CHAPTER : 2

LESSON 2

Society and Culture as a

complex whole
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

How do we define culture again?

"Culture ... is that complex whole which includes

knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, customs, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by a human
as a member of society.“

This is a quote from Edward Tylor who was first to

specify that culture is learned and acquired, as
opposed to being a biological trait.

This was revolutionary against the backdrop of

colonialism, racism, and social evolutionism -- the
dominant ideologies of the 19th century. His
definition is also one of the first anthropological
definitions of culture.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

As mentioned in the previous

lesson, the term culture includes
everything that a group of
people has, thinks, and does.

It is precisely the reason why

society and the culture they shared
and transmit within are a complex
whole.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

In this lesson, we target to describe

that although complex and dynamic
each society is with regards to what
it has, what it think and does, still
there are four (4) important
aspects that makes it whole
namely:
(1) beliefs, (2) values,
(3) norms, and (4) symbols.
Beliefs
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Beliefs
Beliefs are conceptions that people
accept as true about how the world
operates and where individuals fit in it.

Beliefs can be rooted in blind faith,

experience, tradition or the scientific
method.

Whatever the origin, the belief can exert

powerful influence on behavior.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

For instance in child birth, Filipinos believe that there also are
foods that should be excluded from the prenatal diet:

 squid (because it might get tangled in the woman's body and cause the
umbilical cord to wrap around the fetus's neck),

 crab (because it might cause clubbed fingers and toes),

 dark foods such as prunes and black coffee (because they might result
in a dark skinned baby), and

 taro root (because it is believed to cause the baby to have eczema or

skin problems).

 It also is believed that all of the pregnant woman's food cravings should
be immediately satisfied or the baby could be born prematurely or have
a birthmark.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Other traditional practices during pregnancy

include:
 avoidance of explicit taboos such as sitting

on steps or standing in a doorway (this could

cause the baby's head to be blocked during
passage through the birth canal),

arguing with relatives (may result in

complications or miscarriage),

andwalking over a rope (which could result in

a delayed expulsion of the placenta)
Values
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Values
Values are general and shared perception
of what is good, right, appropriate and
worthwhile, and important with regard to
modes of conduct as in the case of self-
reliance or obedience; and that which
concerns states of existence like freedom of
choice or equal opportunity. While beliefs
are conceptions about the world and how
the people in it operate, values are
conception about the world and how the
people should be.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Filipino anthropologist, Dr. Felipe LandaJocano,

Professor Emeritus at the Asian Center of the
University of the Philippines, and an authority
on the subject matter of Filipino society and
culture showed evidence that individualism is
not part of traditional Filipino culture. His
studies pointed to elements of pakikitungo
(smooth interpersonal relations), pakikisama (to
be sensitive, concerned and supportive), and
pakikiramay (to sympathize and share
sufferings).
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Dr. Jocano explained that there are three elements

that constitute the Filipino value system:
1. Halaga - It is the evaluative aspect as to what
Filipinos find most virtuous which constitute three
dimensions: (1) pagkataoor self¬worth, (2)
pakikipagkapwa-tao or dignified relationship with
others, and (3) pagkamakataoor compassion.
2. Asal - It is the expression of the evaluative aspect
of Filipino value system which constitute three
standards: (1) kapwaor relational, (2) damdaminor
emotional, and (3) dangalor honor.
3. Diwa - This refers to the kalooban or inner self
which in essence is intertwined reason and emotion.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

According to Dr, Jocano Much of

Filipino values are stirred with
emotions and concerned of their
affective end-results which maybe a
reason why Filipinos tend to always put
in their minds the concept of hiya or
shame, amorpropio or self-esteem,
delicadeza or circumspection, palabra
de honor or word of honor and
utangnaloob or debt of gratitude.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Filipino values lean towards an

orientation of having a fatalistic
outlook as manifested by
expressions like bahalana (come
what may), itinadhana ng Diyos
(God has destined), igunihit ng
tadhana (destiny) or napasubo
(forced by uncontrollable
circumstance).
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

There are observations that Filipinos also

tend to have a greater attachment on
personalities and group affiliations. Evidence
of which is shown through our loyalty and
commitment to kamag-anak (relatives),
compadre (co-sponsor in wedding or
baptism), kasamahan (colleague), kapatiran
(brotherhood in fraternity or religion). Such is
manifested in personality based politics which
often leads to problems of magnitude impact
to governance often rooted from this
patronage politics .
Norms
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Norms

All societies have guidelines that govern moral

standards and even the most routine aspects
of life. Sociologists call the written and
unwritten rules that specify the behaviors
appropriate to specific situations as norms.
Some norms are considered more important
than other norms. Accordingly, William Graham
Sumner (1907), a classical liberal American
social scientist distinguished between folkways
and mores.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

(1) Folkways- these are norms that apply to routine matters like
eating. sleeping, appearance, posture, use of appliances and relations
to various people, animals and the environment. For example, let us
consider the folkways that govern how a typical meal is eaten at
Korean dinner tables. In Korea, diners are sit at low tables with their
legs crossed. They do not pass items to one another except to small
children. Instead, they reach and stretch across one another and use
their chopsticks to lift small portions from serving bowls to individual
rice bowls or directly to their mouths. The Korean norm of table
etiquette---that is, reaching across instead of passing, having no clear
space settings, and using the same utensils to eat and to serve de-
emphasize the individual and reinforce greater importance of the
group. Perhaps this is comparable to a normal, above average Filipino
family where there is a sharing of common dishes among members of
the family. We do not necessarily use utensils and the practice is called
"kamayan". Although this practice is more common in rural areas or
when Filipinos eat outdoors with t:raditionallocal cuisines.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

(2) Mores- are norms that people define as

pivotal to the well-being of the group. Obvious
examples of mores are norms that prohibit
cannibalism or the unjust and deliberate taking of
another person's life, People who violate mores
are usually punished through imprisonment,
institutionalized, or executed. Mores are
considered final and unchangeable. In contrast,
there is considerable tolerance toward non-
conformity to a folkway, and the consequences
for violating folkways are usually minor like a
disapproving stare, whispers behind one's back,
or laughter.
Symbols
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Symbols
Symbol is any kind of physical phenomenon--- a word,
an object, a color, a sound, a feeling, an odor, a
movement, a taste to which people assign a meaning or
value (Ferrante,1995). The meaning or value is not
evident from the physical phenomenon alone. This is a
deceptively simple idea that suggests that people decide
what something means, In order to grasp this idea, you
right think about how young children question the
meaning of everything. As what we often hear from
parents "hinditalagasilamakaintindi, lahatdapatituturomo
pal (They don't understand anything, everything is
Iearnedl) Before a child acquire meanings, they must
evolve first through interactions with others.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Another example to point this is the meaning assigned to a

suntan. In the US a tan at various times represented quite
different ideas about social class. In the early 1900s wealthy
persons purposefully avoid tanning to distinguish themselves
from members of the working class such as laborers and
farmers. Pale complexion meant that they did not have to work
outdoors to make a living. Then, as the basis of the US economy
changed from agriculture to manufacturing, a large portion of
the population moved indoors to work. The meaning attached to
a pale complexion changed accordingly to represent unrelieved
indoor labor while a tan came to symbolize abundant leisure time
(Ferrante, 1995). While American girls would labor to get a
suntan skin, Filipino women on the other hand would buy
bleaching creams, products with glutathione and whitening
lotion. Dark or tan is readily associated with /I the rest" and
therefore not a sight to behold.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

ACTIVITY 1
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Identify
Define the following terms:
1. Beliefs
2. Values
3. Norms
4. Symbols
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Expound
1. Explain the three aspects of the Filipino
values system as discussed by F. Landa Jocano.
Be able to illustrate situations or relevant
examples of these three aspects. 2. Discuss
differences between folkways and mores and
illustrate the comparison through examples.
3. What are ways in which Filipinos assign
symbols to various practices like panata sa
Poong Nazarene. pabasa, and various rites like
marriage, baptism, and burial?
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Accomplish
Create using 1/8 illustration board
and simple art materials a campaign
slogan or collage promoting the
strengths of the Filipino value system.
You may want to make this as your
cover FB design as a way to promote
the strength of our culture for about a
week and start a conversation about it
among your friends.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Undertake
A. Let's Go Online!
E-Iearning activity on Expressing Filipino Nationalism:
1. Look online for the article 10 Modern Ways to Express
Filipino
Nationalism by www.OurHappySchool.com.
"
2. Read the article and other students' comments below
the web page.
3. In the comment section below the page, add at least
three (3) modern ways to express nationalism using the
hash tag #MyWayToExpressFilipinoNationalism.
4. Print screen your posted/published comment. Submit
it to your teacher.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

B.Let's Get Ready!

Turn to the next lesson,
read through it. On your
notebook, write down
three questions that will
pop out from its content.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

Evaluation
Identify what is being asked.
1. General and shared perception of what is good, right,
appropriate and worthwhile, and important with regard to
modes of conduct as in the case of self-reliance or
obedience; and that which concerns states of existence like
freedom of choice or equal opportunity.
2. Conceptions that people accept as true about how the
world operates and where individuals fit in it which can be
rooted in blind faith, experience, tradition or the scientific
method.
3. It is the evaluative aspect as to what Filipinos find most
virtuous which constitute three dimensions: (1) pagkatao or
self-worth, (2) pakikipagkapwa-tao or dignified relationship
with others, and (3) pagkamakatao or compassion.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

4. This refers to the kalooban or inner self which in essence

----
is intertwined reason and emotion.
____ 5. It is the expression of the evaluative aspect of
Filipino value system which constitute three standards: (1)
kapwa or relational, (2) damdamin or emotional, and (3)
dangalor honor.
____ 6. These are norms that apply to routine matters like
eating, sleeping, appearance, posture, use of appliances and
relations to various people, animals and the environment.
____ 7. Professor Emeritus at the Asian Center of the
University of the Philippines, and an authority on the subject
matter of Filipino society and culture showed evidence that
individualism is not part of traditional Filipino culture.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole

____ 8. Norms that people define as pivotal to

the well-being of the group. People who
violate these norms are usually punished
through imprisonment, institutionalized, or
executed.
____ 9. Any kind of physical phenomenon---
a word, an object, a color, a sound, a feeling,
an odor, a movement, a taste to which people
assign a meaning or value.
____ 10. He is a classical liberal American
social scientist distinguished between
folkways and mores.
 CHAPTER 2 lesson 2
Society and culture as a complex whole
ACTIVITY 1
 CHAPTER 2
LESSON I - DEFINING CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Accomplish
Complete the following matrix:

Sociological Strengths lveaknesses

Perspectives
on
Culture
Functionalist
Conflict
Symbolic
Interactionist
 END OF
CHAPTER 2
Lesson 2