This document provides an introduction to the social sciences of anthropology, sociology, and political science. It discusses the nature, goals, and perspectives of each discipline. Key points include: - Anthropology studies human diversity and seeks to understand behavior across cultures. It aims to promote intercultural understanding. Sociology scientifically studies human interactions, groups, societies, and their development over time. Political science examines politics, power, and the formation of governments. - The document outlines influential theorists in each field, such as Franz Boas in anthropology, Marx and Durkheim in sociology, and thinkers like Plato and Machiavelli who influenced early political science. It also presents theoretical perspectives like structural

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LESSON TITLE:
Introducing Culture, Society and Politics
Quarter:1 MELC No.: 1
MELC:
Discuss the nature, goals and perspectives in/of anthropology,
sociology and political science.
Name of Teacher –Writer: EMMANUEL F. JACOSAALEM, PhD.
School: TAGUDIN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Name of Teacher –Writer: JACKIE LYN A. RAMOS
School: SALCEDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Name of Teacher –Writer: LERMA A. TAWAGUEN
School: SAN EMILIO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
11/12
Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
Division of Ilocos Sur

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Discuss the nature, goals and perspectives in/of anthropology,
sociology and political science.
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Understand the nature, goals and perspectives of
anthropology, sociology and political science.
2. Appreciate one’s self from the sociological, cultural and
political perspectives.
3. Explain how issues and problems can be understood
through the use of the social, political, and cultural view.
1
1
Good day dear learners! Welcome to this Self Learning Kit on Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics.
This subject is one of the core subjects under the K to 12 Curriculum. specifically, this
course will help you gain more insights from Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science.
These field of social sciences are taught in order for you to gain sufficient knowledge and
understanding of the social issues and circumstances that directly affect our daily existence.
With the understanding of our society, leads to better appreciation of our self and the purpose
for which we are living as a community.
This is the initial lesson from this course which you will need to master. In here, the
key nature, goal and perspectives of Culture, Society and Politics will be discussed. Read and
understand well the module because this will serve as your foundation in learning the
succeeding learning kits. Answer and perform the different learning activities and return this
Self-Learning Kit on the date agreed upon.
If there are question you want to ask, just contact your subject teacher. But before you
start, seek first the guidance of our Living God to enable you to have a better understanding
of all the lesson covered in this module.

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How are they different?
DIRECTIONS: Complete the table below by writing the following information of your friends
(select three) and yourself.
Gender Socio-Economic
Class
Ethnicity Religion
Example:
Female Middle Class ASIAN Roman Catholic
Based on the output from the previous activity, discuss your observations based on the
following questions:
1. Is there differences and similarities in terms of culture, society and politics?
2. Why do we need to understand these differences?
“TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD” The image below is a culture map
that represents the culture of different countries. Observe the picture
and tell something about the country in terms of their culture, the way
or forms of society and political structure.
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/philippines-people-dancing-tinikling-icon-
653128981
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/china-map.html https://www.alamy.com/islam-cartoon-people-icons-arabic-muslim-avatars-muslim-face-heads-of-male-and-female-
image365987070.html

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The previous activity helped us to understand the initial difference between
culture, society and politics through the diversity we noticed with our friends in
terms of gender, socio-economic class, ethnicity and religion.
By studying society, culture and politics one will realize that we are survivors
of many thousand years of evolution, and such survival has improved human
being skills and bestowed us many capabilities and still imposed us sever
limitations to our possibilities and chances. In another direction, it allows us to
have knowledge of our own lifeblood tradition, the things that made us who we
are today. Know more about this topic by reading and analyzing this short
discussion.
NATURE, GOALS AND PERSPECTIVES IN/OF
ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
A. ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology is a compound of two Greek words, ‘anthropos’ and ‘logos’, which can
be translated as ‘human’ and ‘reason’, respectively. So, anthropology means ‘reason about
humans’ or ‘knowledge about humans.
The American Anthropological
Association describes anthropology as a
science seeking to “uncover principles of
behavior that apply to all human communities.”
To an anthropologist, diversity itself – seen in
body shapes and sizes, customs, clothing,
speech, religion, and worldview – provides a
frame of reference for understanding any
single aspect of life in any given community.
Source: www.psychologypedia.org
As a social science, anthropology focuses on human diversity around the world.
Anthropologists look at cross-cultural differences in social institutions, cultural beliefs, and
communication styles. They often seek to promote understanding between groups by
“translating” each culture to the other, for instance by spelling out common, taken-for-granted
assumptions.
Social Diversity – is an ever-present and enduring feature of all known cultures
around the world, from the most primitive to the most highly urbanized. Sociology refers to it
as Social Inequality (or social stratification). Social Inequality occurs when resources in a given
society are distributed unevenly, typically through norms of allocation that engendered specific
patterns along the lines of socially defined categories of persons.
Cultural Diversity – means a range of different societies or people of different origins,
religions, and traditions all living and interacting together. Social diversity refers to the gaps
between people as measured by the presence or absence of certain socially desirable traits.
The bases of diversity are culturally dictated such as skin color, language, and ethnicity. They
represent ways of life that are determined by their respective geographies, environments, and
ecologies.
*Social anthropology would then mean knowledge about humans in societies.
*Cultural anthropology thus means ‘knowledge about cultivated humans;’ that is,
knowledge about those aspects of humanity which are not natural, but which are related to
that which is acquired. The word ‘culture’, originates from the Latin ‘colere’, which means to
cultivate

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Great Anthropologists helped to formalize and advance anthropology as a discipline:
1. Franz Boaz
He is often considered as the father of modern anthropology. He rejected the biological
basis of racism or racial discrimination. In his doctrine, historical particularism, each
society is considered as having a unique form of culture that cannot be subsumed
under an overall definition of general culture.
2. Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski
He did a comprehensive study of Trobriand island where he developed what social
scientists now call as participant observation. It is a method of social science research
that requires the anthropologists to have the ability to participate and blend with the
way of life of a given group of people. He is a leading ethnographer in the 2oth century.
Ethnography is literally the practice of writing about people.
3. Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown
Unlike Malinowski, but similar to Durkheim, he advocated the study of abstract
principles that govern social change. This view led to the establishment of structural
functionalist paradigm in anthropology. According to this view, the basic unit of analysis
for anthropology and social sciences are the social structures and the functions they
perform to maintain the equilibrium of society.
B. SOCIOLOGY
Sociology is a branch of social sciences that
deals with the scientific study of human interactions,
social groups and institutions, whole societies, and
the human world as such. Sociology also addresses
the constitution of the self and the individual, but it
only does so in relation to larger social structures
and processes. Sociology, therefore, is a science
that studies the relationship between the individual
and the society as they develop and change in
history. Sociology does not only study the existing
social forms of interactions but also pursues the
investigation of the emergence of stable structures
that sustain such interactions.
Source: https://www.ac.upd.edu.ph/index.php/academics/courses-philippines-studies
Sociology focuses on the ubiquity (or the “everywhere-ness”) of social forces in unlikely
forms: sex, gender, religion, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the like. Social
forces represent a constellation of unseen yet powerful forces influencing the behavior of
individuals and institutions. In this sense, social forces can be interpreted as any human
created way of doing things that influence, pressure, or force people to behave, interact, and
think in certain ways. Social forces are considered remote and impersonal because mostly
people have no hand in creating them, nor do they know who do or did.
Famous Founders of Sociology:
1. August Comte
He is the founding father of sociology and coined the term “sociology” but he originally
used “social physics as a term for sociology. Its aim was to discover the social laws
that govern the development of societies. He suggested the three stages in the
development of society: the theological stage, the metaphysical stage, and the positive
stage. Comte has always been associated with positivism or the school of thought that
says that science and its method is the only valid way of knowing things.

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2. Harriet Martineau
She is the “founding mother” of sociology, an English writer and reformist. With
physical disabilities, he travelled a lot, especially in the United States, and wrote her
travelogues.
3. Karl Marx
Marx introduced the materialist analysis of history which discounts religious and
metaphysical explanation for historical development. He advocated the use of scientific
methods to uncover the deep structural tendencies that underlie great social transitions
4. Emile Durkheim
A French sociologist who made possible the professionalization of sociology by
teaching it in the University of Bordeaux. He was responsible for defending sociology
as an independent discipline from psychology. He argued that society possesses a
reality sui generis (that is, its own kind, or class by itself, unique) independent of
individuals and institutions that compose it. His main contributions are in the field of
sociology of religion, education, and deviance.
5. Max Weber
Weber stressed the role of rationalization in the development of society. For Weber,
rationalization refers essentially to the disenchantment of the world. As science began
to replace religion, people also adopted a scientific or rational attitude to the world.
C. POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science is part of the
social sciences that deals with the study of
politics, power, and government. In turn,
politics refers to “the process of making
collective decisions in a community,
society, or group through the application of
influence and power.” Political science
studies how even the most private and
personal decisions of individuals are
influenced by collective decisions of a
community.
Source: https://www.inquirer.net/duterte
Political Science includes the study of political philosophy, ethics, international
relations, foreign policy, public administration, and the dynamic relations between different
parts of governments. As such, it deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics
which is commonly thought of as the determining factor in the distribution of power and
resources. Political scientists “see themselves engaged in revealing the relationships they
attempt to construct general principals about the way the world of politics works.”
Whereas other social sciences have a quite clear history, political science has a
complex history. Its earlier form can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosophy of
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Later it developed into religious-oriented tradition beginning with
Augustine, and later secularized by Machiavelli, Locke, and Rousseau. The preoccupation of
these modern political philosophers is to explain the transition of Western societies from
savagery toward democratic commonwealth. Their works, highlighting the social contract
theory, became the foundation of modern democratic theory.

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For purpose of deeper understanding of the short discussion,
you will read here the Theoretical Perspectives of Society.
The figure above shows the Interpretive, Critical, and Structural Dynamics of the
Society. Society and Culture can, all at once, advance the perspectives of sociology and
anthropology, with political science entering the scene where “ways of life” (anthropology) and
‘social organizations’ (sociology) began to assume rather stable patterns notably in relation to
leadership and governance.
The theoretical perspectives of society are schools of thought chosen to provide
piercing analytic edges to the entire effort of learning as much as possible about culture and
society.
1. Structural Functionalism and Social Order
It argues that society is made possible by cooperation and interdependence. This view
sees society as a system with parts, and these parts have their respective functions to
perform. The health and condition of the entire system is dependent on these two
processes of functions and interdependence.
2. Conflict Theory and Conflict
The Marxist-inspired perspective on the question of society looks at the other side of
the issue. Instead of putting importance to social order, the conflict perspective sees
society as an arena. Social actors are gladiators fighting for their very lives. The winner
takes the rewards and is assured of freedom. This view sees conflict as something
positive and advantageous. For the proponents of this view, conflict makes change
and dynamism. Conflicts bring about new sets of relations and interactions, which
produces new dynamism in society.
3. Symbolism Interaction and Meaning-Making
Symbolic interactionism does not deal with either order or conflict. Instead, it explores
the issues of meaning-making and why this is crucial in understanding order conflict
as processes that brought about society. Humans as social beings have the capacity
to generate meaning from their surroundings, be it social or otherwise. Meaning is
important because it is the basis of actions towards or against specific elements of the
environment.
SOCIOLOGY
ANTHROPOLOGY POLITICAL
SCIECNE
SOCIETY
Critical dynamics
of human evolution
Interpretative
dynamics of society
Structural dynamics of
culture

8. 8
Anatomy of my Culture
In column A, identify any of your behavior as a Filipino teenager. Then in column B,
explain how you came to imbibe them. In column C, offer an explanation why its performance
(if a behavior) seem to be natural to you or why you believe it (if it is a belief).
A
The WHAT
Refers to the contents of
culture
B
The HOW
Refers to the process of
transmission and circulation
C
The Why
Refers to the mechanisms
that promote compliance
and performance
 Anthropology is a science seeking to “uncover principles of behavior that apply to all
human communities.” To an anthropologist, diversity itself – seen in body shapes and
sizes, customs, clothing, speech, religion, and worldview – provides a frame of
reference for understanding any single aspect of life in any given community.
Answer the activity prepared below which reflect your
understanding on the given topic on the previous discussion.
You are now close to the end of this learning kit. I am pretty sure you have
learned so much from the discussions and activities. Here are the key
concepts that you need to always remember for they will be of bog help
when you proceed to the next lessons.

9. 9
 Sociology is a branch of social sciences that deals with the scientific study of human
interactions, social groups and institutions, whole societies, and the human world as
such. Sociology also addresses the constitution of the self and the individual, but it
only does so in relation to larger social structures and processes.
 Political Science is part of the social sciences that deals with the study of politics,
power, and government. In turn, politics refers to “the process of making collective
decisions in a community, society, or group through the application of influence and
power.”
 The theoretical perspectives of society which are structural functionalism, critical
historicalism, and symbolic interactionism are schools of thought chosen to provide
piercing analytic edges to the entire effort of learning as much as possible about culture
and society.
A. Me and My Social Map
List down 5 important factors that you think are responsible for the kind of person you
are right now. Start with what is unique in you as a social person (not necessarily focusing on
your biophysical traits). Link each feature with a societal, cultural, or political force. Then
evaluate each in terms of opportunities and constraints it provides in pursuing your present
and future plans. Use the table below as a template for your assessment.
My Unique features as a social
person (May include but are not
limited to sex, religion, residence)
Types of social forces responsible
for these features (is it societal,
cultural, political?)
Assessment of effects (Does it
Provide opportunities or serve as
constraints?)
B. Editorial Essay Writing
Write an editorial essay that explains the social, political, and cultural contexts of how
our government is handling the COVID pandemic in our country. You should be able to
explain how the social sciences disciplines, namely Sociology, Anthropology, and Political
Science can help understand the issue.
Use the following guide questions in writing your editorial essay:
1. What is the nature of the issue/problem/phenomenon? Why is it an issue in the
country? Cite statistics/data to support the nature of the problem.
2. Can you explain the social context of the issue/problem/phenomenon? How can
sociology help understand and address the issue or problem?
3. Can you explain the cultural context of the issue/problem/phenomenon? How can
culture help understand and address the issue or problem?
Here are more activities that will determine how you can apply the
concepts or knowledge you learned from this lesson.

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4. Can you explain the political context of the issue/problem/phenomenon? How can
politics help understand and address the issue or problem?
5. At the end of the editorial essay, discuss your conclusions or recommendations.
 Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper to be submitted together with this
module.
 Rubrics: Quality of Writing – 5pts Grammar – 5pts
Clarity of Discussion – 5pts Depth of Discussion – 5pts
I. IDENTIFICATION. Write on the space before the number the word/s being defined in the
statement.
_______________________ 1. The science seeking to “uncover principles of behavior that
apply to all human communities.”
_______________________ 2. Part of the social sciences that deals with the study of politics,
power, and government.
_______________________ 3. Branch of social sciences that deals with the scientific study
of human interactions, social groups and institutions, whole
societies, and the human world as such.
_______________________ 4. occurs when resources in a given society are distributed
unevenly, typically through norms of allocation that engendered
specific patterns along the lines of socially defined categories of
persons.
_______________________ 5. A range of different societies or people of different origins,
religions, and traditions all living and interacting together.
II. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the letter of the correct by writing your choice on the space
before the number.
_____ 6. He is often considered as the father of modern anthropology
A. Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown
B. Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski
C. Emile Durkheim
D. Franz Boaz
_____ 7. A French philosopher and the founding father of sociology
A. Auguste Comte
B. Emile Durkheim
C. Karl Marx
D. Max Weber
_____ 8. A writer, ethnographer who is considered as the “mother” of sociology.
A.Corazon Aquino
B.Marie Curie
C. Harriet Martineau
D Indira Ghandi
____ 9. He made possible the professionalization of sociology as a field of study.
A. Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown
B. Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski
C. Emile Durkheim

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D.Harriet Martineau
_____ 10. He stressed the role of rationalization in the development of Society.
A.Auguste Comte
B.Franz Boas
C.Karl Marx
D.Max Weber
III. SYNTHESIS. Formulate a statement that would best describe the given series of words.
11. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
_________________________________________________________________________
12. Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber
_________________________________________________________________________
13. Franz Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski, Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown
_________________________________________________________________________
14. Structural Functionalism and Social Order, Conflict Theory and Conflict,
Symbolism Interaction and Meaning-Making
_________________________________________________________________________
15. Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science
_________________________________________________________________________

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Contreras, Antonio P., et al (2016). Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics. Quezon City,
Philippines: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Lanuza, Gerry M. and Raymundo, Sarah S. (2016). Understanding Culture, Society, and
Politics. First Edition. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store Inc.
https://www.academia.edu/37153518/Human_cultural_variation_
http://www.depedrovcatanduanes.com/files/03-UCSP-AS-v1.0.pdf
https://www.ecnmy.org/learn/your-society/status-in-society/socio-economic-class/
https://global.oup.com/uk/orc/busecon/business/roe2e/student/mcqs/ch12/
https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/health/questions-and-answers-about-gender-
identity/article_d7ac8eed-ecd0-5108-ac33-e7889fe77fe1.html
https://sociologylectures.weebly.com/resource/race-and-ethnicity-pop-quiz
www.psychologypedia.org
https://www.inquirer.net/duterte
https://www.ac.upd.edu.ph/index.php/academics/courses-philippines-studies