Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education – Region III Central Luzon

DIVISION OF CITY OF SAN FERNANDO

Self-Instructional Packets (SIPacks)

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics
WEEK 3
A. Content Standards:
The learners demonstrate an understanding of:
1. culture and society as anthropological and sociological concepts
2. perspectives in/approaches to the study of culture and society (i.e., comparative, historical,
structural functional, interpretive, critical)

B. Performance Standards:
The learners:
1. appreciate the nature of culture and society from the perspectives of anthropology and sociology
2. demonstrate a holistic understanding of culture and society
3. values cultural heritage and express pride of place without being ethnocentric

C. Most Essential Learning Competencies:

MELC No.3: Explain the importance of cultural relativism in attaining cultural understanding

Lesson/Topic: Cultural Relativism in Attaining Cultural Understanding

References:
Mempin, Ricky M. ADM-SLM Module 3 Cultural Relativism in Cultural Understanding. DepEd Region 3
Abulencia, A. S., Parernal, R. S., Social Dynamics. A worktext on Understanding Culture Society and Politics. Brilliant creation
Publishing, Inc.2016.
Aguilar, M. V. G., et. al. Society, Culture and Politics. An Introductory Text for Senior High School. Phoenix Publishing House.
2016. Baleña, E. D., Lucero, D. M., Peralta, A. M. Understanding Culture, Society and Politics. Cubao, Quezon City. Educational
Resources Corporation. 2016.
Our Lady of Fatima University.Understanding Culture, Society and Politics Workbook for Senior High School. 2016.
Erin Long-Crowell. Perceptions of Culture: Ideal Culture and Real Culture, Ethnocentrism, & Culture Relativism. Retrived from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/perceptions-of-culture-idealcultureand-real-culture-ethnocentrism-culture-relativism.html
In Touch Community Services Providing CouselinginthePhilippines.Retrievefrom https://www.in-touch.org/covid-19-community

D. Objectives
1. demonstrate understanding of the uniqueness of each society and culture;
2. value cultural heritage and express pride of place without being ethnocentric; and
3. become aware of why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism.

Procedure:
A. Reviewing previous lesson or presenting the new lesson
Directions: Identify the cultural elements of the Kapampangans and the Cebuanos then answer the
following guide questions.

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Guide Questions:

1. What are the similarities and differences of the Kapampangans and Cebuanos?
2. What are your perceptions about the Kapampangans? Is your perceptions about them are true? Why or why
not?
3. What are your perceptions about the Cebuanos? Is your perceptions about them are true? Why or why not?

B. Establishing the purpose of the lesson

Pandemic Alert!

Empowering Community The fear, anxiety, grief and worry during and after a stressful situation can be
overwhelming to people and the community. But out of crisis comes an outpouring of response to provide
support for mental and well-being of those who are vulnerable and people in the frontlines during and after
the COVID-19 outbreak.

It is hard to fight a battle when you cannot see the enemy. This is what makes everything so hard in this
crisis we face. The lawmakers are lost with what to do. It’s a hit & miss situation when it comes to
implementing guidelines. But there are so many people affected with the loss of jobs, the inability to earn a
living, dependence in government subsidy and resources, which is so finite and scarce. So the vulnerable
population has grown even more vulnerable and now, even the middle class are affected. As a humanitarian
responder, I know I have to do something and I know I can do more. Quarantine is not a hindrance.

What gives you hope: My faith in God keeps me going. I know that I have a God greater than all of these
elements put together. My love for Him inspires and pushes me to do my work and do this for others.

Believing also in the strength of local communities and partners gives me hope. Knowing that they are also
willing to be part of the solution. Helping the duty bearers by sharing the feedback of the vulnerable sectors.

The idea of being able to help means I am able to affect others too. I feel good and I am able to breathe
better knowing I can continue to help as much as I can.

My advice: Keep hope alive. Patuloy na ipakalat ang pag-asa!

H – Hope in love for others
O – Offer whatever help you can give
P – Provide exhortation to my fellow humanitarian worker
E – Encourage innovative solutions

Describe how culture affects the way of living of people in a society during pandemic.
______________________________________________________________________________________

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C. Presenting examples/instances of the new lesson
All cultures in the world project similarities. Sociologists enumerate an extensive list of these similarities
such as speech, language, art, cooking, eating, courting and a host of other.

The Primary Causes of Cultural Similarities

a. Biological Similarities - this means that all people in the world have the same biological needs, namely
food, clothing, shelter and health care.

b. Necessary Pre-requisites for Social Being - society must fulfill some requirements in order to function,
such as replacing members, teaching new members to participate and the need to have participation in
production and distribution.

c. Psychic Unity of Mankind - all human beings are alike in having similar ranges of emotion - the need for
love, security and language.

d. Geographical Environment - the geographical environment is characterized by certain limitations such as

limited food, limited source of energy, and other delimiting factors of the people’s environment. Every society
in the world is unique from one another.

Everyone has his/her own cultural practices, values and interests. Each culture has its distinct features and
characteristics. This is socially called cultural diversity. These differences in culture can be attributed to the
following factors:

a. Though men all over the world have the same biological needs, they differ in ways in meeting them. Each
culture adapts to its environment.
b. Differences in geographical characteristics like climate, topography or social condition
c. The absence or presence of natural resources

D. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills #1

Culture is a social construct that is sometimes used interchangeably with society. Though these concepts
are interrelated and interdependent since the absence of one is also the absence of the other, the two are
not the same.
A society is a group of people bound together in a more or less permanent association organized for
collective activity. Moreover, it is made up of interacting individuals, using shared cultures. Horton and
Hunt define society as a relatively independent, self-perpetuating group of human beings who occupy a
territory, share a culture and have the most with their associations within this group.

Culture is a system of shared behavior while a society is a group of people who share a common culture.
For instance, Filipinos are known for being hospitable, a characteristic collective attributed to the Filipino
people.

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E. Discussing new concepts and practicing new skills #2
Amalgamation of different cultures in the globalized worldview all lumped together paving the way for
redefining Filipino cultural identity. How to preserve one’s cultural heritage amidst globalization is now a
challenge posed to each and every one of us.

Cultural Universals
● More often than not, culture varies from one society to another. However, it is essential to note that all
cultures share patterns or traits that are quite common to all societies across the globe. This is commonly
referred to as cultural universal.
● For instance, the use of language as medium of communication is absolute among societies, whether
traditional or modern one. Though syntax and language structure are starkly different from each language,
spoken and written language has been the primary tool in articulating oneself.
● George Murdock was acknowledged as the first of his contemporaries to recognize the existence of
cultural universal when he was studying kinship systems in different parts of the world. He discovered that
cultural universals often revolve around basic human survival or around shared human experience.
● Aside from language, the concept of personal names, celebration of births and weddings and even
exchange of jokes exemplify cultural universals. For Murdock, humor is a universal way to release tensions
and creates unity among people ease tense situations.

Ethnocentrism
● Ethnocentrism basically pertains to the belief that one’s native culture is superior to or the most natural
among other cultures. An ethnocentric person sees and weighs another culture based upon the values
and standards of his/her own.
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 ● The word “ethnocentrism” was coined by American social scientist William Sumner in 1906 to provide
a technical term for viewing one’s ethnicity (ethno) in the center of all cultures (centrism).
● It is a perception that arises from the fact that cultures differ and each culture defines reality differently.
Judging another culture solely by the values and standard of one’s own culture.
● Interestingly, many Filipinos also exhibit ethnocentrism toward non- Filipino cultures. For instance, in
most western culture, it is normal for a child to call his/her parents by their first names. However, in the
Philippine setting, this is rude. Filipinos are accustomed to honoring and respecting their parents by calling
them Nanay, Tatay, Mama or Papa; and by using “po” and “opo” when talking to them. The display or
respect in two cultures are different. In this regard, many Filipinos tend to be ethnocentric toward the
western culture.
● Highly appreciating one’s own culture is good for the oneness of a society but criticizing or belittling
another may cause conflict between two different cultures.
● There are even cases where a person imposes his/her own culture upon another person with intentions
to help him/her detach from what the former thinks is an essentially inferior culture. This approach is known
as cultural imperialism, or to deliberate imposition of one’s cultural belief on another culture. A perfect
example of such is one motive of the Spaniards in colonizing the Philippines.
● In reality, everyone has a bit of ethnocentrism; it cannot be avoided. However a highly ethnocentric
person, when exposed to new cultures, may experience a culture shock. He/she may find it difficult to
adapt to the new cultures and may feel severe confusion and disturbance. Culture shock happens when
a person does not expect or accept cultural differences. Many expats and foreign workers, like the
overseas Filipino workers experience culture shock on the first weeks or months in

Xenocentrism
● Xenocentrism has an opposite relative or the belief that one culture is inferior to another. A xenocentric
person usually has a high regard for other cultures but disdains his/her own or is embarrassed by it.
● Xenocentrism is evident in many Filipino, especially those who are influenced by other cultures. Many
Filipino prefer imported products rather than locally-made ones, thinking that the quality is better if the
product is made abroad.

Cultural Relativism

● To avoid highlighting personal biases and assumptions in studying culture, sociologists have endeavored
to review other cultures as neither inferior nor superior. This method is rooted in the idea of cultural
relativism, or the practice of viewing another culture by its own context rather than assessing it based on
the standards of one’s own culture.
● Cultural relativism requires an open mind and enthusiasm to adapt to new cultures. An example is an
American traveler who encountered balut for the first time. Although told what balut is, the tourist has never
tried eating it before. Instead of being grossed out or terrified, he/she may instill in mind that balut is just
as edible as the burgers and corndogs in his/her own country. He/she then tasted the delicacy to get
acquainted with its flavor. This is what cultural relativism is all about. To immerse oneself in another culture
in order to appreciate it fully.
● Cultural relativism attempts to judge behavior according to its cultural context. The principle that a
person’s beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual’s own culture.
● It has been said that ethnocentrism is natural for many people. The culture that one has been brought
up to has become the most natural culture.
● But if one practices cultural relativism and detaches oneself from his/her own culture to see more of
another, the ethnocentrism is mitigated or become less severe. Cultural relativism can be associated with
the value of respect for another and his/her culture.
● The idea behind cultural relativism reminds every one of the importance of cultural tolerance, especially
in a globalized age where interaction is considered the most important.

F. Developing mastery
Modified True or False. Read the following statements carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is correct
otherwise change the underlined word or phrase. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

________________________1. Culture diversity happens when a person does not expect or accept cultural
differences
________________________2. Rebel groups are a good example in subculture
________________________3. Geographical environment is characterized by certain limitations such as
limited food, limited source of energy, and other delimiting factors of the
people’s environment.
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 ________________________4. Imperialism is the most common precursor to directed change.
________________________5. Culture is a group of people bound together in a more or less permanent
association organized for collective activity.

G. Finding practical applications of concepts and skills in daily living

Performance Task

H. Making generalizations and abstractions about the lesson

ESSAY. Read the following items and answer them in complete sentences. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Is there such as superior and inferior culture? Explain.

2. How does culture and behaviour related? Give specific examples to prove your answers.
3. How would you differentiate ethnocentrism and cultural relativism?
4. Why is it that every person has a tendency to become ethnocentric?

I. Evaluating learning – Weekly Assessment (Written Work)

IDENTIFICATION: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space provided by each number.

________________________1. He provided a technical term for viewing one’s ethnicity (ethno) in the center of
all cultures (centrism).
________________________2. It refers to the practice of viewing another culture by its own context rather than
assessing it based on the standards of one’s own culture.
________________________3. This refers to the distinguished _________ on the basis of the conditions under
which cultural contact and change take place.
________________________4. It includes the values and norms that are actually followed by a culture.
________________________5. Each culture has its distinct features and characteristics.

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________________________6. He discovered that cultural universals often revolve around basic human
survival or around shared human experience.
________________________7. It refers to the cultural traits that are logically consistent with one another or
simply neutral to one another.
________________________8. It refers to the free borrowing and modification of cultural elements and occurs
when people of different cultures maintain contact as well as political and social
self-determination.
________________________9. It is a foreign culture does not necessarily make you disloyal or less nationalistic
to your home country.
________________________10. It refers to the characterized by certain limitations such as limited food, limited
source of energy, and other delimiting factors of the people’s environment.
________________________11. It pertains to the belief that one’s native culture is superior to or the most
natural among other cultures.
________________________12. It has an opposite relative or the belief that one culture is inferior to another.
________________________13. It involves an idealized, uncompromising value system that dictates perfect
behavior.
________________________14. A person imposes his/her own culture upon another person with intentions to
help him/her detach from what the former thinks is an essentially inferior
culture.
________________________15. It involves an adaptable value system that is used mostly as a set of
guidelines for preferred behaviors.

J. Additional activities for application or remediation

PICTURE COLLAGE: Draw or cut-out pictures that show ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Draw or
cut-out and paste them on a separate sheet of paper.

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