CULTURE: HUMANKIND’S IMPRINTS TO CIVILIZATION
Culture - sum of symbols, ideas, forms of expressions and material products associated with the social system
(Allan G. Johnson)
complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society (Edward Taylor)
**Society - the structure of relationships within which culture is created and shared through regularized patterns of social interaction
A.
Characteristics
1.
Culture is learned (thru education, training, experience, etc.)
2.
Culture is socially transmitted through language (verbal/non-verbal)
3.
Culture is a social product - many persons interacting with one another develop culture)
4.
Culture is adaptive – provides behavior patterns, strategies and techniques aimed at helping people adapt in a particular environment
5.
Culture shows a distinctive way of life of a group of people
6.
Culture can be material or non-material
7.
Culture has sanctions and controls
8.
Culture is stable yet dynamic
9.
Culture is an established pattern of behavior
B.
Components
1.
Norms - guidelines people are supposed to follow in their relation with one another a.
Folkways – everyday habits, customs, traditions and conventions people obey without giving much thought to the matter b.
e.g. Mano, Po/Opo. waiting in line
Mores - norms people consider vital to their well-being and most cherished values
dictate the moral conduct of the people in a society c.
Laws - formalized norms enacted by people vested with legitimate authority (GOVERNMENT) d.
Crazes - rages or social epidemics e.
Fads - shared excitement of a social group or a society towards something f.
Fashion - mainstream styles, patterns, look, brands, material, etc. that are usually worn by a lot of people at a given period of time
2.
Ideas, Beliefs and Values a.
Ideas - embody man’s conception of his physical, social and cultural world b.
Beliefs – embodies people’s perception of reality c.
Values – abstract concepts of what is important and worthwhile
3.
Material Culture - concrete and tangible objects produced and used by man to satisfy his varied needs and wants e.g. baro’t saya, bahag, tapis, musical instruments
4.
Symbols - object, gesture, sound, color or design that represents something “other than itself” a.
Symbolic Objects (e.g Philippine Eagle, Philippine Flag, religious objects, etc.) b.
Symbolic characteristics of objects

c.
Gestures, actions that have meaning in particular cultural context d.
Spoken and written words that make up language (e.g Alibata, ABAKADA, etc.)
C.
Cultural Perspectives
1.
Cultural Relativism - cultures differ so that a cultural trait, act or idea has no meaning or function by itself but has a meaning only within its cultural setting
no cultural practice is good or bad by itself
elements of a culture are viewed on their own terms and not on assumed universal standard
2.
Ethnocentrism - practice of viewing and judging someone else's culture based on the values and beliefs of one's own
3.
own culture is better than the other culture
Xenocentrism - what is foreign is best and that one’s lifestyle, products or ideas are inferior to those
4.
of others
Culture Shock - feeling of disbelief, disorganization and frustration one experiences when he encounters cultural patterns/practices which are different from his