Ethnocentrism - Sadiwa PDF

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Ethnocentrism The word ethno comes from the Greeks and it refers to a people, nation, or cultural grouping. Centric, on the other hand, comes from Latin and refers to the “center”. The term ethnocentrism then refers to the tendency of each society to place its own culture patterns at the center of things. Ethnocentrism is the practice of comparing other cultural practices with those of one’s and automatically finding those other cultural practices to be inferior.

Functions of Ethnocentrism  Encourages the solidarity of a group.  Hinders the understanding or the cooperation between groups. Extreme ethnocentrism is likely to promote conflict.  Conflict of course often leads to social change.

When you judge the behavior and beliefs of people who are different from you. Way out: To stop ethnocentric behavior, you must stop judging others who are different from you.

When you believe that there are primitive cultures, especially if their way of life is different from yours. Way out: Ethnocentrism is taught. You have to unlearn that your culture is superior and all other cultures are inferior.

When you believe that some cultures are backward if they lack the technology and consumerism of your own culture. Way out: Remember that there are no primitive or backward cultures. All cultures provide their members with the means for meeting all human needs.

Xenocentrism It refers to a preference for the foreign. It is characterized by a strong belief that one’s own products, styles, or ideas are inferior to those which originate elsewhere. Xenophobia It is define as the fear of what is perceived as foreign or strange.

Looking Back at the Human Biocultural

and Social Evolution Biological and Cultural Evolution Biological Evolution refers to the changes, modifications,

and variations in the genetics and inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to another.

Cultural Evolution or Sociocultural Evolution refers to the changes or

development in cultures from simple form to a more complex form of human culture. Charles Darwin introduced the theory of evolution to explain the origins of modern humans. He hypothesized that the

evolution of species happens through the process of natural selection. Natural selection was the reason for the occurrence of evolution.

Darwin’s Natural Selection hypothesized that:

 Every species is made up of a variety of individuals wherein some are better adapted to their environments compared to others.

 Organisms produce progeny with different sets of traits that can be inherited.  Organisms that have traits most suitable to their environment will survive and transfer these variations to their offspring in subsequent generations.

From Hominids to Homo sapiens sapiens: The Biological and Cultural Evolution of Modern Humans

Hominid is the general term used by scientists to categorize the group of early humans and other humanlike creatures that

can walk erect during the prehistoric times.  Fossils refer to the human plant and animal remains that have been preserved through time.

 Artifacts refer to objects that were made and used by humans.

Four categories of Hominids:  Sahelanthropus

 Ardipithecus  Australopithecus  Homo Characteristics of Sahelanthropus:  A skull similar to modern human

 Height almost similar with chimpanzee  Brain size is about 320-380 cubic centimeters  Small teeth  Had the ability to walk upright

Characteristics of Ardipithecus:  Height of about 4 feet

 Weight of about 120 pounds  Skull size similar to an ape  Small brain  Biped  Lived in jungles and forests like chimpanzees  Ardipithecus means “ape on the ground”

Characteristics of Australopithecus:       

Brain size of 500 cubic centimeters Upright Biped Tool users only not tool makers Used sticks and stones for digging Lived in small social groups Food scavengers

 Ate insects, eggs, plants, fruits and sometimes meat

 Australopithecus means “southern ape”  “Lucy” an Australopithecus was considered as one of modern human’s earliest ancestors and remains as the

most famous hominid fossil discovered.

Homos are classified as humans and not humanlike creatures because they had bigger brains and were bipedal. The homo species includes the Homo habilis,

Homo erectus, and the Homo sapiens.

Characteristics of Homo habilis:  Height of about 3 to 4 feet  Brain size of about 700 cubic centimeters

 Made tools called Oldowan which were used as cutting tools and made from volcanic stones  Used tools for hunting and food gathering  Homo habilis means “handy man”

Characteristics of Homo erectus:

 Brain size 1,000 cubic centimeters  Height of about five feet  Walks upright  Homo erectus means “upright man”

Characteristics of Homo sapiens:        

Large brain size Lived in shelters Food gatherers Ate plants and fruits Hunted animals Learned to gather and cook shellfish Used fire Crafted metals

 Homo sapiens means “thinking man”

Cro-Magnon is the first fossil skeleton to be considered as a species of the Homo sapiens, called as the Homo sapiens sapiens. Characteristics of CroMagnon:  Height of about 5 ½ feet

 Had a strong body  Brain size of about 1,400 cubic centimeters

Sociocultural and Political Evolution: The Development of Societies from the

Hunting and Gathering to the Agricultural, Industrial, and PostIndustrial Stages

Different types of Societies  Hunting and gathering  Horticultural  Pastoral  Agricultural

 Industrial  Post-Industrial Hunting and gathering societies produce simple forms of tools used to hunt for animals and gather plants and vegetation for food. They spend most of their time hunting animal game and collecting edible crops and vegetation. They

usually have a shaman or priest who acts as the leader of the group.

Horticultural societies produce and use simple forms of hand tools to plant crops. They use hoes and digging sticks to bore holes in the grounds for seed planting. In

horticultural societies, there is a surplus of food.

Pastoral societies are classified as animal herders and subsist based on the resources provided by their animals. Pastoralists are

also engaged in small-scale trading with other groups.

Agricultural Societies and the Neolithic Revolution

Agricultural societies started to cultivate wheat, barley, peas, rice and millet between 8000 and 3500 BCE. This new form of economic subsistence

eventually spread in different parts of the world and it became known as the Neolithic Revolution During the Neolithic Revolution, agricultural

societies developed. Members of society developed specialization; money became a form of exchange replacing the barter system.

Industrial Societies

During the Industrial Revolution, new sources of energy were harnessed, advanced form of technology was applied, and machineries were invented.

Post- Industrial Societies The Post-Industrial Revolution is an important development from the Industrial Revolution as economic production focused on the use and application of new information

technology rather than factories.

Characteristics of Post-Industrial Societies

 Transfer of labor workforce from manufacturing to service  Professional and technical employment increased  Education as the basis of social mobility

 Application of intellectual technology  Knowledge as source of invention and innovation

Political Evolution and

the Development of Early Civilization

A Civilization develops because of society’s highly advanced level of culture, social organization, political developments, judicial system, arts and other forms of culture at a particular time.

Four Major Civilizations in the World  Sumerian Civilization  Indus Civilization  Shang Civilization

 Egyptian Civilization

Characteristics of Early Civilizations  Developed and highly advanced cities

 Well-defined city centers  Complex and systematic institutions  Organized and centralized system of government

 Formalized and complex form of religion  Job specialization

 Development of social classes  Implementation of large scale public

works and infrastructure  Sophisticated and detailed form of arts and architecture  Advanced technology

 System of writing and recording

Social and Political

Systems of the Early Civilizations

Sumerian Civilization Priests and Royalty Wealthy merchants Ordinary workers

Egyptian Civilization Pharaoh

 Government Officials Soldiers Scribes

 Merchants  Craftsmen

 Peasants  Slaves Indus Civilization

   

Brahmin Kshatriyas Vaisyas Sudras

Shang Civilization King Priests Working class

(Soldiers, Craftsmen and Farmers)

System of Writing of the

Early Civilizations

Cuneiform – system of writing in Mesopotamia. It is distinguished by its wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, made

by means of a blunt reed for a stylus....