Unit 1: Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms and concepts from Unit 1: Culture, Society, and Politics (as presented in the lecture notes).

Culture

That complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society (Edward B. Tylor).

Cultural Identity

The identity or feeling of belonging to a group; part of a person's self-conception and self-perception (includes ethnicity, social class, generation, locality, nationality, religion, or any social group).

Cultural Awareness

The ability to recognize the different beliefs, values and customs that someone has based on that individual's origins.

Cultural Background

The ethnic, religious, racial, gender, linguistic, or other socioeconomic factors and values that shape an individual's upbringing.

Gender

The personal traits and social roles of the male and female members of society.

Sexuality

The state of being either masculine or feminine.

Socio-Economic Status (SES)

The level of an individual's social standing and financial position in society; includes socio-economic class, social status, and economic status.

Ethnicity

Belonging to a common national or cultural tradition; Ethnic refers to large groups sharing certain racial, cultural, religious, or other traits.

Food Taboo

A prohibition against consuming certain foods.

Istambay (Standby) Phenomenon

A person who does not have work and spends time hanging out on street corners; an act of idling or loitering.

Political Dynasty

Families whose members are engaged in politics and have been part of the political structure for a long time.

Philippine Elections

The President, Vice-President, and Senators elected nationwide; terms include President and Senate/House terms; various offices with multi-year terms.

Selfie Phenomenon

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, usually taken with a digital camera or camera phone.

Sociology

The study of society and social interactions; the origin, evolution, and development of human society; focus on social relationships, organization, structure and process.

Anthropology

The study of humans past and present; aims to describe and explain human variation across time and space, drawing on social, biological, humanities and physical sciences.

Cultural Anthropology

Studies human cultures, beliefs, ideas, technologies, economies, practices, values, and other aspects of social life; based on participant observation.

Physical (Biological) Anthropology

Deals with the biological and behavioral aspects of humans and their relationships to non-human primates and extinct ancestors.

Archaeology

Studies the ancient and recent past of humans through material remains such as artifacts, fossils and bone fragments.

Linguistic Anthropology

Studies the relations between language and culture in relation to human biology and language.

Applied Anthropology

Applies anthropological facts, perspectives, theories, and procedures to identify, assess, and solve social problems.

Political Science

A social science that deals with the study of the state and government; analysis of political systems, behavior, and culture.

Political Theory

Subfield focusing on the ideas of classical thinkers (e.g., Aristotle, Machiavelli, Cicero, Plato) and their political implications.

Comparative Politics

Evaluation and comparison of doctrines of different constitutions, political actors, legislatures and related fields.

Public Administration

Focus on the implementation of government policies and the principles governing civil servants.

International Relations

The study of nation-state interactions, including intergovernmental and transnational organizations.

Law (in Political Science context)

Governs the relationships between individuals and government, and among individuals themselves, affecting society.

Political Methodology

Quantitative methods used in political science, combining statistics, mathematics, and formal theory; related to econometrics and positive research.

Difference: Sociology vs Political Science

Sociology studies society and social life broadly; Political Science studies state and government and political institutions.

Difference: Sociology vs Anthropology

Anthropology studies human cultures across time and space (often in small or traditional societies) using fieldwork; Sociology studies contemporary social life and structures.