Term
| What does it mean to say that anthropology is a holistic discipline? |
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Definition
| Anthropology draws information from each of the four subfields, looking at pieces from each. |
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Term
| What are the four subfields of anthropology? |
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Definition
1) physical/biological
2) archaeology
3) linguistic
4) cultural (ethology) |
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Term
| physical/biological anthropology |
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Definition
concerned with humans as a biological species
studies human evolution and human variation
-paleontology: study evolution through fossils
-primatology: study similarities and differences in primates |
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Term
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Definition
examine material remains of past cultures to deduce life ways
-middens: ancient trash heaps |
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Term
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Definition
look at relationship between language and culture, how language is used differently
-structural linguistics: how sentences and sounds go together
-sociolingustics: culture may influence language
-historical linguistics: comparison and classification of different languages |
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Term
| cultural anthropology (ethnology) |
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Definition
| study contemporary societies, cultural values of living people |
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Term
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Definition
Globalization is the worldwide impact of industrialization and its socioeconomic, political, and cultural consequences on the world.
What is happening to ohter cultures with increased interconnections worldwide, such as exposure through media |
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Term
| What is participant observation? |
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Definition
| Participant observation is the main method for field research for a cultural anthropologist. Anthropologist learns the culture of a group. It involves immersion, learning the language, participating in local activities, becoming a "partial insider". 1 year or more. |
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Term
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Definition
| A vivid description of experiences in a society written by an anthropologist who conducted field research in that society |
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Term
| What is meant by "cross-cultural" research? |
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Definition
| "Cross-cultural" research allows anthropologists to compare similarities and differences among cultures and societies. It helps anthropologists provide general explanations for human behavior. |
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Term
| What are the main goals of an applied anthropologist regardless of the subfield they work in? |
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Definition
| Use data to address social issues, modern problems, and concerns (environmental, technological, economic, social) |
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Term
"Identity markers"/"Cultural variables"
Name some "cultural variables". |
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Definition
"Identity markers" are groups with which you identify yourself.
ex. age, gender, race, religion, sexuality |
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Term
| What does it mean to say that these cultural variables are "culturally constructed"? |
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Definition
These cultural variables are subjective behaviors that we learn through social acculturation;
they are socially defined and influenced, can vary from culture to culture |
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Term
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Definition
| judging another society by values and standards of one's own ethnicity; own culture is "right" way of doing things, everyone should be like you |
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Term
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Definition
cultural traditions must be understood within context of a particular society's response to problems, cultural practices, and values
-what is normal is all relative |
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Term
| What is the scientific method? |
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Definition
| a system of logic used to analyze data derived from systematic observation |
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Term
| What does the inductive method involve? |
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Definition
| Making observation and collecting data |
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Term
| What does the deductive method involve? |
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Definition
| Analyzing data and testing hypotheses |
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Term
| What is meant by the term "theory"? |
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Definition
statements that explain hypotheses and observations about natural or social phenomena
encompass a variety of hypotheses and observations |
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Term
| What does "agency" mean? How is this related to social structures or rules? |
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Definition
Agency: your choice and free will
Social structures and rules will constrain the choices you do have. |
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Term
| Name between 5 and 7 cultural universals. |
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Definition
| Age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, political views, education, economic status |
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Term
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Definition
a person with one drop of African American blood is considered black
relates to slaves, only pure whites were granted rights |
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Term
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Definition
percentage of Native American blood to be considered Native American
must be related to a member listed on the Dawes Rolls |
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Term
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Definition
| belief you share a common history, language, religion, culture, geographic region, etc. |
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Term
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Definition
| seccessionist movement for ethnic groups to govern themselves, will do a better job |
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Term
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Definition
| Many ethnicities in one society |
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Term
| Different analogies have scholars and media proposed in trying to understand cultural pluralism in the US |
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Definition
1) Melting Pot: all different practices and cultures come together and become one
2) Tossed Salad: all parts are together, but still separate
3) Stew: different parts are distinguishable, but there is a reflexive, give-and-take relationship |
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Term
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Definition
accurate description of locale, people
observer records information without interruption |
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Term
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Definition
| observe how people spend their time in the day; shows what is important in a culture |
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Term
| Why are unstructured interviews help in the field? |
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Definition
| Unstructured interviews are open-ended conversations that provide anthropologists with more honest answers; informants themselves are telling you whats important |
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Term
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Definition
the outsider's perspective
helpful for an anthropologist to analyze the culture of a society |
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Term
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Definition
insider's perspective of his/her own society and culture
helps researcher understand why things happen; explains "Etic" perspective for the anthropologist |
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Term
| Why must field notes be coded? |
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Definition
| Field notes are coded for ethical purposes, cannot reveal identities of informants so information cannot be traced back to them |
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Term
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Definition
| 1 man with multiple wives |
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Term
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Definition
| marriage involving more than 2 people (1 of one sex and 2 of another) |
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Term
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Definition
| 1 woman with multiple husbands |
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Term
| What does the theory of unilineal evolution entail? |
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Definition
19th century; belief that societies and social progress were based on Western notion of reason
-relied on ranks, racist-based |
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Term
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Definition
| cultures borrow from each other; began in Egypt and spread from there |
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Term
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Definition
| culture began in many epicenters, spread sloppily |
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Term
| What is the main difference between structural functionalism and psychological functionalism |
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Definition
Structural functionalism states that social institutions and practices serve to perpetuate society as a whole
Psychological functionalism states that social practices serve the needs of the individual |
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Term
How does the theory of cultural ecology divide social life?
How is this problematic? |
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Definition
Culture ecology is divided into:
1) culture core: elements most closely related to subsistence (survival techniques) and environment
2) secondary features: everything else- social organization, politics, religion, gender
Problem: reduces human behavior to simple adaptations to the external environment |
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Term
| What is symbolic anthropology |
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Definition
interpretation of meaning of symbols, values, and beliefs of a society
-abstract interpretation of materialism |
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Term
| What does postmodernism involve? |
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Definition
Involves challenging, dissecting, and deconstructing other theories?
There is no such thing as objectivity, cannot pull self out of own culture and values.
Traditional research is based on unsound assumptions. |
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