Lesson 2

• Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the concept of society and culture in anthropological and sociological perspective

  2. Describe some major characteristics of society and culture

  3. Differentiate between the various meanings of culture

  4. Appreciate the significance of culture in the society
• Society


  Derived from the Latin term “societas”, from socius, which means companion or associate. Refers to all people, collectively regarded as constituting a community of related, interdependent individuals living in a definite place, following a certain mode of life (Ariola, 2012)
• Society is a group of people with common territory, interaction, and culture (Arcinas 2016)
• Functional Definition of Society


  • Complex of groups in reciprocal relationships, interacting upon one another, enabling human organisms to carry on their life-activities and helping each person to fulfill his wishes and accomplish his interests in association with his fellows
• Structural Definition of Society

  • Total social heritage of folkways, mores and institutions; of habits, sentiments and ideals. Important aspect is the system of relationships, the pattern of the norms of interaction by which the members of the society maintain themselves
• Characteristics of Society

  • It is a social system. A social system consists of individuals interacting with each other
  • It is relatively large. The people must be socially integrated to be considered relatively large than if the people are individuall
• Reasons people live together as a society

  • For survival – No man is an island. No man can live alone. From birth to death, man always depends upon his parents and from others. The care, support, and protection given by them are important factors for survival
  • Feeling of gregariousness – Desire of people to be with other people, especially of their own culture. People flock together for emotional warmth and belongingness
  • Specialization – Teachers, businessmen, students, physicians, nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, and other professionals organize themselves into societies or associations to promote and protect their own professions
• Characteristics of Society

  • Society comprises of a group of people who share a common culture, live in a particular area and feel themselves to constitute a unified and distinct entity. Society or human society is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations such as kinship, marriage, social status, roles and social networks. By extension, society denotes the people of a region or country, sometimes even the world, taken as a whole
• Society


  A group of people living together in a definite territory, having a sense of belongingness, mutually interdependent of each other, and follow a certain way of life
• Society

  • It is a social system consisting of individuals interacting with each other
  • It is relatively large, with socially integrated people
  • It socializes its members and those from outside, teaching basic norms and expectations
  • It endures, produces, and sustains its members for generations
  • It holds its members through a common culture
  • It has a clearly-defined geographical territory
• Society


  People related to each other through persistent relations such as kinship, marriage, social status, roles, and social networks
• Society


  The people of a region or country, sometimes even the world, taken as a whole
• Society


  • It provides a system of socialization transmitting knowledge, skills, behavior patterns, values, and aspects of personality
  • It provides the basic needs of its members such as food, clothing, shelter, education, etc.
  • It regulates and controls people's behavior by ensuring conformity to prevailing norms
  • It provides the means of social participation for interaction, discussion, and problem-solving
  • It provides mutual support to its members in the form of relief and problem-solving
• Culture can be defined as the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings over time and within the environment.
• The term "culture" is derived from the Latin word cultura, which means to cultivate or develop.
• Culture refers to all that we are aware of including language, religion, customs, traditions, beliefs, arts, letters, music, learning, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of society.
• Culture is learned and shared among groups of people and passed on from generation to generation.
• Culture includes material objects and symbols, which have meaning only because they are part of a pattern of meanings established by the group.
• Culture refers to the beliefs, customs, practices, arts, morals, and other capabilities acquired by humans as members of society.
• Culture is dynamic and ever changing.
• Culture is learned and transmitted from one generation to another.
• Culture refers to all that we are aware of including language, religion, customs, traditions, beliefs, arts, music, literature, dress, cuisine, technology, morality, family life, and so on.
• Culture is transmitted through symbols, myths, rituals, ceremonies, stories, proverbs, songs, dances, and other forms of artistic expression.
• Culture is transmitted from one generation to another through various processes such as imitation, teaching, observation, and communication.
• Culture is not static but rather evolves and changes over time due to internal factors (such as technological advancements) and external factors (such as contact with other cultures).
• Culture is transmitted through social interaction and communication between individuals and generations.
• Culture is dynamic and constantly changing due to internal factors such as innovation and external factors like globalization.
• Culture encompasses everything that distinguishes one group of people from another.
• The term "culture" comes from the Latin word cultura, which means cultivation or growing something.
• Culture is dynamic and constantly changing through adaptation to new conditions and influences.
• Culture is dynamic and constantly changing.
• Culture is learned and transmitted from generation to generation.