Anthropology: The Characteristics of Culture

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts, characteristics, and theoretical models of culture based on the Essence of Anthropology study guide.

Culture

The shared, socially learned ideas, values, beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors that people use to understand the world and guide behavior.

Adaptation

The process of adjusting to environmental conditions.

Biological Adaptation

Changes through evolution over many generations passed genetically, such as skin color, lactose tolerance, and disease resistance.

Cultural Adaptation

Learned behavior through which humans solve problems instead of through biological change, including technology, clothing, and medicine.

Enculturation

The lifelong process of learning one's culture, including manners, language, morality, gender expectations, and traditions.

Society

An organized group of people living together who share a territory, cooperation, and political organization.

Symbol

Something that represents another idea or object, such as a flag, wedding ring, or money.

Language

The most important symbolic system of culture that allows humans to teach, preserve history, and build civilizations.

Integrated Culture

The characteristic where every part of culture connects to every other part, meaning changes in one area affect the rest.

Dynamic Culture

The characteristic of culture describing its constant change due to technology, migration, climate, or innovation.

Subculture

A group sharing the larger culture while maintaining unique traditions, values, and customs, such as the Amish or the military.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural identity based on common ancestry, history, language, and traditions.

Pluralistic Society

A society composed of multiple ethnic groups living within one nation, such as the United States, Canada, Nigeria, or Afghanistan.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture is superior to others and judging other traditions as strange or incorrect.

Cultural Relativism

The practice of understanding another culture according to its own values and standards rather than judging it by one's own.

Barrel Model of Culture

A theoretical model that divides culture into three connected systems: infrastructure, social structure, and superstructure.

Infrastructure

The economic and technological foundation of a culture, including food production and tools.

Social Structure

The organized relationships among members of a society, including family, marriage, and political systems.

Superstructure

The shared ideas, beliefs, and values of a culture, including religion, ideology, and philosophy.

Kapauku

A people of New Guinea who illustrate integrated culture through how pig raising affects their economy, marriage practices, and political leadership.