Primates, Human Evolution, and Cultural Anthropology Fundamentals

What are the key qualities of primates?

Dexterity, visual acuity, large brains, long infant dependency, and social behavior.

What is dexterity in primates?

The ability to grasp with five-digit hands and feet, opposable thumbs, and the use of both feet and hands for manipulation.

How does visual acuity benefit primates?

It provides stereoscopic vision for depth perception and the ability to see in color.

What is the significance of having big brains in primates?

It increases capacities for memory, thought, and association, with a larger brain-to-body ratio compared to other mammals.

Why is long infant dependency important for primates?

It allows for the learning of behaviors, one-on-one parental attention, and supports brain growth and development.

What social behaviors do primates exhibit?

They tend to live in groups, which facilitates communal care for offspring.

Where do primates primarily live?

In Africa, Asia, and South America.

What distinguishes Strepsirrhini from Haplorrhines?

Strepsirrhini includes lemurs and lorises, which have smaller body sizes and brains, while Haplorrhines include monkeys and tarsiers, which are larger.

What are the characteristics of New World monkeys?

They live in the Americas, are smaller, arboreal, and have prehensile tails.

What defines Old World monkeys?

They are found in Asia and Africa, are usually diurnal, larger, and sometimes terrestrial.

What is the difference between homologous and analogous traits?

Homologous traits are similar due to shared ancestry, while analogous traits are similar in function or appearance but not due to shared ancestry.

What is convergent evolution?

The process where unrelated species independently evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

What behaviors are exhibited by chimpanzees?

They have internal hierarchies, territoriality, and can exhibit violence and warfare.

What are the social characteristics of bonobos?

They are generally peaceful, use non-reproductive sex to avoid conflict, and females hold power.

What is brachiation?

Arboreal locomotion by swinging from branches using the arms.

What is knuckle walking?

A form of terrestrial locomotion on all fours, used by gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos.

What does bipedal walking refer to?

Upright locomotion using the rear limbs, which is rare among primates.

What is anthropology?

The study of humankind, encompassing various subfields including cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological anthropology.

What is familiarization in anthropology?

The process of making the strange familiar to gain better understanding of cultural life and customs.

What is defamiliarization?

Making the familiar strange to gain fresh perspectives and challenge assumptions.

What is juxtaposition in anthropology?

Placing dissimilar things next to each other for comparison.

What are the four distinct subfields of anthropology?

Archaeological, biological, linguistic, and sociocultural anthropology.

What makes humans special compared to other species?

Language, abstract thought, and technological innovation.

What is cosmopolitan distribution?

The wide geographical range of a species, occurring in most or all appropriate habitats on Earth.

Who is Sarah Blaffer Hrdy?

An anthropologist known for highlighting the cooperative social nature of humans compared to other primates.

What is ultrasocial behavior?

A high degree of large-scale cooperation, complex division of labor, and altruism in human societies.

Who was Zhang Qian?

A 2nd century BCE diplomat who contributed to the development of the Silk Road through extensive travel.

What did Herodotus document?

He recorded history and cultural backgrounds of places he visited, including the Persian Empire.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

A Berber scholar and traveler known for his memoirs and accounts of his journeys across North Africa and Asia.

What is ethnography?

A genre of writing based on extended firsthand fieldwork in a particular cultural setting.

When did the development of anthropology begin?

In the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century in Europe and the 19th century in North America.

What historical developments influenced the emergence of anthropology?

Industrialization, evolutionary theories, and the spread of European colonialism.

How did 19th century anthropology differ from contemporary anthropology?

19th century anthropology focused on extraction, while contemporary anthropology emphasizes collaboration and ethical engagement.

What is enculturation?

The process of learning the social rules and cultural logic of society throughout one's life.

What are the seven basic elements of culture?

Culture is learned, uses symbols, is dynamic, integrated with daily experiences, shapes lives, is shared, and gives people a way of doing things they consider 'right.'

What does it mean that culture is learned?

Culture is not biologically inherited but transmitted through observation and direct teaching.

What role do symbols play in culture?

Symbols are objects, ideas, or images that represent something else and their meanings vary by context.

How is culture dynamic?

Culture is always changing, even if it appears stable, and can be influenced by various factors.

Why is culture integrated with daily experiences?

Culture consists of interrelated structures, meaning changes in one aspect can affect others.

What does it mean that culture shapes everybody's lives?

Everyone exists within a cultural context, which influences beliefs and practices.

What is the significance of cultural universals versus particularities?

Cultural universals are traits found in every culture, while particularities are unique traits specific to certain cultures.

What factors can lead to cultural change?

Trade, war, and independent invention can all cause cultural change.

What is qualitative research in anthropology?

A research strategy that produces in-depth and detailed descriptions of social activities and beliefs.

What is fieldwork in anthropology?

Long-term immersion in a community for firsthand research, observing behavior and conducting interviews.

What is rapport in anthropological research?

A friendly working relationship between the researcher and community members, built through firsthand contact.

What are semi-structured interviews?

Interviews that are more structured than casual conversations, designed to gather data while allowing for open-ended responses.

What is the emic perspective in anthropology?

A research strategy focusing on local explanations and meanings from the participants' point of view.

What is the etic perspective in anthropology?

A research strategy focusing on anthropologists' explanations, categories, and analyses.

What is thick description in anthropology?

Providing detailed accounts that include context, intent, and cultural meanings behind actions.

What ethical considerations must anthropologists keep in mind?

Anthropologists must avoid harm, take responsibility for their work, and share findings with their subjects.

What is informed consent in research?

An agreement from participants to take part in research, ensuring they understand the purpose of the study.

What are the potential risks involved in anthropological projects?

Risks can include reputational risk or bodily harm.

How can anthropologists minimize risks for interlocutors?

By working with experts in research ethics to adopt methods that minimize those risks.

What is the definition of a species?

A group of individuals that can interbreed and produce offspring which can both live and reproduce.

What is a population in biological terms?

A cluster of individuals of the same species sharing a common geographical area and finding mates more within that cluster.

What is the Great Chain of Being?

An ancient Greek idea modified by European Christianity, suggesting all forms of life exist in a ranked, hierarchical order with humans at the apex.

What does evolution refer to?

The adaptive changes in populations of organisms across generations, supported by both factual evidence and theoretical frameworks.

What is the difference between phenotype and genotype?

Phenotype refers to observable traits, while genotype refers to an organism's genetic composition.

Who independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

The development of a trait that plays a functional role in the ability of a lifeform to survive and reproduce.

What are genes?

Segments of DNA that code for specific traits.

What are alleles?

Variants of a given gene, with individuals having two alleles per gene.

What is mutation in genetic terms?

Changes at the DNA level that can create variation if not repaired by cellular machinery.

How does natural selection affect populations?

Certain traits become more or less common based on the survival and reproduction success of individuals with those traits.

What is gene flow?

The movement of genetic material within and between populations, introducing new genetic material and preventing speciation.

What is genetic drift?

A change in genetic variation across generations due to random factors, often occurring in small populations.

What does biocultural refer to?

The complex intersections of biological, psychological, and cultural processes.

How does hair texture relate to adaptation?

Tightly-curled hair minimizes heat gain from the sun and maximizes heat loss, advantageous in hotter climates.

What is genetic uniformity in humans?

Humans share mostly identical genetic material, with more genetic diversity found in many animal species.

What is human phenotypic variation?

Variation produced by genome/environment interactions and gene flow, not classifiable into separate races based on morphology.

What is melanin?

A complex polymer that is the main pigment in human skin, with variations corresponding to the amount produced in skin cells.

How does racism affect human biology?

Race is a socially-constructed worldview that affects the health and well-being of marginalized people.

What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

Race implies a hierarchy based on physical characteristics, while ethnicity refers to cultural identity without inherent biological assumptions.

What is assimilation?

When one group adopts the patterns and norms of another, often requiring abandonment of their own cultural traditions.

What is multiculturalism?

Encouraging numerous distinct cultural/ethnic units within a society, promoting respect for diversity.

What does Audrey Smedley's quote about race imply?

Race is a set of beliefs and attitudes about human variation, not a biological reality.