Society and Culture

Term 1 Content

Fundamental concepts

The five fundamental concepts are persons, society, culture, environment and time. Persons are individuals who develop identities, values and behaviours through interaction with others. Society refers to people who share social relationships, institutions and structures. Culture is the shared values, beliefs, norms, customs, knowledge and practices that give meaning to a group’s way of life. The environment includes the physical, social and cultural surroundings in which people live. Time allows us to examine continuity and change across the past, present and future.

Persons

Persons are individuals who are shaped by, and actively contribute to, their social and cultural environments. Through socialisation, persons internalise norms, values and beliefs that influence their identity, roles and status, while retaining the capacity to challenge and transform these structures.

Society

Society refers to the organised system of social relationships, groups and institutions through which persons interact. Society establishes norms, roles, statuses and structures that regulate behaviour and distribute power and authority, while simultaneously being reproduced or challenged by individuals.

Culture

Culture is the shared and learned system of values, beliefs, norms, customs, knowledge, symbols and practicesthrough which a group interprets the world and guides behaviour. Culture is transmitted through socialisation, producing continuity, but remains dynamic as persons and societies respond to internal and external change.