areas of Sociology
It can be said that social science disciplines are interrelated to one
Anthropologists gather date and information through filed works. Field another because of the nature and the core of its focus. Thus, the
works are controlled experiences of culture wherein a social scientist following are the scope that is encompassed by sociology.
experiences, first-hand, a society’s cultural practices and ways of 1. Social Organization
living. To gain valid insight and plausible formation that can be 2. Social Psychology
academically interpreted for knowledge-building and knowledge. 3. Human Ecology
Haring, anthropologist need to capitalize on three basic elements: 4. Applied Sociology
long-term residence, language competence, and participant 5. Population Studies
observation. Among the three, participant observation is the most 6. Social Change
critical. It is the process where an anthropologist participates in the 7. Sociological Theory and Research
lives of locals and tries to live as one.
Anthropology, therefore, should be understood as discipline that Political Science
should be able to observe culture naturally but not change it in the Political science has had its roots since ancient times. As early as 551-
process. The uniqueness of cultural practices and identities come from 479 BC in China through the works of Confucius) and in 300 BC in
the appropriate application of anthropological techniques and theories. India (through Kautilya), political science had garnered much attention
from ancient scholars and politicians.
Sociology Aristotle, considered to be the world's first political scientist introduced
The term “sociology” was first used in 1780 by French essayist scientific observation to the discipline, making political science more
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes in his unpublished manuscript. Over the advanced back then.
years, Auguste Comte reinvented the term to characterize the study of While political science is closely related to other social science
society n relation to the scientific method and natural science. It was discipline, especially sociology, its main tenets and arguments focus
during the mid-1800’s, however, when sociology as a discipline and as on the use and distribution of power. As such, political science could
a concept boomed through the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich be defined as a systematic and empirical study of government that
examines societal, cultural, and behavioral factors in the operation of Culture and society are not the same thing. While cultures are
government and politics. connections of behavior patterns and perceptions, societies are
Because political science is a broad filed, it has generated a number formed through interacting organisms within a group. Societies are not
of sub-fields throughout the years. just limited to humans but can be recognized to all organisms
possessing skills in interacting like schools of fish, flocks of birds, and
Sub-fields Focus hives of bees. In human societies, social interaction plays a very
important role. It is a skill needed for the survival of culture that must
Domestic Politics Public opinion, election, public
be transferred to another.
government, national and local
government units
Comparative Politics Politics between countries, Anthropological Perspectives on Culture
similarities, and differences Culture is generic term yet very difficult to define. Aside from the
between political models famous definition of Tylor on culture, scholars and social scientists
International Politics Political relationships and vary different perspective on how to properly define it. Also, because
activities between countries, of its wider scope and it encompasses everything of man, experts from
including causes of war and several field find it complicated to boxed culture into one universal
international economic policies terminology. Spencer-Oatey (2012, p.2) compiled perspectives from
Political Theory Classic and contemporary scholars about culture.
theoretical models on philosophy Matthew Arnold in his Culture and Anarchy (1867) mentioned that
and politics culture or high culture as opposed to popular culture (or folkways in an
Public Administration Role of bureaucracy, application earlier usage) is a product of a special intellectual or artistic endeavor
of political science in daily living, humans had invented.
civil service Kroeber & Kluckhohn (1952) defined that culture is composed of
Public Law Constitution, legal rights, justice
behavior (explicit and implicit) acquired and transmitted through
system, civil rights
symbols. It is a human group that includes their distinctive
Public Policy Passage and implementation of
all government- mandated achievements and embodiment in artifacts, traditional and historical
policies ideas, and formation of values. They added that culture systems can
The study of sociology, anthropology, and political science continues be considered as a product of action from conditional elements of a
to expand through empirical research practices. Current research society.
strategies highlight both qualitative and quantitative methods in Lastly, Schwartz (1992) stated that culture consists of experiences that
analyzing, describing, and interpreting human behavior and interaction are organized, learned, or created by the individuals of a population,
in terms of values, culture, belief systems, and even political including those images and images adding up their unique
ideologies. The study of this discipline, therefore, contribute greatly to interpretations transmitted from the past generations up to the future.
understanding cultural phenomena in both the historical and
technological context. Aspects of Culture
With the complexities of culture, these are some important aspects of
Lesson 2 : Anthropological and Sociological Perspectives on culture that enhance the progress of human interaction and
Culture and Society socialization.
Dynamic, Flexible, & Adaptive Culture changes constantly
 throughout the time It varies on • Clothing and Fashion • Beliefs and Traditions
the societal structure and the • Buildings and Properties • Symbols and Language
capacities of its members to • Arts and Technology • Behavior
respond. • Religion
Culture through its elements is
enjoyed by group of people who
lived together It also allows its Elements of Culture
Shared & Contested members to predict the behavior To fully comprehend the concept of culture, it is essential to
of other members, but it is no understand the different elements that comprise it. The University of
assurance that they will think Minnesota (2010) enumerated these elements:
and act similarly.
Examples in the
Culture is learned with practice Elements Definition
Philippines
Learned through socialization or through continued process It is a
Norms These are the
enculturation. lifelong process in which social
standard an expected
interaction plays a vital
behavior within a
Culture creates patterned
society. It is divided
behavior and social interactions
Patterned social interactions. into two: formal norms
that can be transmitted through
and informal norms
socialization and enculturation.
Formal Norms Pre-marital sex,
Culture to be always functioning
• Mores – they are Homosexual
must maintain its components
norms that has a firm relationships
integrated. Language must have
Integrated and at times unstable. control to moral and
all its idea and ideals intact for
ethical behavior.
the successful transmission from
• Laws – they are 1987 Constitution,
one person to another.
ordinance of reason laws
Socialization is a process of
enacted to protect the promulgated by the
learning and internalizing rules
people from the bad Philippine
Transmitted through and patterns of society
effects of outdated Government
socialization/ enculturation. (Sociological Perspective) while
mores
enculturation is a process of
Informal Mores Doing "Mano Po
learning and adopting ways.
• Folkways or Practicing
Customs they are "Bayanihan"
Types of Culture behaviors of less
Culture is primarily composed of material and non-material elements. importance yet still
Material culture includes all visible parts and tangible objects while influence our
non-material culture has intangible objects or the invisible parts. These behavior.
manifestations are always present in any given society.. Symbols These are anything A symbol of cross
Material Culture Non- Material Culture that carry a meaning refers to Christianity
recognized by people while crescent shape
• Food • Ideas and Knowledge who share a culture. is for Islam
 Values These are culturally Filipino hospitality, Members of each society must learn to adapt to their surroundings to
defined standards by resiliency, close- outlast the prevailing conditions present in their environment.
which people assess family ties, positive Karl Marx (1818-1883) had a different take on society. He postulated
desirability, goodness, outlook in life and that societies develop through class conflicts. There is always s
and beauty and that optimism struggle between the workers and the capitalist due to the exploitation
serve as broad of the latter to the former which is essential in provoking social
guidelines for social
change. The only way to end this conflict is through social revolution.
living.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) said that society is composed of
Beliefs These are specific Superstitious beliefs
harmonious elements such as individuals, organizations, and social
statements that
people hold to be institutions. These elements must perform their role in the society for
true. function effectively. Dysfunction may occur if these elements are not in
Language It refers to a form of The crossing of the state of equilibrium.
communication using fingers may refer that George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) and other scholars who
words either spoken someone is hoping conceptualized the concept of symbolic interactionism take a different
or gestured with the for good luck but in point of view on society. According to this, society can be seen in a
hands and structured Vietnam it represents micro-level that focuses on the relationships of individuals within a
with grammar, often the genitals of a society primarily centers in their communication both language and
with a writing system. female. symbols. Herbert Blumer (1969) who coined the term symbolic
Taboos These are norms that Incest, cannibalism interactionism studied how humans interact to the meanings ascribed
are crucial to a into a specific object under circumstances. Erving Goffman (1958) on
society’s moral
the other hand used dramaturgical analysis. In this approach, he used
center, involving
theater as an analogy for social interaction and recognized that people
behaviors that are
always negatively like actors and actresses, play their role and function according to it.
sanctioned Charles Horton-Cooley (1902) said that society and individuals are not
separated but are simply collective and distributive aspects of the
Sociological Perspectives on Society same thing. He theorized the concept of the looking glass self.
The term society also makes an impact to several experts in the field According to this, self-relation, or how one views oneself is not an
of social science. It made them the understanding that society is a isolated event but rather includes others. It emphasized how we
system of usages and procedures, of authority and mutual aid, of changed our identity or personality based on how others see us.
many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behavior and of Contemporary scholar such as Morris Ginsberg (1921) stated that
liberties. Their perspectives paved way modern scholars to have a society is a group of individuals bonded by specific relation or manner
better understanding on society. As the Father of Sociology Auguste of behavior which tend to differ them from individuals who have a
Comte coined the term sociology and said that society is a social different set of patterned behavior. Also, Franklin Giddings (1922)
organism possessing a harmony of structure and function, his mentioned that society is a unified itself, the organization, and the
followers were motivated to give their own perspective on this. totality of formal relations in which interacting humans are guaranteed
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) described the emerging societies as together.
societies of survival and primarily based on the concept of natural law.