Anthropology, Sociology & Political Science – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms and concepts in Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science, plus related topics on culture, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, citizenship, and social action.

Anthropology

Social science that studies humans—our origins, bodies, behavior, and cultures—from prehistory to the present.

Goals of Anthropology

Identify human commonalities, explain cultural differences, relate Filipino traits to global humanity, and view one’s own culture objectively.

Evolution of Man

Anthropological concept, popularized by Charles Darwin, that modern humans arose through a long biological development.

Fossil

Preserved remains or impressions of once-living organisms used by anthropologists to reconstruct early human life.

Sociology

Systematic study of social groups, institutions, relationships, and how these influence human behavior.

Social Group

Two or more people who interact regularly and share a sense of identity—e.g., family, school, farmers.

Interrelationship of Social Institutions

Idea that change in one group (family, school, government, business) affects the others, much like body organs.

Political Science

Systematic study of the state, government, power, and political behavior; from Greek polis (city) and Latin scire (to know).

Politics

Social process of gaining, using, or losing power in any organization; distinct from but related to government.

Government

Organized agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed, and carried out.

State

Political community with people, territory, government, and sovereignty, independent from external control.

Nation

Ethnic concept: a people bound by shared race, language, culture, and history; may or may not form a state.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes a society considers appropriate for men, women, and other identities.

Sex

Biological classification of humans as male or female based on anatomy and physiology.

Gender Role

Behavior expected from individuals based on their society’s norms for their perceived gender.

Gender Identity

Personal sense of one’s own gender, which may or may not correspond with sex assigned at birth.

LGBTQIA+

Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Allies and other identities.

Gender Equity

Equal enjoyment by all genders of valued goods, opportunities, and rewards without requiring them to be identical.

Ethnicity

Shared culture and way of life—language, religion, material culture—that distinguishes one group from another.

Socio-economic Status (SES)

Individual or group’s social standing based on combined measures of education, income, and occupation.

Social Class

Category such as poor, low-income, middle class, or rich, reflecting unequal access to power and resources.

Religion

System of beliefs and practices related to the sacred; legally protected and plural in the Philippines.

Roman Catholicism

Largest religion in the Philippines (~80%); introduced by Spanish colonization beginning with Magellan in 1521.

Protestantism

Second-largest Christian tradition in the Philippines, spread mainly by American missionaries after 1898.

Islam

Third-largest religion in the Philippines; reached Mindanao around the 14th century via trade, first mosque in Simunul.

Animism (Indigenous Beliefs)

Belief that spirits inhabit natural objects; predates Islam and Christianity and blends with them in syncretism.

Nationality

Legal identity tied to membership in a nation or state, often determined by citizenship rules.

Citizenship

Status granting full civil and political rights plus duty of allegiance and state protection.

Jus sanguinis

“Right of blood”: citizenship based on parentage regardless of birthplace (used by the Philippines).

Jus soli

“Right of soil”: citizenship determined by place of birth.

Naturalization

Legal process by which a foreigner acquires citizenship of another country.

Social Action

Collective effort where individuals interact meaningfully to improve community conditions (Weber).

Social Actor

Person who undertakes social action, considering others’ behaviors and shared meanings.

Rational Action

Weberian type: behavior oriented toward efficiently achieving chosen goals while anticipating others’ actions.

Value-Rational (Evaluative) Action

Behavior guided by intrinsic belief in ethical, aesthetic, or religious values, independent of success.

Emotional Action

Action determined by the actor’s feelings or affective states.

Traditional Action

Behavior based on ingrained customs or long-standing habits.

Kaleidoscope World

Francis Magalona song emphasizing diversity of faces, races, and social conditions in society.

Religious Syncretism

Blending of different religious beliefs and practices, e.g., Catholicism mixed with indigenous animism.

Brigada Eskwela

Philippine annual community volunteer program under DepEd illustrating social action for school improvement.

Taxes

Compulsory contributions that fund government operations; termed the 'lifeblood of the government.'