Name: Dalligos, Shaira Nica C.

Grade & Section:12-Hopeful

Significance of Cultural, Social, Political and Economic Symbols and Practices

A symbol is an object, word or action that stands for something else and represents abstract ideas or concepts that has
meaning to people bound by common cultural, social and other organizational affiliation or ideology. The Merriam-
Webster Dictionary defines it as “an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or
objectify a response”. Language is one of the most common cultural symbols.

Cultural Symbols and Practices

 Cultural symbols are concrete manifestations that indicate the beliefs of a particular culture. These symbols
may be actual symbols or signs, or they can also be gestures such as handshakes and hand signals. The same
symbol can mean different things in different cultures. For example, the thumbs up, which symbolizes that
everything is great in American culture, is just like giving the middle finger in Greek culture (Cultural
Symbol: Definition & Examples). Religious symbols also fall under this category such as the Crescent Moon
and a Star that represents Islam, the Cross as symbol of Christianity or the Star of David representing
Judaism. Cultural practices are the customary and routine behavior of people based on shared beliefs and
value systems. Examples of cultural practices are religious and spiritual practices such as the celebration of
fiestas or festivals.
Social Symbols and Practices
 These are relating to human society and its modes of organization: social classes, social problems or a social
issue. Social symbols may be indicative of the person’s social or economic status and may address issues and
concerns in the society.
 Examples of social symbols are the white dove as a sign of peace, red heart for love, the traffic signs, health
and medical signs and many more. Social practices refer to the day to day observances that are typically and
habitually performed in a society. An example of social practices in the Filipino culture is the tradition of
“pagmamano” as a sign of respect to the elders.
Political Symbols and Practices
 Political symbols are representations that are used to signify a political perspective. Flags, logos, acronyms
or banners are among the most common emblems of political inclinations. Colors often represent the
sentiments and ideologies in political symbols.
 For example, black usually stands for anarchism and fascism, while red is used to indicate socialism and
communism. Political practices are activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other
forms of power relations. These are the outward manifestations of political culture which, as defined by
Lucian Pye, refers to the “composite of basic values, feelings, and knowledge that underlie the political
process”.
Economic Symbols and Practices
 Economic symbols those relating to economic activities such as production, distribution, and consumption of
goods and services. Among the most common economic symbols are the currencies or money we are using,
the value of which varies depending on the economic status of the country. We also hear of the Stock
Exchange, Gold and Petroleum, Banking, Life Insurance and others. Economic system or practices are the
process by which resources are distributed, and goods and services are traded in societies. These practices
control the different factors of production such as labor, capital, entrepreneurs, physical and information
resources.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
1. Hunting and gathering societies are the earliest form of society whose members survive primarily by hunting,
trapping, fishing, and gathering edible plants.
They have five characteristics, namely:
 • Family is the society's primary institution. It determines the distribution of food and how to socialize children.
• These societies are small compared to the others. They generally have less than 50 members.
• Hunting and gathering societies are nomadic, which means that they move constantly in order to find food
and water.
• Members are mutually dependent upon each other.
• Although there is an equal division of labor among the members, there is a division of labor based on sex.
Men are typically responsible for hunting, and women are typically gatherers.
(Types of Societies in Sociology, 2015)
2. Pastoral societies rely on herding and the domestication of animals as means for survival. They are able to breed
livestock for food, clothing, and transportation, and they created a surplus of goods. Most pastoralist are nomads
because they are forced to follow their animals to fresh feeding grounds. (Baleña, et. al., 2016)

3. Horticultural societies are formed when people learned to use human muscle power and hand-held tools to
cultivate fields. They are able to start permanent settlements and are classified as subsistence farming and surplus
farming. With subsistence farming, settlements are small, political organization is confined in the village and
positions of authority are inherited through kinship system. Surplus farming, on the other hand, is practiced in
permanent and densely populated settlements, occupational specializations exist and social stratification is
wellestablished. (Baleña, et. al., 2016)

4. Agricultural societies are characterized by the use permanent tools such as the plow in farming. Crop rotation are
practiced and irrigation system enabled the farmers to produce better harvests and bigger surpluses of food. The
tools are made of metal, human settlements grow into towns and cities, and particularly bountiful regions become
centers of trade and commerce. This period is being referred to as the “dawn of civilization” by some because of
the development of leisure and humanities.
5. Feudal societies are based on strict hierarchical system of power emanating from land ownership and protection.
These vast tracks of lands become fiefdoms owned by the nobility, known as lords, and managed by vassals who
also served as protectors of the fiefdom. These lands are cultivated by the lower class or peasants who are
guaranteed a place to live and protection from outside enemies. Authority and power are passed through family
lines, with peasant families serving the lords for generations.
6. Industrial Societies are established due to a dramatic rise in technological invention, ushering in an era known as
the Industrial Revolution. They are made up of an entirely new form of society that needs an immense, diverse,
highly skilled and well-coordinated labor force. They create a highly organized systems of exchange between
suppliers of raw materials and industrial manufacturers.

7. Post-Industrial Societies are also known as information societies or digital societies. Information societies are
based
on the production of information and services using digital technology as the steam engine of development.
Members of a postindustrial society are likely to be employed as sellers of services - software programmers or
business consultants, for example - instead of producers of goods. Social classes are divided by access to
education, since without technical skills, people in an information society lack the means for success.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURAL, SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC

SYMBOLS AND PRACTICES

The significance of cultural, social, political and economic symbols and practices lies on its inherent function
and role in the progress of societies such as, but not limited to:
• Symbols and practices portray certain aspects of living, certain cultures and traditions of people.
• They are used to transfer culture, ideologies or beliefs from one group to another group of people, from one
generation to another;
• They are also the means to preserve traditions and culture of societies.
 • They serve as the basis for improvement and development in the society.

Socialization
Socialization simply means the process of learning one’s society and its culture. It is moreover the same as
interacting, mingling and being with other people or groups within/ outside of your society.
Family is the first agent of socialization. Most of the habits, manners, beliefs and the way we think are develop
in the family. A huge part of your personality is molded by your family because this is where you spent your childhood.
Your family influences you on the way you behave and act as a person. This is when socialization process is crucial and
intense. Do you still remember your happy moments in school? Of course you do.
School is another agent of socialization. Here, you interact or socialize with other people- your classmates,
teachers, administrators and others which are outside your family within a society. Your socialization with them has made
a lot of experiences in you. It is in the school that your behavior and attitude are shape to become a better member of
society. Your circle of friends is also an agent of socialization. It is called peer group. Your peers usually have similar
ages, social status and share interests. Your peer group influences you on the way you can accept yourself. It is with your
peer group that you find yourself belonged.
Social media as agent of socialization plays a crucial role in shaping your personality as well. Majority of us,
young and old, are connected through social media. Much of our waking time is spent on using social media. So, this
agent of socialization influences your way of life intensively thus doing large part in your personal development. There
are other socialization agents who are also important in moulding you as a person: the community, the church and the
government.
ENCULTURATION
According to Stephen A. Grunland and Marvin K. Mayers (1988) (as cited from Hoebel, 1982), enculturation is
both a conscious and an unconscious conditioning process whereby man, as child and adult, achieves competence in his
culture, internalizes his culture and becomes thoroughly enculturated. Socializing with people plays a great part in
achieving it. As a child lives with his family and the community, he/she adapts socially accepted values (e.g. attending
to religious obligations, respecting the elders, etc.) At a very young age, a child is instilled with values by his/her
parents and family. He / She sees the importance of being together as respected when they eat. Also, he/she learns the
foundations of learning; be it reading the alphabet and counting of numbers.
 In school, he/she learns to be socially educated person as he/she observes and adapts the behavior of other
people (e.g. singing the National Anthem, paying respect to the flag, showing respect to teachers and valuing
friendship among friends and classmates). A person becomes more civilized as he learns more of culturally
accepted behavior and knowledge in school.
 In a community, a person may be inspired to practice social duties and obligations as observed and learned
from those who do great contributions for the welfare of most people. In these practices, one may also become
a steward of goodwill.
 A teenager learns to clothe himself/herself like his/her friends or in great chances, adapts how they behave and
act. He / She appreciate the value of friendship, learn to find joy in sharing commonalities and accepts
differences in choices and decisions. His / Her confidence in dealing with people can be rooted from a well-
maintained relationship with friends.
 The government upon its imposition of law refines a person’s way of living. Through which, he/she learns his
civil rights and exercises them righteously. Likewise, he/she learns to respect government policies and abides
to them, knowing that every action has limitation.
 In his/her dealing with religious affiliations, a person’s belief in Omnipotent Being is strengthened. This
cultivates the idea that everyone like a brother and a sister. Thus, respect towards one another is valued. He or
she learns to respect differences in faith.
Parents and other authorities are called the initiators of enculturation. As one is enculturated by those initiators, the
process is manifested in his/her actions, choices and decisions. If it is not because of enculturation, a person will not
become the way he/she in the society. One will not be able to discern what is right from wrong or even make actions to
handle problems encountered. Because of enculturation, an individual knows the boundaries of his/her actions, words
and ideals. As a learned individual, one becomes accepted by the group he/she belongs with. Enculturation teaches a
person of his/her roles in the society. True enough, he/she becomes functional member of the society.

Name: Dalligos, Shaira Nica C. Grade & Section:12-Hopeful

Activity 1: Modified TRUE or FALSE
Directions: Write True if the statement is correct. If not, change the underlined word/s to make it correct using the
space provided.
Cultural Symbols1. Symbols are concrete manifestations that indicate the beliefs of a particular culture.
Family 2. Friends is the society's primary institution.
True 3. Post-Industrial Societies are also known as information societies or digital societies.
True 4. Flags, logos, acronyms or banners are among the most common emblems of political
inclinations
True 5. Symbols and practices portray certain aspects of living, certain cultures and traditions of
people.
Activity 2: “Know That Society”
Instruction: Choose five from the different societies and cite as many as you can of their characteristics.
At least two (2) correct description of characteristics for each society will be given three (3) pts. (15 pts.)
Type of Societies Characteristics
· Family is the society's primary institution.
[Link] and Gathering · Members are mutually dependent upon each other.
Societies

· They rely on herding and domestication of animals for survival.

· Most pastoralists are nomads, moving with their animals to fresh feeding
[Link] Societies
grounds.

· They use human muscle power and hand-held tools to cultivate fields.
[Link] Societies · Surplus farming is practiced in permanent and densely populated
settlements.

· They use permanent tools such as the plow and practice crop rotation.
[Link] Societies · Settlements grow into towns and cities, becoming centers of trade and
commerce.

· They are characterized by a dramatic rise in technological invention and the

[Link] Societies Industrial Revolution.
· They require a highly organized labor force and create complex systems of
exchange between suppliers and manufacturers.

Activity 3: PUSH FORWARD

The activity below will help you enhance more what you already know about socialization. Read the paragraph and
fill in the blanks with words or phrases necessary to complete it. The words and phrases are provided inside the box for
you to choose from.

personality family normal socialization culture physical

 socialize mental agents of socialization personal development

Revitalized and Socialized

Every individual undergoes the process of (1) socialization during his/her life time. Socialization is a
necessary social process for it is through this that (2) culture is taking place. It was found out that people who
lacked socialization developed (3) mental and (4) physical disabilities. On the other hand, people with
successful socialization experiences become
(5) successful in different aspects of life.
It is important to remember that (6) agents of socialization are influential in shaping one’s personality. There are
several agents of socialization mentioned in this module. These agents are: family, peer group, school, church,
community, social media and the government. Among these agents, (7) family contributes the most impact on one’s
personal development because the crucial and intense socialization happens with it.
Becoming part of a particular (8) culture is a product of socialization. And so, don’t forget to bear in mind that
we need to choose the kind of activities we involve ourselves into. For whenever we (9 ) socialize , we develop
the kind of (10) personality we have.