Introduction to Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science

These flashcards cover the definitions, perspectives, and goals of anthropology, sociology, and political science, as well as the characteristics of culture and stages of human biocultural evolution.

Culture

The shared set of beliefs, values, customs, languages, and behaviors that a group of people develops and passes on to the next generation; often called a blue print for living.

Anthropology

A comparative science that describes humans, human behavior, and human societies around the world.

Holism

An anthropological perspective interested in the whole of humanity and how various aspects of life interact.

Cultural relativism

The idea that we should seek to understand another person's beliefs and behaviors from the perspective of their culture rather than our own.

Ethnography

Commonly referred to as fieldwork, this is both the process and result of cultural anthropological research.

Sociology

The study of human social relationships and institutions, ranging from crime to religion and social stability to radical change.

Three major theoretical perspectives in Sociology

1. the functionalist perspective; 2. the conflict perspective; and 3. the symbolic interaction perspective.

Political Science

A social science branch of sociology that deals with the large-scale actions of humans, group mentality, and the political arena.

Material Culture

Physical objects a society produces and uses, such as tools, furniture, clothing, schools, churches, and computer systems.

Non-material Culture

Elements including symbols, language, values, norms, and beliefs shared by members of a society.

Edward Burnett Tylor

Defined culture as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Radcliffe Brown

Defined culture as cultivation: the process of transmitting and acquiring traditions that results in the perpetuation of society.

Cumulative characteristic of Culture

Information exemplified in culture can be passed starting with one age then onto the next age.

Dynamic characteristic of Culture

Culture is changing continually as novel thoughts and new procedures are added over time, meanining no culture stays in a perpetual state.

Auguste Comte

The Founder of Sociology who coined the term from the Latin word "Socius" and the Greek word "logos" to describe the science of social life.

Cultural Variation

The rich diversity in social patterns such as music, dance, languages, and cuisine that different human groups exhibit around the world.

Cultural Universals

Patterns or traits that are globally common to all societies.

Subculture

A culture shared with a distinctive pattern of mores, folkways, and values that differ from a larger society.

Hanukah

A Jewish festival lasting $8$ days from the $25\text{th}$ day of Kislev, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in $165\text{BC}$ by the Maccabees.

Counter Culture

A culture practiced by groups whose values and norms place it at odds with mainstream society or who actively reject dominant cultural values.

Ethnocentrism

The regard that one's own culture and society is the center of everything and is superior to all other cultures.

Culture Shock

The feeling of being disoriented, uncertain, or fearful when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.

Evolution

A natural process of biological changes occurring in a population across successive generations.

Homo Habilis

The "Handy Man"; apelike men recognized as the first true humans who first used stone tools and lived about $2.4$ to $14$ million years ago.

Homo Erectus

The "Upright Man"; believed to be the first manlike creature to walk straight and lived about $500,000$ years ago in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Pithecanthropus Erectus

Known as "Java Man"; discovered by Eugene Dubois at Trinil, Java, Indonesia in $1891$.

Sinanthropus Pekinensis

Known as "Peking Man"; discovered at Choukoutien village, Beijing, China in $1929$.

Homo Sapiens

The "Thinking Man"; direct descendant of modern man who lived about $250,000$ years ago and whose activities included hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

Neanderthal Man

Discovered in the Neanderthal valley in Germany in $1856$; lived in caves and depended on hunting and fishing.

Cro-Magnon Man

First prehistoric humans to produce cave paintings and decorated tools; discovered by Louis Lartet in France.

Human Thinking Capacity

Facilitated by a developed brain weighing $1.4\text{ kg}$, allowing humans to create survival skills and adapt to the environment.

Gripping capacity

An exclusive human trait involving the capacity to directly oppose the thumb with other fingers to create a finger grip.