Unit I. Development of Humans as Social Actors
Humans don’t live alone—we are born, raised, and shaped in the company of others. This unit helps you understand how people grow and develop by interacting with society.
What is a "Social Actor"?
A social actor is someone who plays a role in society. Just like actors in a play, we each have roles—like being a student, child, friend, or citizen—and our behavior is influenced by the people and environment around us.
Key Concepts: Culture, Society, Politics
1. Culture
Culture is what people in a group share—like their beliefs, values, traditions, and ways of life.
It’s how people live, dress, eat, speak, and celebrate together.
Examples:
· Speaking Filipino or your local dialect
· Celebrating fiestas
· Eating adobo or sinigang
· Wearing barong or traditional clothing
· Going to church, mosque, or temple
2. Society
Society is a group of people living and working together in a community.
They follow certain rules, systems, and relationships to keep life organized and peaceful.
Examples:
· Your family at home
· Your classmates and teachers at school
· People living in your barangay
· Clubs, teams, or organizations you're part of
3. Politics
Politics is about how decisions are made for a group of people.
It includes leaders, laws, rules, and voting—basically, how power is used and shared.
Examples:
· Choosing class officers in school
· Barangay and national elections
· Government leaders like the mayor or president
· Laws made by leaders that affect your community
Human Variation
Take a moment to look at your seatmates. Do they have the same nose shape as you? What about their hair color, skin tone, or the language they speak? Do they eat the same kind of food at home? These are simple things you can observe to notice how people are different from each other.
As you go through this lesson, keep asking yourself: “What makes each person unique?”
Primary factors that shape the behavior of human groups
1. Environment
2. History
1. Environment
The natural surroundings where people live—like weather, land, water, and animals—affect how they live, what they wear, what they eat, and how they survive.
Example:
· The Inuit people of Arctic Canada live in freezing temperatures. They wear thick clothes made of animal fur to stay warm.
· The Kung people of the Kalahari Desert in Africa live in hot, dry conditions. They wear loose, light clothes made of cotton to stay cool.
This shows that where people live can greatly influence their culture and daily life.
2. History
The past experiences of a group—like their ancestors, traditions, struggles, and achievements—also affect how they act today. This includes how they celebrate, believe, and relate to others.
Nationality vs. Ethnicity
These two words are related, but they don’t mean the same thing!
Nationality
Nationality means belonging to a country.
It’s about your legal identity—the country where you were born or became a citizen.
You can get nationality by birth or through citizenship (like naturalization).
Example:
If you were born in the Philippines or became a Filipino citizen, your nationality is Filipino.
Ethnicity
Ethnicity is about your cultural roots.
It includes your traditions, language, beliefs, and shared history with a group.
People of the same ethnicity may live in the same country or different ones.
Example:
In the Philippines, there are many ethnic groups like the Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Igorot, and Tausug. Each has its own traditions and way of life, even though all are Filipino by nationality.
Social Differences
Even though people may live in the same country or community, they can still have different identities and life experiences. These differences go beyond culture and ethnicity. Let’s take a look at other important social differences:
Gender
Refers to being male, female, or non-binary (and how a person identifies).
Society often assigns roles and expectations based on gender, but these are not always equal or fair.
Example: In some places, girls may be expected to stay at home, while boys are encouraged to pursue careers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013):
Gender is about the roles, behaviors, activities, and expectations that society thinks are suitable for men, women, and other identities.
Gender vs. Sex
· Sex refers to the biological traits you’re born with (like being male or female).
· Gender, on the other hand, is about how you identify yourself and how society expects people to act based on that identity.
Gender Identities
Gender is not limited to just “male” or “female.” Many people identify in other ways, such as:
· Lesbian
· Gay
· Bisexual
· Transgender
· Queer
· Intersex
· Asexual, and more (collectively known as LGBTQIA+)
Socioeconomic Class
This includes a person’s social class (like working class, middle class, or upper class) and their economic status (how much money or resources they have).
It affects access to education, healthcare, and opportunities.
Example: A student from a wealthy family may have more access to gadgets and private tutors than someone from a low-income family.
Social Class in the Philippines
In other countries, people are often grouped into social classes based on how much money they make, what they own, or their job.
But in the Philippines, it’s a bit different. While the government still looks at things like income and property, most Filipinos describe their social class in everyday terms, based on their personal experience.
For example, when you ask someone what social class they belong to, they might say:
“Mahirap” – poor
“Sakto lang” – just enough / average
“Medyo mayaman” – somewhat rich
“Mayaman” – rich
Political Identity
This is about what people believe about leadership, governance, and public issues.
People may support different political parties or leaders based on their values and experiences.
Example: Some people may prefer leaders who focus on education, while others prioritize healthcare or jobs.
Political Identity in the Philippines
In the Philippines, political identity can come from different parts of society — like your age group or religion.
· For example, the political party Kabataan represents the youth. It fights for the rights and concerns of young people, like education, jobs, and freedom of expression.
· Religion can also influence politics. A good example is Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a religious group known for block voting. This means their leaders guide members to vote for the same candidates, showing how religion can affect political choices.
Religious Beliefs
People follow different religions (like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), or may not follow any religion at all.
Religion influences values, traditions, and ways of life.
Example: Some students may pray before meals, while others may not—both practices are part of their beliefs.
Why This Matters:
Understanding these differences helps us to:
· Respect others
· Avoid stereotypes
· Promote equality and inclusion