Module 4
Culture
Lesson 1
Introduction:
CULTURE
- as a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any
other capabilities, and habits acquired by people as members of society.
- Is derived from the Latin word cultus which means “care” – a care and attention provided to
a human person as he grows into a mature person.
- transmitted from one generation to another through language.
- cultures vary from society to another.
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE:
1. Knowledge
- total range of what has been learned or perceived as true trough experience, study or
investigation.
- it may change: truth before, error today and error before, truth today.
Types:
a. Natural Knowledge
- accumulated facts about the natural world both the biological and physical
aspects.
b. Technological Knowledge
- practicality of things such as acquiring of food or treating a disease.
c. Supernatural Knowledge
-spiritual beliefs such as witches or albularyo
d. Magical Knowledge
-laws of nature
2. Social Norms
- standards of behavior expected to be followed
- what people should do, ought to do or are expected to do under certain circumstances.
- They regulate people’s behavior in a given society; a societal prescription on how one is to
act in given situations – for example in any sport, restaurant, church, school or any place for
that matter.
- if not followed might result to punishment or sanctions (he can be ostracized)
- Types:
A. Folkways
o are customary ways of behaving which have become habitual and
repetitive. They are simply the way people usually do things.
o If the person violates the folkways, he may be regarded as weird, or
crazy but not criminal or immoral. Sanctions or punishment for violating
the folkways are: ridicule, raised eyebrows, sarcastic remarks,
disapproval, embarrassment or disapproval.
1
, o Example: shaking of hands, regular bathing, drinking liquor, standing in
line, etc.
o Forms of Folkways:
a. Customs – are repetitive ways of doing things such as manner
and style of dressing, marriage ceremony, activities in eating,
birth, death burial, etc.
b. Traditions – are the ways of believing such as belief in God,
belief in afterlife, belief in superstition.
B. Mores
o Are norms that become more compulsive and necessary for the welfare
of society and take on MORAL significance.
o Example: prohibition of incest, cannibalism, abuse of children, respect of
authority, sex and marriage behavior, private ownership of property and
the 10 commandents.
o Society does not tolerate violation of the mores. Punishment in the
violation of the mores is in the form of ostracism, beating, withdrawal of
privileges, etc.
C. Law
o Formalized norms enacted by people and are enforced formally by a
special political organization. The enforcing agencies are the police,
courts and prisons, etc.
o Many mores are incorporated into law. Example: traffic laws, criminal
laws, civil laws, school laws, ordinances, etc.
D. Values
o These are abstract ideas of what is desirable, correct and good that most
members of a society share. It represents the standards we use to
evaluate the desirability of things.
o Each society has certain values that sets it apart and distinguished it from
other societies.
E. Language
o A system of symbols that have a specific and arbitrary meaning in a given
society. It is language that makes us higher than animals.
o Language makes it possible for us to learn from other’s experiences.
F. Fashion, Fads and Crazes
o Fashion – it follows a special pattern of behavior and has a direct
relationship with prestige. It lasts longer than fads and crazes.
o Fads – either in verbal on non-verbal. It eventually dies out. Example:
tattoo, piercing, “uso”, etc.
o Crazes – sometimes called rages or social epidemics. Example: hair color,
manicure, etc.
THINK!
Give one example each of the 6 types of Social Norms that
can be found in the Philippine Culture and explain why it is
considered as such.
2
Culture
Lesson 1
Introduction:
CULTURE
- as a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any
other capabilities, and habits acquired by people as members of society.
- Is derived from the Latin word cultus which means “care” – a care and attention provided to
a human person as he grows into a mature person.
- transmitted from one generation to another through language.
- cultures vary from society to another.
ELEMENTS OF CULTURE:
1. Knowledge
- total range of what has been learned or perceived as true trough experience, study or
investigation.
- it may change: truth before, error today and error before, truth today.
Types:
a. Natural Knowledge
- accumulated facts about the natural world both the biological and physical
aspects.
b. Technological Knowledge
- practicality of things such as acquiring of food or treating a disease.
c. Supernatural Knowledge
-spiritual beliefs such as witches or albularyo
d. Magical Knowledge
-laws of nature
2. Social Norms
- standards of behavior expected to be followed
- what people should do, ought to do or are expected to do under certain circumstances.
- They regulate people’s behavior in a given society; a societal prescription on how one is to
act in given situations – for example in any sport, restaurant, church, school or any place for
that matter.
- if not followed might result to punishment or sanctions (he can be ostracized)
- Types:
A. Folkways
o are customary ways of behaving which have become habitual and
repetitive. They are simply the way people usually do things.
o If the person violates the folkways, he may be regarded as weird, or
crazy but not criminal or immoral. Sanctions or punishment for violating
the folkways are: ridicule, raised eyebrows, sarcastic remarks,
disapproval, embarrassment or disapproval.
1
, o Example: shaking of hands, regular bathing, drinking liquor, standing in
line, etc.
o Forms of Folkways:
a. Customs – are repetitive ways of doing things such as manner
and style of dressing, marriage ceremony, activities in eating,
birth, death burial, etc.
b. Traditions – are the ways of believing such as belief in God,
belief in afterlife, belief in superstition.
B. Mores
o Are norms that become more compulsive and necessary for the welfare
of society and take on MORAL significance.
o Example: prohibition of incest, cannibalism, abuse of children, respect of
authority, sex and marriage behavior, private ownership of property and
the 10 commandents.
o Society does not tolerate violation of the mores. Punishment in the
violation of the mores is in the form of ostracism, beating, withdrawal of
privileges, etc.
C. Law
o Formalized norms enacted by people and are enforced formally by a
special political organization. The enforcing agencies are the police,
courts and prisons, etc.
o Many mores are incorporated into law. Example: traffic laws, criminal
laws, civil laws, school laws, ordinances, etc.
D. Values
o These are abstract ideas of what is desirable, correct and good that most
members of a society share. It represents the standards we use to
evaluate the desirability of things.
o Each society has certain values that sets it apart and distinguished it from
other societies.
E. Language
o A system of symbols that have a specific and arbitrary meaning in a given
society. It is language that makes us higher than animals.
o Language makes it possible for us to learn from other’s experiences.
F. Fashion, Fads and Crazes
o Fashion – it follows a special pattern of behavior and has a direct
relationship with prestige. It lasts longer than fads and crazes.
o Fads – either in verbal on non-verbal. It eventually dies out. Example:
tattoo, piercing, “uso”, etc.
o Crazes – sometimes called rages or social epidemics. Example: hair color,
manicure, etc.
THINK!
Give one example each of the 6 types of Social Norms that
can be found in the Philippine Culture and explain why it is
considered as such.
2
