Defining Culture and

Society from the

perspectives of
anthropology and
sociology
Learning competencies:

• Explain anthropological and sociological

perspectives on culture and society

• Describe society and culture as a

complex whole
What is culture?

What is society?
Culture
- the arts and other manifestations of
human intellectual achievement regarded
collectively.

- is the social
behavior and norms found
in human societies.
Society
- A society is a group of individuals
involved in persistent social interaction, or
a large social group sharing the same
geographical or social territory, typically
subject to the same political authority and
dominant cultural expectations.
Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships
(social relations) between individuals who share a
distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be
described as the sum total of such relationships among its
constituent of members.
How do anthropology
and sociology view
society and culture?
Anthropology
- the study of human societies and
cultures and their development.

- the study of human biological and

physiological characteristics and their
evolution.
Sociology
- is the scientific study of society,
patterns of social relationships, social
interaction, and culture of everyday life.

- the study of the development, structure,

and functioning of human society.
- the study of social problems.
Anthropological perspective on
culture and society

These diversities in culture and society

encompass differences in gender, race,
ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation,
social class and physical appearance.
In explaining and interpreting the diverse
cultures, anthropology uses ethnography-
describing particular cultures; and
ethnology comparing two or more
cultures.
Sociological perspective on
culture and society
Sociologists research on social structures such
as class, family, politics, social problems like
drug abuse and crime all of which influence
the society. Social interaction amongst
humans is the basic sociological concept,
because all humans and groups that make up
a society socialize.
A society is rarely culturally uniform hence the
result of different cultures. As societies develop
and become more complex, different cultural
traditions appear. The more complex the society,
the more likely the culture will be internally
varied and diverse. The causes of cultural changes
in a society are cultural diffusion, innovation, and
imposition of cultural change by outside world
(Anderson & Taylor, 2005, p. 72).
Two concepts from sociology help in
understanding complexity of culture in a given
society
Subcultures
Subcultures on the other
Dominant culture hand are cultures of groups
whose values and norms of
Dominant culture is the culture of
behavior differ from those of
the most powerful group in the
the dominant culture.
society. Although it is not the only
Members of subcultures tend
culture in society, it is commonly
to interact frequently and
referred to be the culture of a
share a common world view.
society, despite other cultures
present.
Lastly, whatever perspective it is, we must have
respect, kindness and understanding to show
importance to every culture and society it
belongs
Thank you ,God bless
and Mabuhay!