INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE,

SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

Chapter 1
Identity, Culture, and Society

■ Identity is the distinctive characteristic that defines an individual or

is shared by those belonging to a particular group.
■ Identity can also be influenced by other factors such as sexual orie
ntation and gender, and nationality.
■ Identity can also change over the course of a person`s lifetime.
■ Identities are important because they shape both individual and gr
oup behavior as well as people`s niew about other people and soci
ety.
Identity, Culture, and Society

■ Culture, which is loosely defined as a society`s way of life, provides

the basis for forging identities.
■ Society refers to a group of people living in a community.
Social, Cultural, and Political Change

■ The concept of identity is related to social, cultural, and political change.

1. People`s individual and collective identities have oftentimes transformed social
order and paved the way for lasting change.
2. Rapidly-advancing technology also has profound implications for sociocultutarl a
nd political change.
3. The phenomenon of international migration has also changed Filipino identities
and beliefs.
4. This is not to say that Filipinos abroad do not have an impact on their countries
of destination. The Filipino traits are still running to their behaviors.
Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Sc
ience
Social sciences
- the disciplines under which identity, culture, society, and politics are studied c
ollectively.
Anthropology
- is the systematic study of the biological, cultural, and social aspects of man.
Social anthropology
- studies how social patters and practices and cultural variations develop acros
s different societies.
Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Sc
ience
Cultural anthropology
- studies cultural variations across different societies and examines the need to
understand each culture in its own context.
Linguistic anthropology
- studies language and discourse and how they reflect and shape different aspe
cts of human society and culture.
Biological or Physical anthropology
- studies the origins of humans as well as the interplay between social factors a
nd the processes of human evolution, adaption, and variation over time.
Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Sc
ience
Archaeology
- deals with prehistoric societies by studying their tools a
nd environment.
Sociology
- the study of human social life, groups, and society.
Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Sc
ience
Political Science
- systematic study of politics
- focuses on the fundamental values of equality, freedom, and justice and it
s processes are linked to the dynamics of conflict, resolution, and cooperation.
1.Public administration – examines how the government function and how decision
s and policies are made.
2.Political economy – evaluates the interplay between economics, politics, and law
and its implications to the varios institutions within society
3.Comparative politics – compares domestic politics and governance systems acros
s different sovereign states.