Cultural Anthropology Overview

A comprehensive set of flashcards summarizing key concepts in cultural anthropology based on lecture notes.

Holism

The principle of considering the whole context, including culture, history, and environment.

Cultural Relativism

The practice of viewing a culture through the lens of its own values and beliefs.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others.

Fieldwork

Research method involving immersive observation and participation in the community being studied.

Cultural Anthropology

The study of cultural variation among humans, focusing on social norms, values, and practices.

Enculturation

The process of learning the norms and values of one's own culture.

Emic Perspective

An insider's viewpoint on culture, emphasizing its specific meanings.

Etic Perspective

An outsider's perspective that analyzes cultural practices in comparison.

Ethnography

A qualitative research method for studying the daily lives and practices of people.

Participant Observation

Research technique where the anthropologist both observes and engages in the cultural practices being studied.

Cosmology

A cultural system that explains the origin and nature of the universe.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society based on wealth, power, or status.

Caste System

A form of social stratification where social status is determined by inborn characteristics.

Class System

A system of social stratification based on socioeconomic status and the potential for social mobility.

Ritual

Structured sequences of symbolic actions that hold cultural or spiritual significance.

Linguistic Anthropology

The study of how language influences social life and culture.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Theory suggesting that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview.

Kinship

The web of social relationships that form an important part of the lives of most humans.

Monogamy

A marriage system in which one person is married to one partner at a time.

Polygamy

A marriage system involving multiple partners.

Gender Identity

A personal conception of oneself as male, female, a blend of both, or neither.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and predominance in roles of leadership.