UNDERSTANDING CULTURE SOCIETY AND POLITICS 1

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Saint Columban College

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
7016 Pagadian City

S T U D E N T ’ S L E A R N I N G M O D U L E

Student’s Name: ___________________________ Date: ____________________

Grade & Section:______________ Subject: SOCSCI 12

Content Standard: The learners demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives in/approaches

to the study of culture and society (i.e., comparative, historical, structural-functional, interpretive,
critical).
Performance Standard: The learners demonstrate a holistic understanding of culture and society
and appreciate the nature of culture and society from the perspectives of anthropology and
sociology.
Learning Competency: The learners can describe society and culture as a complex whole and
identify aspects of culture and society.
Learning Content: Introduction to Culture and General Filipino Values
Learning Resources: Gonzales, M.C. (2019). Understanding Culture, Society and Politics.
Makati City: Diwa Publishing
Core Values: Demonstrate curiosity and openness to explore the origins and dynamics of
culture, society and politics.

Module No. 2. – INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE Time Frame: 2 weeks

Learning Targets: At the end of the lesson, you can demonstrate holistic understanding of
culture through:
a. Defining culture as its relation to the society.
b. Identifying the characteristics of culture.
c. Identifying and raising awareness about the positive and negative Filipino values.

I. INTRODUCTION:

Panagdait sa tanang kabuhatan! Welcome to our second module! How are

you today? Hopefully you’re doing great and still excited to do the activities
in our next lesson in this subject. In this module, we will learn new things.
Have fun in learning students! If you are ready, let’s begin!

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 UNDERSTANDING CULTURE SOCIETY AND POLITICS 2

A. Motivation

Culture is everything that a person learns as a member of a society. To better

understand a society, one must learn the culture of that society. All human societies have
culture ranging from the most primitive to the most advanced because culture is the way
of life of people. Furthermore, individual personality is fashioned and influenced by the
culture of his society.

Fig. 5.1. Culture is as culture does

Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/hd3FbhWNUfYooyvg7

Answer me!
1. What is culture?
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2. Do all people have culture? Why or why not?

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B. Transition/ Linking Statements:

The classic definition of culture was given by Edward Tylor, an English

anthropologist, who stated, “Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge,
beliefs, art, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a
member of the society.”

Culture refers to man’s social and material inventions, man’s artificial or man-made
environment including the learned ways of doing things.

Culture refers to the artificial or man-made environment as well as the behavioral

aspects of man’s way of life. It provides prescriptions and proscriptions for group life
–the values, customs, norms, rules, laws, and sanctions for the deviance.

Moreover, there are a lot of definitions of culture now be ready and let us explore
more about culture.

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KEY CONCEPT
Read me!
Culture is the social heritage of a material products of such interactions
society. It refers to the customary ways in develop culture.
which groups organize their ways of
behaving, thinking and feeling and which 4. Culture is a source of gratification
It provides satisfaction of man’s
they transmit from one generation to another.
varied physiological, psychological,
In sum, culture is that complex whole social, emotional and spiritual needs.
which consists knowledge, beliefs, ideas, Humans are born into cultures that have
habits, attitudes, skills, abilities, values, values on beauty and body. As such, they
norms, art, law, morals, customs, traditions, alter their bodies to fit into the
feelings and other capabilities of man which physiological norms that are dictated by
are acquired, learned and socially transmitted culture. One of the most popular
by man from one generation to another traditions in China is that of foot binding
through language and living together as among women that ensures their potential
members of the society. for good marriage. These women are
subjected to decades of physical
CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
alteration that involves the restructuring
Based on the various definitions and of their feet to achieve “lotus feet” which
concepts of culture given above, the basic has the ideal length of about 7.5
qualities of culture are: centimeters (3 inches). The process
begins at childhood when young females’
1. Culture is learned feet are bound and broken so as to hamper
Culture is acquired through further growth. In figure 5.3 you can see
education, training and experience. A that the foot of the old woman is severely
baby is not born with knowledge, skills disfigured. This disfigurement renders
and abilities. It is not genetically women who underwent the procedure
transmitted. The knowledge, skills, crippled and unable to participate in
abilities and learned habits of the parents many social events of their communities.
cannot be transmitted to the offspring
through heredity. The process of learning
your own culture is called enculturation.

2. Culture is socially transmitted through

language
It is transmitted from one generation
to another through the medium of
Fig. 5.2. China's last 'lotus feet
language, verbal or nob-verbal through Source:https://images.app.goo.gl/WRqyHefz
gestures or signs, orally or in writing. L8cwHKkg7

3. Culture is a social product 5. Culture is adaptive

Many persons interacting with one Culture is a tool for survival that
another develop culture. Culture is a humans use in response to the pressures
product of social interaction, through the of their environment. With the use of
mutual intercommunication and response inventions and discoveries man has been
of people with one another. The patterns able to overcome his limitations to outdo
for behavior, the learned ways of doing all other animals. Through culture man
things which have become stable, and the has been able to control and harness the
inhospitable forces of nature to conform
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to his biddings. For example, the Inuits of mutual behavior customs, and ways of
the Arctic region are well-known for doing things. Thus, it is fairly easy to
building igloos, it is a dome-shaped predict the behavior of the members of a
homes that provide as their temporary particular society when they interact in
shelter during strong winter climate. particular social settings and social
During summer, they use tupiqs, which situations.
are tents made of animal skin, as their
temporary homes. Components of Culture

6. Culture is the distinctive way of life of The following elements of culture

a group of people render essential contribution to human social
The members of the society life:
has developed their unique way of life 1. Norms – these are the guidelines
that suits their needs and particular people are supposed to follow in their
situation. Although all peoples have relation with one another, they are
culture such culture differs from one shared rules that specify what is right
society to another. or wrong and the appropriate and
7. Culture is material and non-material inappropriate behavior. They indicate
Material culture, such as buildings what people should or should not do
and machines, are the products or outputs in a specific situation. They indicate
of the application of man’s knowledge the standard or propriety, morality,
and skills, which are basically non- legality and ethics of a society that are
material. covered by sanctions when violations
are made. They also enable people to
8. Culture has sanctions and controls anticipate how others will interpret
These sanctions could be formal or and respond to their words and
informal. These are the rewards for actions. Example: We are supposed to
conformity to culture but there are also be sad and depressed when a family
punishments for deviation from or member dies.
violation of the culture – the prescriptions
and proscriptions of the society. Among the social norms are:

9. Culture is stable yet dynamic a. Folkways – everyday habits,

It is preserved and accumulated, customs and traditions without
highly stable and continuous. Culture is having much thought about it.
also changing. This dynamism of culture Example, a practice of table
is due to the changing needs of humans as manners in barrio folk: bare
they interpret and survive in their hands; city folk: spoon & fork.
environment. From the clothes that we b. Mores - the compulsory values
wear to the food that we eat; culture can due to their strong moral and legal
be seen as ever changing. Culture sanctions example of this is code
changes due to number of causes like of ethics. There are two kinds of
discovery, invention, diffusion, mores, the positive and negative
colonization, and rebellion and mores. Positive mores “thou shall
revolutionary movements. behavior” this refers to the
10. Culture is an established pattern of behavior, which must and ought
behavior to be done because they are
Members of a certain society act in a ethically and morally good.
fairly uniform manner because they share Example: Giving help to the poor.
Negative mores “thou shall not

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behavior” this refers to societal ground, a factory site, or a football

prohibitions on certain acts which field, then it has become a part of
must not be done because they are culture.
not only illegal, but unethical and
immoral. Example: Murder 4. Symbols – it refers to an object,
gesture, sound, color or design that
c. Laws - formalized norms vested represents something other than itself.
People in a society must agree on the
by legitimate authority example
meanings of symbols if they have to
of this are republic acts. be understood. Man’s ability to
develop culture and transmit it
2. Ideas, Beliefs, Values
derives from human ability to
Ideas are non-material aspects manipulate symbols and to arrive at
mutually shared meanings of events.
of culture and embody man’s
In this regard, language – both oral
conception of his physical, social and and written – plays a significant role
cultural world. Example: idea of a in the development and transmission
model community, idea of an of culture. Example: Heart for love:
educated person. dove for peace

Beliefs refer to a person’s Sub-concepts related to Culture

conviction about a certain idea; it
embodies people’s perception of Culture is so complex and diverse that
reality and includes the primitive people develop certain procedures,
ideas of the universe as well as the perspectives, evaluations, and interpretations
scientist’s empirical view of the about their own culture and that of others.
world. Example: belief in spirits, People develop particular ways of looking at
belief in gravity, belief of life after culture. These perspectives include the
death. following:

Values are abstract concepts 1. Cultural Relativism

of what is important and worthwhile. According to Horton and
They are the general ideas that Hunt (1985) the concept of cultural
individuals share about what is good relativism states that cultures differ,
or bad, right or wrong, desirable and so that a cultural trait, act, or idea has
undesirable. They provide the no meaning or function by itself but
foundation that underlies a people’s has a meaning only within its cultural
entire way of life. setting.

3. Material Culture - it refers to the 2. Culture Shock

concrete and tangible object produced It refers to the feeling of
and used by man to satisfy his varied disbelief, disorganization, and
needs and wants. It ranges from frustration one experiences when he
prehistoric stone tools and weapons to encounters cultural patterns or
sophisticated and modern spaceships practices which are different from his.
and weapons of mass destruction. 3. Ethnocentrism
Artifacts refer to simple man-made It refers to the tendency to see
tools and objects such as a knapped the behaviors, beliefs, values, and
flint, which presents evidence of an norms of one’s own group as the only
ancient culture. Lundberg and Larcen right way of living and to judge others
(1958) stated that an ordinary piece of by those standards.
ground is nothing on the view point of
culture, but if it has become a burial

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4. Xenocentrism Culture consists of ideation or mental

This refers to the idea that facts which include beliefs, ideas, habits,
what is foreign is best and that one’s attitudes, skills, abilities, values, norms, art,
lifestyle, products or ideas are inferior law, morals, customs and traditions. It also
to those others. includes what man has produced (material
culture), such as machines, artifacts,
5. Noble savage mentality inventions and other man-made objects.
It refers to the evaluation of
one’s culture and that of others based Culture also provides the people with
on the romantic notion that the culture the standards or rules of living. These are
and way of life of the primitives or called the society’s norms, folkways, mores,
other simple culture is better, more laws, values, beliefs and ideas that guide the
acceptable, and more orderly. behavior of a people and which dictates what
is accepted and what is not accepted by the
6. Subculture society. In line with aforementioned let us
This refers to smaller groups now discuss about some of the Filipino
which develop norms, values, beliefs Values that we should continue to practice
and special languages which make and change some of the habits that are not
them distinct from the broader
beneficial to our daily progress.
society.
General Filipino Values
7. Counterculture
It refers to subgroups whose Studies and observations of Filipino
standards come in conflict with and beliefs and practices give the following
oppose the conventional standards of general Filipino values:
the dominant culture.
1. Bahala na.
8. Culture lag This fatalistic outlook can be viewed
It refers to the gap between in two ways. First, as a kind of fatalistic
the material and non-material culture. resignation which represents withdrawal
Material culture advances more from engagement or crisis or a shirking
rapidly and is more readily accepted from personal responsibility. Second, it
by people such that the non-material involves dependence and deep abiding
culture lags behind. faith in the supernatural spirits which will
take care of everything and will provide
9. Universal patterns of culture
good fortune for one’s struggle against
Refers to broad areas of social difficulties.
living found in all societies. They
refer to features and elements 2. Utang na loob.
common to all cultures rather than to This refers to a ‘debt of gratitude’
the special culture traits. which is difficult or almost impossible to
quantify. The Filipino feels obligated to
10. Cultural Diversity return a favour or help given to him.
Refers to differences and
variety of beliefs practices, values 3. Amor propio.
and meaning to each culture.
It is a feeling of high self-esteem and
is shown in the sensitivity of a person to
Culture is defined as a way of life of hurt feelings and insults, real or
people. It is a material and cognitive survival imagined. This is manifested in hiya,
tool for humans as they address the limits of utang na loob, and balat-sibuyas (onion
their environment. skin) predisposition, that is, overly,
sensitive feelings.

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4. Fatalism and subordinates, sometimes under the

It refers to the belief that all events are pretext of guidance and wisdom.
naturally and supernaturally
predetermined; the mental attitude of 11. Tungkulin ng panganay sa pamilya.
submission to the inevitability of the This refers to the responsibility of the
eldest child in the family to act and think
power of fate or the acceptance of one’s
fate with, stoicism or lethargy. Use of like the parents. Thus, the eldest son or
phrases such as itinalaga ng Diyos, daughter may postpone his or her
marriage or remain single just to fill up
iginuhit ng tadhana, gulong ng palad,
malas, napasubo. the role of his or her departed parents for
his or her younger brothers and sisters.
5. SIR
12. Use of intermediary or go-between.
It refers to smooth interpersonal
relationships, such as the use of polite This refers to the use of a third party
language, soft voice, gentle manner, to intercede on one’s behalf in order to
gain a favour or to assuage a bruise or
euphemisms and ambiguous expressions,
all of which are intended to avoid avoid a direct quarrel between individuals
directness or frankness. or groups.

13. Segurista attitude

6. Use of euphemisms
These are circumlocutory remarks to This refers to the predisposition to ask
or demand another of anything that would
avoid frankness; Example: Use of
expressions such as kuwan, marahil, tila demonstrate assured success. For
nga, siguro, baka nga and pipilitin ko or example: prenda muna bago utang; Kasal
muna bago siping; Your credit is good,
susubukan ko instead of a direct “no”
which may hurt the feeling of another. but we need cash.

7. Pakikisama 14. Gaya-gaya.

It refers to the Filipino imitativeness
If refers to good public relations or
the avoidance of open disagreement or which gives rise to emphasis on façade,
conflict with others. Pakikisama for palabas, pakitang-tao, pagyayabang.
national good is wanting among many 15. Pagmamay-ari
Filipinos. This is the tendency to place a high
8. Hiya or shame regard on possession and attainment.
Expressed as a positive value, this results
It refers to a painful emotion of being
disgraced or losing one’s face. The in thriftiness, to value education and
Filipino is shame-oriented; that is, his value one’s home.
major concern is social approval, 16. Pagkatitulado
acceptance by the group, and belonging The Filipino looks up to people with
to the group. high education. They value the
acquisition of titles and degrees to
9. Paggalang
It is respect toward elders and improve their lot.
superiors. It is manifested in the use of po 17. Lack of sportsmanship
and opo when talking with elder people. The Filipino places high regard in
10. Pakikialam victories or success in sports and other
This refers to the tendency of the competitive endeavors. He feels
disgraced and shamed once he loses or
elders and superiors to be officious or to
meddle in the business of their children fails. There is a tendency to sulk and offer

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all sorts of excuses for defeat, which he or doing what has been promised
considers as a dishonour. (Pagtupad sa sinabi o pangako)

18. Particularism 25. Colonial mentality

This refers to the Filipino attitude It refers to the mental attitude of
wherein he prefers to be loyal to a preferring imported goods or ideas over
particular group or center his concerns on locally made ones.
a particular group rather than the nation.
It gives rise to regionalism, nepotism; 26. Compadre system
It refers to the practice of choosing
tayo-tayo system, and the we-feeling.
well-known or powerful affluent persons
19. Filipino time to act as godparents (ninongs or ninangs)
This is an aphorism to indicate the in the wedding or baptism of one’s son or
Filipino attitude on always being late at daughter.
an appointed time or place. For the
Filipino, time is a succession of moments 27. Lakad system
It means to fix things for someone. It
without a starting point nor an end. Pinoy
starts when he wants and ends just the refers to the use of an influential third
same. party in getting things done. It leads to
palakasan system.
20. Mañana habit
It refers to procrastination, the 28. Lagay system
It refers to the practice of giving lagay
disposition of shelving off responsibility
to another day, the tendency to escape or padulas or grease money to get what
from duty and obligation as much as one wants at the earliest and fastest
possible time.
possible – It is manifested in the
expressions at saka na, mamaya na, or 29. Querida or kabit system
bukas na lang. It refers to the practice of keeping two
or more paramours, concubines, other-
21. Ningas cogon tendency
If refers to the Filipino attitude women, kabit or mistress.
towards work which has resemblance to 30. Kamag-anak system
the cogon grass. The cogon burns with It refers to the practice in government
engulfing flames at the start but instantly wherein close relatives are appointed to
dies down. The Filipino is full of energy juicy positions with or without the
and enthusiasm at the beginning of an required qualifications and experiences.
endeavor but such enthusiasm instantly
ebbs down as the work progresses. 31. Walang bigayan, walang lamangan
mentality
22. Hele-hele- bago quiere, or pakipot. Lamangan is the practice of putting
This refers to the behaviour that a one over someone else. This negates the
person initially refuses an offer even if he principle of brotherhood and equality.
or she is subjected to more prodding.
(aayaw-ayaw pero gusto) 32. Relax lang mentality
It refers to the Filipino idea where
23. Delicadeza man has to work without anxiety assuring
It means conformity to the ethical that he can twist the situation in just a
practices or expectations of the group. snap of the finger.
24. Palabra de honor 33. Pagkamatiisin
It means keeping one’s word If refers to a mental attitude of

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patient and silent suffering during times “portage,” a close friend, or one who you
of crisis and hardship. can call when need arises.

34. Crab mentality Undoubtedly, our Filipino values

It refers to the mental attitude of show the kind of people we are as can be
putting down other people to prevent deduced from our thoughts, feelings and
them from reaching the top or attaining behaviors. A good many of our values are
success. positive but still a good number of them are
negative and need to be eliminated, discarded
35. Baka – Sakali attitude or somehow re-oriented. Criticisms have
It refers to the mental attitude of been expressed and much has been written
relying on swerte or tsamba in some of about the growing deterioration of Filipino
our undertakings. We are so obsessed by values. This has been traced to be brought
this attitude that, in most cases, we do not about by an unjust social and economic
resort to deliberate and careful planning. structure, modernization and westernization,
It can also explain the Filipino penchant and too much emphasis on worldly
for gambling. materialism.
36. Status consciousness All societies have their respective cultures
It refers to the Filipino predisposition that shape and influence the individual
to value their honor and status more than personality and the society.
anything else. To many of them,
karangalan is far more important than Societies may possess different
material wealth. culture but there are common elements in
culture which are considered universal
37. High regard for women patterns. People may differ in the specifics
Women are highly regarded and but all societies have speech, material traits,
respected and relied upon when it comes and mythology, scientific knowledge and
to family, as well as politics and business others. People may have differences in
affairs. culture yet observe similar pattern in ways
and beliefs.
38. Authoritativeness
It refers to the patriarchal Values may represent ideas, objects,
nature of the Filipino family. The father customs, and principles which the members
is an authoritative figure who makes of the group uphold and use as standards for
major decisions affecting the family. behavior and represent what the group
considers desirable and of worth.
39. Fiesta syndrome
Fiesta is a celebration in honor of a The Filipino value orientation is a
town’s patron saint. The celebration is product of the mixture of influences of the
highlighted by the preparation of different races that have arrived on Philippine
sumptuous foods in every home. Many soil.
Filipinos even borrow money to spend for
the fiesta.

40. The “awa” mentality

This refers to pitying someone in the
name of charity to shield incompetence
and irregularities.

41. Bata system

It means a patronized individual, a

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II. INTERACTION:
Activity 1. True or False. Analyze the statements/situations below if they are either true or
false based on the characteristics of culture. Encircle T if the statement is True and F if otherwise.
If false, justify your answer by giving the reason at the space provided after each
statement/question.
T----F 1. Ana is an introvert person and she has been able to establish culture on her own.
If false: _______________________________________________________________________
T----F 2. Being a mute person deprives you from acquiring culture.
If false: _______________________________________________________________________
T----F 3. The material culture has already been observed or used during the primitive era.
If false: _______________________________________________________________________
T----F 4. Deviating from culture can also be a source of gratification.
If false: ______________________________________________________________________
T----F 5. Bibi, a newborn baby has already acquired some of the cultural practices of her parents.
If false: _______________________________________________________________________

Activity 2. Identification (WITH CHOICES) Below are examples of how culture is

viewed by the society. Among the alternatives, choose the correct answer by writing the letter of
your choice on the space provided before each number. You can use each option multiple times.

a. Cultural b. Culture Shock c. Ethnocentrism d. Xenocentrism

Relativism
e. Noble Savage f. Subculture g. Counterculture h. Culture Lag
Mentality
i. Universal
Patterns of
Culture

____ 1. Examples for this concept of culture are criminals, juvenile delinquents, drug addicts, and
prostitutes.
____ 2. Examples for this concept of culture are the Tagalogs, Ilokanos, Catholics and Protestants.
____ 3. Some urbanites say that rural lifestyle is better because they have simple needs and fresher
air.
____ 4. The belief in the superiority of the white race.
____ 5. When a typical religious person enters a nudist camp, he may experience shock and show
disbelief.
____ 6. Obsession for imported goods and foreign lifestyles.
____ 7. Marriage is monogamy among the Christians but polygamy among the Muslims.
Polygamy is considered immoral and sinful among the Christians but moral and appropriate among
the Muslims.
____8. A new invention is introduced before the skills to utilize it are developed.
____ 9. Examples of this concept includes speech or language, mythology, scientific knowledge,
religious practice and family.
____10. This concept of culture is related to “Colonial Mentality”

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III. INTEGRATION

A. Transfer of Learning

(Excellent! Now that you have understand the concept of CULTURE, please
complete the table below to see your progress.)

1. Why does culture consider as a tool

for survival?

2. How can culture affect one’s body?

3. What is the difference between

norms and mores? Provide example

4. What is the difference between

ethnocentrism and xenocentrism?
Provide example.

5. How does values affect our lives?

B. Reflection:

Is there a need for the re-orientation of Filipino values?

Why or why not?

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C. Closure & Synthesis:

Directions: Write a tweet of the things that you learned about the lesson. Limit your
word counts up to 30 words only. Write 2 hashtags below.

Great job! We are finally done with the module! I hope you
enjoyed learning the topic! If you have some questions send me
a message in this number 09569181127 (for Ms. EMILY
HANGCA) and 09461454058 (for Ms. ERICA BENDEBEL)
See you in our next journey!

References

Beltran, J. (2013). Sociology and Society. Metro Manila: Grandbooks Publishing.

Gonzales, M.C. (2019). Understanding Culture, Society and Politics. Makati City: Diwa Publishing

San Juan, W. & Centeno, M.L. (2011). General Sociology. Mandaluyong City: BOOKS Atbp. Publishing

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