Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Introduction to Biological Anthropology lecture.

Anthropology

The study of humans, encompassing cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological aspects.

Cultural Anthropology

A subdiscipline of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variations among humans.

Linguistic Anthropology

A subdiscipline of anthropology that studies how language influences social life.

Archaeology

A subfield of anthropology that studies past human societies through their material remains.

Biological Anthropology

A subfield concerned with exploring human biological variation, adaptation, and evolution.

Applied Anthropology

The practical application of anthropological methods and insights to solve real-world problems.

Holism

An approach in anthropology that considers the whole context of human behavior and culture.

Cultural Relativism

The practice of understanding a culture on its own terms without bias or judgment.

Primatology

The study of non-human primates, focusing on their behavior, biology, and evolution.

Paleoanthropology

The branch of anthropology concerned with the study of ancient human species through fossils and other remains.

Molecular Anthropology

The subfield that uses genetic data to understand human evolution and relationships.

Bioarchaeology

The study of human skeletal remains in an archaeological context to understand past cultures and health.

Forensic Anthropology

The application of anthropology in legal contexts, particularly in the identification of skeletal remains.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, serving as a starting point for further investigation.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world, based on a body of evidence.

Law

A statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspect of the world.

Ways of Knowing

Different systems of understanding the world, including experience, instruction, tradition, belief, faith, science, and religion.