Approches et méthodes en anthropologie

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key concepts, historical figures, theories, and methodological approaches in social and cultural anthropology.

Hérodote (c. 450 BC)

Ancient Greek philosopher regarded as a precursor to anthropology who defined non-Greek peoples as "barbarians".

Controverse de Valladolid (1550)

Historical debate among European precursors concerning the humanity and rights of Indigenous peoples, centered around the question of whether Indigenous peoples have a soul.

Cabinet of Curiosities (Cabinet de curiosité)

Exotic and rare object collections popular during the Age of Enlightenment (17th–18th century), regarded as the ancestors of modern museums.

Human Zoos (Zoos humains)

Ethnological exhibitions held from the mid-19th to the early 20th century that publicly exhibited exotic individuals and groups, such as pygmies, dwarves, giants, and "savages".

Cultural Evolutionism (Évolutionnisme culturel)

A 19th-century theory positing that human societies progress through fixed cultural stages: Savagery (bows and arrows), Barbarism (pottery), and Civilization (writing).

Armchair Anthropologists

Early 20th-century scholars, such as Edward B. Tylor (c. 1910), who formulated theories using second-hand sources without conducting fieldwork.

Cultural Relativism (Relativisme culturel)

A theoretical paradigm pioneered by Franz Boas in 20th-century American anthropology stating that every culture must be understood according to its own norms and values.

Participant Observation (Observation participante)

A core ethnographic fieldwork methodology formalized by Bronislav Malinowski in the Trobriand Islands (1922) involving prolonged immersion and in situ observation from within the group.

American Anthropology (Anthropologie américaine)

A school of anthropological thought, exemplified by Margaret Mead in the Samoa Islands (1928), emphasizing how culture shapes individual personality and behavior.

French Structuralism (Structuralisme français)

A French anthropological approach led by Claude Lévi-Strauss (Amazon, 1938) focusing on the underlying structures of the human mind and the analysis of myths.

Holistic Approach (Approche holistique)

An anthropological perspective viewing culture as an integrated totality where practices (e.g., Innu caribou hunting) combine economic, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Comparative Approach (Approche comparative)

A method of situating cultures relative to one another to identify similarities and differences and search for human universals across particular, general, and universal levels.

Multidisciplinary Approach (Approche multidisciplinaire)

An approach connecting social and cultural anthropology with related fields like sociology, economics, political science, history, geography, psychology, linguistics, and philosophy.

Ethnography (Ethnographie)

The descriptive study of a specific cultural group or people based on the various components constituting its culture.

Ethnographic Data Collection

Fieldwork techniques comprising field notes, directed or semi-directed interviews, informal conversations, recordings, visual materials (photos, videos, sketches), and key informants.

Ethical Rules in Anthropology

Guidelines requiring researchers to disclose their purpose, obtain permissions, respect privacy and dignity, maintain scientific rigor, and handle data responsibly.