Society is defined as a group of people who live in the same territory and share a common culture. Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors of a group. Culture and society depend on each other - society is composed of interacting people who share the same culture, and neither could exist without the other. Culture has both material aspects like artifacts and technology, as well as non-material aspects like language, values, and norms. Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next primarily through language. Cultural diversity exists both between societies and within societies in the form of subcultures and countercultures. Attitudes towards cultural diversity range from multiculturalism which respects all cultures, to ethnocentrism which

1. Culture and Society
What is society?
 A fairly large number of people who live in the same territory, relatively
independent of people outside their area and participate in a common culture.
 A society is the largest form of human group. It consists of people who share a
common heritage and culture.
What is Culture?
 Is the shared set of values, beliefs, behavioral expectations, and artifacts that
comprise the way of life of people
Characteristics of Culture
 1. Distinguishes one group from another
 2. It gives group members a sense of “we-ness”
 3. Culture melds past and presents, synthesizing achievements and aspirations.
 4. It comprises a complete social heritage.
The Interaction of Society and Culture
 Culture and society is sometimes used interchangeably, but their precise meanings
are different. Culture refers to a SHARED WAY of Life. Society is an organized
interaction among people within a geographical or political boundary. Society is
composed of interacting people who share the same culture.
 Neither society nor culture could exist without the other.
Two basic Elements of Culture
 Ideas – Non Material Culture
 Objects- Material Culture
Material Culture
All the tangible or physical products that the members of society creates.
Two Elements of Material Culture
 1. Artifacts- The physical things that the members of a society make when they
apply their technology to the physical environment.
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2.  Artifacts maybe technologically sophisticated or technologically simple.
 It is important to remember that newer or more sophisticated is not always better.
 2. Technology - Is the body of knowledge that members of a society apply to
their physical environment to meet their survival needs.
Non Material Culture
All the non tangible or non physical products that the members of society creates.
Components of Non Material Culture
 1. Symbols
 2. Language
 3. Values
 4. Norms
a. Folkways
b. Mores
c. Laws
d. Taboos
Symbols-
 Anything that has been given representational meaning by the members of
cultural group.
 The meaning given to a single object or action may vary tremendously from
culture to culture
 The meaning of symbols can also change overtime.
Language
 The most complex symbolic system in a culture.
 Language is a system of patterned sounds, often with corresponding written
symbols, that the members of a society use to communicate their thoughts and
feelings to one another.
 Although every known culture has a spoken language some such as Huaorani of
Ecuador, have no written symbols that correspond to their vocalizations.
 Language is vital to the preservation of human societies because it is the primary
source of Cultural transmission.
Cultural Transmission
 Process by which culture is passed on from one generation to the next.
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3.  Language is vital to the preservation of human societies because it is the primary
means of cultural transmission.
Values
 Values are cultural standards or judgments of what is right, good and desirable
 Values provide guidepost for daily living in a society and may influence eve
routine activities. For example in many Asian countries, spiritual values require
that new businesses and buildings be blessed before they open to the public.
 Interestingly, values within a culture maybe contradictory.
Norms
 Are the rules of culture, they tell the members of a culture how they are expected
to behave in a given situation.
 They tell us what we should do under certain circumstances (prescriptive norms)
and what we should not do (proscriptive norms)
Types of Norms
1. Folkways - are norms with little moral significance or weaker norms. They are
the everyday customs. Violation brings only mild sanction, since adherence to
them is not considered essential to the well being of the society.
2. Mores-
 Are norms that have great moral significance.
 They carry a strong social sanction if violated because the members of a culture
consider adherence to them essential to the well-being of the society.
 Mores usually apply to everyone, everywhere, all the time.
3. Laws- Are formal mores enacted by legislative body.
4. Taboos – strongly held norms that to violate them is virtually inconceivable.
Characteristics of Norms
 1. Norms vary not only from culture to culture, but also situationally within a
single culture.
 2. Norms vary from place to place
 3. Norms change over time.
Culture shock
Anyone who feels disoriented, uncertain, out of place, or even fearful when immersed in
an unfamiliar culture.
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4. Development of Culture Around the World
1. Cultural Change
 A. Cultural lag – When changes in one dimension of culture ( typically material
culture) out space changes in another dimension of culture (typically nonmaterial
culture)
B. Discovery – finding and gaining knowledge about something not previously
recognized or understood.
C. Diffusion – the spread of one’s society’s culture to another. When members of
different society come in contact with one another, aspect of one’s society’s
culture maybe absorbed or adopted by or forced on the members of the other
society.
Sample means of diffusion
 Internet
 Mass media
 Military Conquest
 Missionary works
2. Globalization- is the worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social
movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas.
Examples:
Christmas in China
Call Centers
Cheap labors
Cultural Diversity
• Subculture- is a group within a society’s dominant culture.
It shares in some of the dominant culture’s elements, but at the same time, it
differentiates itself from the dominant culture in a specific way.
• Counter Culture - These group openly reject the dominant culture and may
try to change it in fundamental ways, or at least live alternative lifestyles
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5. Attitudes towards Cultural Diversity
Multiculturalism
 Emphasizes respect for and appreciation of the cultural contributions, practices
and experience of diverse group.
Ethnocentrism
The idea or belief that one’s own culture or ways of doing things are “right” or “best”
thus judging others’ values and practices inferior.
Xenocentrism
The idea or belief that other culture or way of life is superior than one’s own culture.
Cultural Relativism
 Refers to judging cultural practices in terms of how well it helps the members of a
society meet their survival needs.
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6. Attitudes towards Cultural Diversity
Multiculturalism
 Emphasizes respect for and appreciation of the cultural contributions, practices
and experience of diverse group.
Ethnocentrism
The idea or belief that one’s own culture or ways of doing things are “right” or “best”
thus judging others’ values and practices inferior.
Xenocentrism
The idea or belief that other culture or way of life is superior than one’s own culture.
Cultural Relativism
 Refers to judging cultural practices in terms of how well it helps the members of a
society meet their survival needs.
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