Anthropology Final (In Progress)

Archaeology

Studies past cultures through material remains (tools, buildings, etc.) to understand human behavior.

Anthropology

The holistic study of humans—past and present—covering culture, biology, language, and archaeology.

Applied Anthropology

Uses anthropological knowledge to solve real-world problems in areas like health, development, or education.

Association

A relationship between two or more variables; when one changes, the other tends to as well.

Biocultural

Combines biological and cultural perspectives to understand human behavior and adaptation.

Biological Anthropology

Studies human biological diversity, evolution, genetics, growth, and primates.

Cultural Anthropology

Studies human culture—beliefs, customs, behaviors—by observing and analyzing societies.

Culture

Learned and shared beliefs, behaviors, customs, and symbols passed through generations.

Ethnography

In-depth study and written account of a single culture based on fieldwork.

Ethnology

Compares and analyzes different cultures using ethnographic data.

Food Production

Farming and domesticating animals to produce food, replacing foraging.

Anthropology

The four-field approach to studying humans: cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological.

Holistic

Viewing human life as interconnected—biological, cultural, historical, and environmental aspects all matter.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.

Linguistic Anthropology

Studies language in its cultural and social contexts, past and present.

Science

A systematic way of studying the world through observation and explanation.

Society

Organized group life with shared customs, roles, and institutions.

Sociolinguistics

Examines how language varies with social factors like class, gender, or context.

Theory

A well-supported explanation that helps understand and predict cultural patterns.

4 Fields of Anthropology

Archaeology, Biological, Cultural, Linguistic

Acculturation

Cultural exchange through continuous contact between groups.

Core Values

Key beliefs that shape and unify a culture.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding a culture by its own standards, not judging it.

Cultural Rights

Rights of groups to maintain their culture.

Diffusion

Spread of cultural traits between groups.

Enculturation

The process by which members of a culture learn and pass on their culture to the next generation.

Ethnocentrism

Believing your culture is superior.

Generality

A cultural trait found in some, but not all, societies.

Globalization

Growing global connectedness.

Hominids

Humans, apes, and their ancestors.

Hominins

Human lineage split from chimp ancestors

Human Rights

Universal rights for all individuals.

Independent Inventions

Similar ideas developed separately in different cultures.

International Culture

Cultural traits shared across nations.

Intellectual Property Rights

Group control over shared cultural knowledge.

National Culture

Shared traits of people in a nation.

Particularity

Trait unique to one culture.

Subcultures

Cultural patterns within a larger society.

Symbol

Something that stands for something else by cultural meaning.

Universal

A trait found in all human cultures.

Levels of Culture

International, National, Subculture

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently, make their own choices.

Complex Societies

Large, populous societies with social classes and central government.

Configurationalism

View that culture is patterned and integrated; traits don’t spread automatically, but depend on context. 

Cultural Consultants

Local people who help ethnographers understand their own culture. 

Cultural Materialism

Theory that material conditions (environment, technology, economy) largely shape culture.

Diachronic

Looking at change through time in a culture

Emic

Insider’s view; how people in a culture see and interpret their own beliefs and behavior. 

Etic

Outsider’s view; how the researcher categorizes or interprets culture using external concepts.

Functionalism

Theory that cultural traits work to fulfill needs in a society or maintain stability.

Genealogical Method

Recording kinship, descent, and marriage relations among people in a culture. 

Historical Particularism

Idea that each society has its own unique history that shapes its culture; reject universal laws of cultural evolution.

Informed Consent

Ethical requirement that research participants agree freely, knowing what the research involves.

Interpretive Anthropology

Focus on symbols and meanings; understanding how culture is interpreted by its members.

Interview Schedule

A set of prepared questions used in fieldwork interviews.

Key Cultural Consultants

Experts within a culture whom the ethnographer relies on for deep insight.

Life History

Personal narrative of a person’s life used to illuminate broader cultural changes or patterns.

Longitudinal Research

Study repeated over time to see how a community or culture changes.

Participant Observation

Ethnographic method: live among people, observe and take part in daily life.

Political Economy

How power, economics, and social life interact; how wealth and power shape culture.

Questionnaire

A written form with questions used to gather comparable data

Random Sample

A sample in which everyone in the population has an equal chance of being included.

Sample

A smaller number of people from the larger population used to represent it.

Superorganic

Concept that culture is a realm above individual biology and environment; that culture lives beyond just individuals.

Survey Research

Research using structured questions to many people to gather quantitative data.

Symbolic Anthropology

Study of symbols and meanings in culture; how people use symbols to make sense of their world.

Synchronic

Looking at culture at one point in time, rather than change over time.

Unilinear Evolutionism

Outdated idea that all societies follow the same linear path of cultural development.

Variables

Characteristics (like age, gender, income) that vary among people and can be measured.

Characteristics of Culture

Learned, Symbolic, Shared, Nature, All-Encompassing, Integrated, Instrumental, Adaptive, & Maladaptive

Bronilaw Malinowski

The father of ethnography who developed participant observation

Edward Burnett Tylor

A founder of cultural anthropology, defined culture as the total of knowledge, beliefs, and customs, and saw cultures evolving from simple to complex.

Leslie White

An anthropologist who argued that cultural evolution is driven by technological advancements and the ability to capture energy, also symbols

Clifford Geartz

An American anthropologist known for his work on symbolic anthropology and the concept of "thick description" in understanding culture.

Liget

strong emotion from high voltage, often found through headhunting amongst the Ilongut people

inponderabilia of actual life

Minute, often overlooked details and behaviors that are essential to understanding a culture, according to Malinowski.

What is the significance of personal vs. societal experiences in ethnography?

Ethnographers must distinguish between personal experiences and broader societal behaviors to accurately interpret cultural practices.

Achieved Status

A social position a person earns through actions, choices, or accomplishments

Ascribed Status

A social position a person is born into or assigned involuntarily.

Assimilation

The process by which minorities adopt the dominant culture's norms and lose their original identity.

Colonialism

The political, economic, and cultural domination of one territory by a foreign power.

Cultural Colonialism

Internal domination by one group over others within the same nation, especially in values and language.

Descent

The social rule that assigns identity based on ancestry or lineage.

Discrimination

Unjust treatment of individuals based on their group membership (e.g., race, ethnicity).

Ethnic Group

A group of people who share common cultural traits like language, religion, or history.

Ethnicity

Identification with, and feeling part of, an ethnic group.

Ethnocide

The deliberate suppression or destruction of an ethnic group's culture.

Genocide

The systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

Hypodescent

A rule that automatically places children of mixed heritage into the minority group.

Melanin

A natural pigment in the skin that provides protection against UV radiation.

Multiculturalism

The view that cultural diversity is valuable and should be preserved.

Nation

A group of people who share a common culture, language, history, and often territory.

Nationalities

Ethnic groups that see themselves as nations, often seeking political autonomy.

Nation-State

A political unit where a nation and state boundaries coincide.

Phenotype

Observable physical traits, like skin color or hair type.

Plural Society

A society with different ethnic groups that maintain distinct cultures but live in the same political system.

Prejudice

Negative assumptions or judgments about people based on their group membership.

Race

A socially constructed category based on perceived biological differences.

Racial Classification

Assigning people to races based on physical traits; often flawed and outdated.

Racism

Belief that some races are inherently superior or inferior to others.