Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics – Video Notes Flashcards (Vocabulary Style)

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms, definitions, and concepts from the lecture notes across culture, society, anthropology, and politics.

Cultural Identity

The sense of belonging to a group; part of a person’s self-conception and self-perception.

Cultural Background

The customs, language, traditions, religion, education, social and economic factors shaping belonging in a society.

Ethnicity

A social group that shares a common national or cultural tradition.

Sex

The state of being male or female.

Gender

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

Sexual Orientation

The pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions.

Identity Crisis

A state where a person does not accept or understand their sexuality or status.

Socio-economic Status

A person’s or family’s financial and social esteem based on income, education, and occupation.

Food Taboo

A prohibition against consuming certain foods (e.g., during Holy Week, pregnancy, menstruation, or breastfeeding).

RA 8485

Law prohibiting personal or commercial trade or consumption of cats and dogs.

Istambay

A person who is unemployed and spends time hanging out on street corners.

Political Dynasty

Families whose members have been engaged in politics across generations.

Anti-Dynasty Bill

A proposed law aimed at restricting or prohibiting political dynasties.

Philippine Elections

National elections for President, Vice-President, and Senators; six-year presidential terms; three-year terms for House members and local officials.

Technology driving 21st century

Technology as the main driving force shaping economy, society, and culture.

Texting

Sending electronic messages from one person to another using mobile devices.

SMS

Short Message Service; standard text messaging.

MMS

Multimedia Messaging Service; text messages with pictures, audio, or video.

Selfie

A self-portrait photograph, usually taken with a phone or selfie stick.

Sociology

The study of society focusing on social interactions, relationships, and social organization.

Anthropology

The study of humans, their origins, development, and cultures across time and space.

Political Science

The study of the state, government, and politics.

Social Organization

Study of social groups, institutions, stratification, mobility, ethnicity, and bureaucracy.

Social Psychology

Study of human behavior as a result of group life, personality, and attitudes.

Social Change

Changes in society and culture and the factors driving them.

Social Organization and Disorganization

Study of how societies emerge, structure, and strengthen or weaken.

Human Ecology

Study of the behavior of populations and their relationship to social institutions.

Population

Size, composition, and change of a population and its influence on economic and political systems.

Sociological Theory and Method

Application of sociological findings to solve social problems using theory and methods.

Cultural Anthropology

Anthropology focused on cultural understanding via experiences and participant observation.

Physical Anthropology

Biological and behavioral aspects of humans and human evolution.

Archaeology

Study of past humans through material remains like artifacts and fossils.

Linguistic Anthropology

Study of language and its relation to culture and human biology.

Applied Anthropology

Using anthropological concepts and methods to solve social problems.

Political Theory

Ideas of classical thinkers and political philosophy.

Comparative Politics

Evaluation and comparison of various political systems and actors.

Public Administration

Implementation of government policies and civil service principles.

International Relations

Interactions among nation-states and intergovernmental organizations.

Law

Governs relationships between individuals and the government.

Political Methodology

Quantitative methods used in political science (statistics, math, theory).

Definition of Society

A group of people interacting with each other and sharing culture, territory, and aspirations.

Plato – The Republic

Ideal society ruled by philosopher-kings.

Aristotle – The Politics

View of society as natural and self-sufficient with humans needing social life.

St. Augustine – Tale of the Two Cities

Society’s pilgrimage toward the kingdom of God and church community.

Sir Thomas More – Utopia

Ideal imaginary island nation with a political system.

Pre-industrial Societies

Societies before industrialization (various forms like hunting-gathering, pastoral, etc.).

Hunting and Gathering

Primary production through wild plants and animals; nomadic.

Pastoral Society

Society relying on domesticated herd animals for food.

Horticultural Society

Cultivation of fruits/vegetables; often slash-and-burn (kaingin).

Kaingin

Slash-and-burn farming method.

Agrarian Society

Society with large-scale farming and surplus facilitating trade and stratification.

Feudal Society

Society based on land ownership with services in exchange for protection.

Industrial Society

Society powered by machines; mass production and increased surplus.

Post-Industrial Society

Society dominated by information, services, and high technology.

Modern Society

Characterized by mass production and efficient money-based exchange.

Enculturation

Process by which individuals learn and acquire culture.

Cultural Transmission

Passing cultural elements to others through teaching and imitation.

Cultural Relativism

Judging another culture by its own standards to avoid bias.

Symbolic Interactionism

Perspective focusing on meaning of symbols in social interactions.

Functionalism

View of society as interdependent parts functioning for stability.

Conflict

Theory emphasizing competition and unequal groups driving social change.

Dramaturgical Perspective

Analysis of social behavior as a performance presented to an audience.

Ethnomethodology

Focus on everyday interactions and perceptions of social consensus.

Material Culture

Physical objects produced by humans (technology, artifacts, relics).

Non-Material Culture

Intangible aspects like beliefs, values, norms, and traditions.

Beliefs

Perceptions about reality and how the world operates.

Values

Broad preferences for actions and decisions, reflecting right and wrong.

Norms

Society’s standards of behavior guiding conduct.

Status – Ascribed

Status assigned at birth or involuntarily.

Status – Achieved

Status earned through effort or competition.

Role – Role as Expectation

Rights, duties, and obligations associated with a status.

Role – Role as Performance

Actual behavior in fulfilling a role.

Role Conflict

Tension when multiple statuses demand incompatible behaviors.

Role Set

The range of roles a person occupies in different relationships.

Deviance

Recognized violation of cultural norms.

Labeling

Process by which behavior is defined as deviant by others.

Value Conflict

Deviance perceived when actions conflict with group values.

Conformist

One who accepts both societal goals and the approved means.

Innovator

One who pursues goals via unapproved or unconventional means.

Ritualist

One who follows norms strictly but rejects the goals.

Retreatist

One who rejects both societal goals and means.

Rebel

One who rejects both goals and means and seeks new ones.

Preamble of the 1987 Constitution

Opening section stating sovereignty, aims, and governance under the rule of law.

Citizenship

Membership in a political community; personal and enduring.

Human Rights

Universal rights inherent to all humans.

Geology

Science of the Earth’s physical structure and history.

Homo Sapiens

Modern humans; capable of language and symbolic thought.

Democratization

Expansion of political participation and related ideals within modernity.