LESSON 1
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 12:46 AM
INTRODUCTION
In this module aids you in understanding the
variations of human attributes. Although we all belong to
just one species, you may have noticed that we have
different physical characteristics, behavioral patterns, and
languages. You will learn through this module that human
identities are constructed by their affiliation and their
negotiation with established structures and system in
society.
Society in its broader sense involves social (i.e.,
actions and interactions), cultural (i.e., practices and
traditions) and political (i.e., power relations) realities. As
formal and systematic studies of society, these three facets
are referred to as the “social sciences”, also known as
“disciplines”. These disciplines may be likened to a lens,
which changes the way the wearer sees things in terms of
color, focus, and details. In other words, they change a
person’s perspectives.
Culture, Society and Politics as Conceptual Tools
Culture, society and politics are concepts. They exist in the realm of ideas and thoughts. As such, they cannot be seen or touched
and yet the influence the way we see and experience our individual and collective social beings. Concepts are created and have
been used to have firm grasp of a phenomenon. Just like any other words, concepts are initially invented as icons to capture and in
the process assist the users/inventors to describe facets of social experience in relation to the phenomena concerned. What is
interesting about concepts is that as conceptual tools, they allow us to form other concepts, or relate concepts to each other or
even deconstruct old ones and replace them with something new.
Students as Social Beings
The way we live our lives—or should we say, the way we are being steered to live our lives presupposes omnipotent forces shaping
the very fabric of our existence. The categories that we possess as individuals—labels that are ascribed or given to us individually
and collectively—are testament to the operation of these forces which leave us unsuspecting of their intrusive and punitive
implications in our lives. Our categories as male/female, rich/poor, or tall/short and even the problematic effect of the color of our
skin are evidences of the operation of these social forces. Our sociality is defined by the very categories that we possess, the
categories assigned to us by the society at large.These labels so to speak, function, as tags with which our society read our worth
and value. These categories that we possess are not natural rather they are socially constructed.
Human Cultural Variation
HUMAN CULTURE VARIATION
refers to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world. What may be considered good
etiquette in one culture may be considered bad etiquette in another.
Examples:
Religion
Ethnicity
Nationality, etc.
RELIGION
• ‘religare’a Latin word – ‘to bind together’
• is a system of beliefs and practices as well as systems of actions directed toward
entities which are above men
• is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere of the supernatural
ETHNICITY
• It is the expression of the set of cultural ideas held by a distinct ethnics or indigenous
group.
NATIONALITY
• It is the legal relationship that binds a person and a country.
USCP Page 1
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 12:46 AM
INTRODUCTION
In this module aids you in understanding the
variations of human attributes. Although we all belong to
just one species, you may have noticed that we have
different physical characteristics, behavioral patterns, and
languages. You will learn through this module that human
identities are constructed by their affiliation and their
negotiation with established structures and system in
society.
Society in its broader sense involves social (i.e.,
actions and interactions), cultural (i.e., practices and
traditions) and political (i.e., power relations) realities. As
formal and systematic studies of society, these three facets
are referred to as the “social sciences”, also known as
“disciplines”. These disciplines may be likened to a lens,
which changes the way the wearer sees things in terms of
color, focus, and details. In other words, they change a
person’s perspectives.
Culture, Society and Politics as Conceptual Tools
Culture, society and politics are concepts. They exist in the realm of ideas and thoughts. As such, they cannot be seen or touched
and yet the influence the way we see and experience our individual and collective social beings. Concepts are created and have
been used to have firm grasp of a phenomenon. Just like any other words, concepts are initially invented as icons to capture and in
the process assist the users/inventors to describe facets of social experience in relation to the phenomena concerned. What is
interesting about concepts is that as conceptual tools, they allow us to form other concepts, or relate concepts to each other or
even deconstruct old ones and replace them with something new.
Students as Social Beings
The way we live our lives—or should we say, the way we are being steered to live our lives presupposes omnipotent forces shaping
the very fabric of our existence. The categories that we possess as individuals—labels that are ascribed or given to us individually
and collectively—are testament to the operation of these forces which leave us unsuspecting of their intrusive and punitive
implications in our lives. Our categories as male/female, rich/poor, or tall/short and even the problematic effect of the color of our
skin are evidences of the operation of these social forces. Our sociality is defined by the very categories that we possess, the
categories assigned to us by the society at large.These labels so to speak, function, as tags with which our society read our worth
and value. These categories that we possess are not natural rather they are socially constructed.
Human Cultural Variation
HUMAN CULTURE VARIATION
refers to the differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world. What may be considered good
etiquette in one culture may be considered bad etiquette in another.
Examples:
Religion
Ethnicity
Nationality, etc.
RELIGION
• ‘religare’a Latin word – ‘to bind together’
• is a system of beliefs and practices as well as systems of actions directed toward
entities which are above men
• is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere of the supernatural
ETHNICITY
• It is the expression of the set of cultural ideas held by a distinct ethnics or indigenous
group.
NATIONALITY
• It is the legal relationship that binds a person and a country.
USCP Page 1
