Identity, Culture, Society, and Social Science Lecture

A set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on identity, culture, society, social change, generations, and the core social science disciplines.

What is identity in the context of social sciences?

Identity is the distinctive characteristic that defines an individual or is shared by those belonging to a particular group.

What is the simplest definition of a society?

A society is a group of people who share a defined territory and a culture.

According to MacIver and Page, how can society be described?

Society is a web of social relationships which is always changing.

How is culture defined in the lecture notes?

Culture consists of socially transmitted ways of thinking, believing, feeling, and acting that are passed from one generation to the next and shape members’ views of reality and life.

What is social change?

Social change refers to any alteration in the way people live together, including changes in cultural norms, social institutions, and societal structures.

Give two historical examples of social change mentioned in the notes.

Examples include the rise of democracy and the Civil Rights movement (others listed: women’s suffrage, technological evolution).

Who filed the first women’s suffrage bill in the Philippines and in what year?

Congressman Filemon Sotto of Cebu filed it in 1907.

Which law mandated the 1937 plebiscite on women’s suffrage in the Philippines and when was it approved?

Commonwealth Act No. 34, approved on 30 September 1936.

What is cultural change?

Cultural change is the evolution of a culture’s shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices over time as societies adapt to new information, technologies, and cross-cultural interactions.

Name two examples of cultural change from the notes.

The adoption of the internet for communication and scientific advances that transformed agricultural practices.

Define political change.

Political change is a shift or transformation in a society’s political system, including its structures, policies, leadership, and citizens’ political behaviors and values.

List three forms of political change provided in the lecture.

Revolutions, changes of government, and political reforms.

Which years define the Greatest (GI) Generation, and what major events did they experience?

Born 1901–1927; they lived through the Great Depression and fought in World War II.

Which generation was born between 1946 and 1964 and why is it called that?

The Baby Boomer Generation, named for the population boom after World War II.

What parenting style is Generation X credited with pioneering?

Helicopter parenting—being closely involved in children’s social and educational development.

Name two formative experiences for Millennials (Generation Y).

Living through 9/11 and experiencing life both with and without the internet.

Identify three notable characteristics of Generation Z.

They are environmentally conscious, inclusive/accepting, and highly politically aware despite many being under voting age.

What technological reality makes Generation Alpha distinct?

They are the first generation to never know a time without social media and are extremely tech-savvy.

Define social science.

Social science is the systematic study of society, human behavior, and institutions to understand how people interact and organize within social structures.

What are the three core disciplines of social science highlighted in the notes?

Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science.

How is anthropology defined in the lecture notes?

Anthropology is the systematic study of the biological, cultural, and social aspects of humans across time and cultures.

List the five fields of anthropology.

Social anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological (physical) anthropology, and archaeology.

What does social anthropology focus on?

It studies human societies and cultures through a comparative lens to understand how people live and find meaning.

Provide Anthony Giddens’ definition of sociology.

Sociology is the study of human social life, groups, and society, examining individual and group behavior through economic, political, and social factors.

Who is regarded as the father of sociology?

Auguste Comte.

State Andrew Heywood’s definition of political science.

Political science is the systematic study of politics—the activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live.

What is political identity?

Political identity is how individuals align with groups and positions on political issues, influencing collective action and engagement, and can be based on factors such as party affiliation, ideology, ethnicity, gender, or religion.