AMA University

Maximina St., Villa Arca Subdivision Project 8, Quezon City

Tel no. (02) 359-0262 | (02) 330-0378 | (02) 496-17363
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WEEK 4 Day 1&2
Subject: Understanding Culture Society and Politics
Grade: 11
Name:
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Date__________
Section:
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Learning Content: Defining Culture and Society from the perspectives of anthropology and
sociology
Learning Outcomes: 1. raise questions toward a holistic appreciation of cultures and

societies
2. become aware of why and how cultural relativism mitigates ethnocentrism
References:
Holism, which is the philosophy that functional systems, like a body or a
country, can't be explained or understood by looking at the individual pieces;
rather, the individual pieces can only be understood by looking at the whole.

Ethnocentrism is a major reason for divisions amongst members of

different ethnicities, races, and religious groups in society.
The usual definition of the term is "thinking one's own group's ways are
superior to others" or "judging other groups as inferior to one's own".
Why people do this?
- Most people, thinking of the shallow definition, believe that they are
not ethnocentric, but are rather "open minded" and "tolerant."
Making false assumptions about others' ways based on our own
limited experience.
-

The key word is assumptions; because we are not even aware that we are being
ethnocentric... we don't understand that we don't understand.

1. The assumptions we make about others' experience can involve false negative judgments,
reflected in the common definition of ethnocentrism.

For example, Tagalogs may observe a bunch of Igorot sitting around thier houses not doing
obvious work that is needed and see Igorots as "lazy". Most of us Filipinos value "being busy"
(industriousness) and so may not appreciate the Igorot capacity to relax and not be compelled to
pursue some activities of a temporary nature... nor realize how much effort is put into other
activities like hunting.
2. Assumptions can also reflect false positive attitudes about others' ways.
For example, we in urban industrial society frequently think of provinces or a certain minority
tribe as being "free of the stresses of modern society," but this view fails to recognize that there
are many stresses in their way of life, including the threat of starvation if injured while checking
a trap line a hundred miles from base camp or how hard to go to basic utilities when needed
(education, health and other social services). False positive assumptions are just as misleading as
false negative assumptions.
Everybody is ethnocentric.
-

The question is why are we ethnocentric?

This is all we know, what we have already experienced is the basis for our "reality", what
we expect. Our limited experiences we have already had are the basis for interpreting
new experiences, in this case, other behavior.

Since we have not experienced everything they have experienced, how can we not be
ethnocentric?

So what is the problem with ethnocentrism?

-

Ethnocentrism leads to misunderstanding others. We falsely distort

what is meaningful and functional to other peoples through our own
tinted glasses.

A lack of understanding can also inhibit constructive resolutions when

we face conflicts between social groups.

ethnocentrism is often exploited to foster conflict... and to promote the power

of a particular group. (ur vs. them)
Paradox: we falsely assume because we are not even aware we are

assuming... and furthermore it is the normal thing to do.

So what can we do about ethnocentrism?

1. recognition and control of biases.

recognize that we do not understand, that we are falsely assuming

something that is not the case and is out of context.

control our biases and to seek more valid and balanced understandings.

Cultural Relativism
- usually means not judging others' ways and accepting them as equal to our
own.
all culture are equally valid and no one system is really better than any other .
"Stepping up to the edge of a cliff gives you a good perspective of the terrain

below. Taking one step too far, as cultural relativism does, is simply a disaster"

Cultural perspective to cultural relativism.

- Rather than simply saying, we need to understand the morals of other cultures,
it says, we cannot judge the morals of other cultures, regardless of the reasons
for their actions.

Exercises:
1. "What you need to see is the forest not the trees". Relate it in understanding culture
and society.
2. How can we prevent ourselves from from thinking that our culture is superior than the
other?
3. What are the importance of cultural relativism?