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CULTURE

Culture -It is that complex whole which includes knowledge belief, art, law, morals custom and other
capabilities and habit acquired by man as a member of society. (Edward Taylor)
-It is the complex whole that consists of all the ways we think and do and everything we have as member of
society. (Robert Bierstadt)
-The realm of styles of values of emotional attachments of intellectual adventures. (MacIver and Page)
- Therefore, culture defines as the sum total of behaviour traits which a person, comes to acquire through
instruction and learning.

FUNCTIONS OF CULTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE


Culture defines situations. Culture is learned. Culture is transmitted.
Culture is the treasury of knowledge. Culture is social and collective.
Culture provides behaviour patterns. Culture is ideational. Culture is gratifying.
Culture defines attitudes, values and goals. Culture is adaptive.
Culture models personality. Culture is an integrated whole.
Culture decides our careers. Culture is shared.
COMPONENTS OF CULTURE

A. Knowledge - the total range of what has been or perceived as true. It includes:
1. Natural knowledge the accumulated facts about the natural world, including both the biological and
physical aspects.
2. Technological knowledge these are useful in dealing practical problems.
3. Supernatural knowledge the perception about the actions of gods, demons, angels or spirits.
4. Magical knowledge perceptions about the methods of influencing supernatural events by
manipulating certain laws of nature.
B. Norms It pertains to societys standards of propriety, morality, ethics and legality. Some examples
are: eating, talking, dressing, cooking, courtship, child rearing, working, spending leisure time and some
special occasions. -It was divided into three: folkways, mores and laws.
1. Folkways are commonly known as the customs, traditions, and conventions of society. Example: In
the Tagalog areas, people eat three times a day with merienda in the afternoon.
2. Mores - norms people consider vital to their well being and most cherished values; they are special
customs with moral and ethical significance, which are strongly held and emphasized. Kinds of Mores
2.1 Positive mores/Duty - it refers to the behavior, which must and ought to be done because they
are ethically and morally good. E.g. Giving assistance to the poor and needy.
2.2 Negative mores/Taboo - it refers to societal prohibitions on certain acts which must not be
done because they are not only illegal, but amoral and unethical. E.g. incest, rape, cannibalism, murder
etc
3. Laws - these are formalized norms enacted by people vested with legitimate authority. They are group
expectations, which have formal sanction by the state. Examples: Republic Acts, Revised Penal Code of
the Philippines
C. Ideas, Beliefs and Values
1. Ideas - the non-materials aspects of culture and embody mans conception of his physical and cultural
world. E.g. idea of a marriage, an educated person
2. Beliefs - the persons conviction about a certain idea, it embodies peoples perception of reality and
includes the primitive ideas of the universe as well as the scientists empirical view of the world. E.g.
spirits, life after death, superstitions
3. Values - abstract concept of what is important and worthwhile. E.g. nationalism, heroism
D. Material Culture - the concrete and tangible objects produced and used by man to satisfy his varied
needs and wants. It ranges from the pre-historic stone tools and weapons to sophisticated and modern
spaceships and weapons of mass destruction. E.g. artifacts (simple man-made tools and objects such as
knapped flint, which presents evidence of an ancient culture).
E. Symbols - refers to an object, gesture, sound, color or design that represent something other than
itself . E.g. Cross for Christianity, Dove for peace.

ASPECTS OF CULTURE
1. Cultural Relativism - states that cultures differ, so that a cultural act trait, act, idea has no meaning
or function by itself, but has a meaning only within its cultural setting.
2. Culture Shock - the feeling of disbelief, disorganization and frustration one experiences when he
encounters cultural patters or practices which are different from his.
3. Ethnocentrism - the tendency to see the behaviors, beliefs, values, and norms of ones owns group
as the only right way of living and to judge other by those standards.
4. Xenocentrism - the idea that what is foreign is best and that ones lifestyle, products or ideas are
inferior to those others.
5. Noble Savage Mentality - the evaluation of ones culture that of others based on the romantic notion
that the culture and way of life of the primitives or other simple cultures is better, more acceptable,
and more orderly.
6. Subculture - the smaller group which develop norms, values, beliefs and special languages which
make them distinct from the broader society. Counterculture or contra-culture - the subgroups whose
standards come in conflict with and oppose the conventional standards of the dominant culture.
7. Culture Lag - the gap between the material and non- material culture.
8. Cultural Diversity - the differences and variety of beliefs practices, values and meanings to each
culture universal by the members of a society or by different cultural group.
9. Universal Patterns of Culture - the broad areas of social living found in all societies. The features
and elements common to all cultures rather than to the special culture traits.

PHILIPPINE VALUES
INCONSISTENCY AND CONFLICT
A) Affective a persons choice is prized and cherished, and the person publicly affirms it. (e.g. ones
valuing his/her professions, but not saying teacher langpoako)

B) Behavioural if ones values something, he or she shows this in his or her actions, acts positively
about it, and does it habitually. (e.g. values honestly does not cheat because it is he right thing to do not
because someone is watching)

C) Cognitive something that ones values should be chosen freely from alternatives after careful
thought. (e.g. A woman who decides to marry must have a good reason in doing so.)

BASIC FILIPINO VALUES


Emotional closeness and security in a family, however it tends to make the Filipino a nation of
dependent people.
Approval from authority and of society. Patience, endurance and suffering.
Economic and social betterment. This can be considered a positive value, but negates itself if one
goes to the extent of selling oneself and sacrificing other values.

KEY VALUES THAT DOMINATE IN PHILIPPINE WAY OF LIFE

1. Non-rationalism - States that the people have to adapt themselves to nature and the forces outside
themselves.
2. Rationalism - The belief that one can actively control and manipulate his or her destiny by systematic
planning, studying, and training.
3. Personalism - It attach to the major importance to personal factors which guarantees intimacy,
warmth and security of kinship, and friendship in getting things done.
4. Interpersonalism- The tendency to eliminate the influence the friendship or kinship in working
situation.
5. Particularism - A person concerns is centred on subgroups made up of relatives, friends,
colleagues, associates, religious affiliates of his/her ethnical regional group.
6. Universalism- A persons concern is the advancement of the collective national good. - Legal rules
7. Filipino Nationalism -The advocacy of making ones own nation distinct and separate from others in
the intellectual, social, cultural, economic, political, and moral matters. It is the feeling of oneness
among the nationals who seek to establish the identity and the good of the nation in these matters.

Reference: Almario, Instructor at PanPacific University North Philippines Follow, M. (2015, July 09).
Society, Culture and Family Planning with Population Education.

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