Intro to cultural anthropology: test one terms

historical particularism

an anthropological school of thought—championed by Franz Boas—stating that each society develops along its own unique historical path rather than following a single, universal evolutionary ladder

culture

the shared set of beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and arts that characterize a group of people

ethnocentrism

the practice of judging another culture by the standards and values of one's own culture, often with the belief that one's own group is superior

agency

an organization that provides a service, a government department, or a person's ability to act and make independent choices

hegemony

the political, economic, cultural, or social dominance and leadership of one group, nation, or state over others

power

the ability, capacity, or authority to do something, influence behavior, or direct events

values

the core beliefs, ideals, and guiding principles that dictate what an individual or group considers important, right, and desirable in life

stratification

the arrangement or division of something into separate layers, levels, or social classes

structural functionalism

macro-level sociological framework that views society as a complex system whose interdependent parts work together to promote solidarity, stability, and equilibrium

interpretive anthropology

a theoretical approach that studies culture as a system of shared meanings and symbols that people use to make sense of their world

epigenetics

the study of how behaviors and environmental factors cause changes that affect how your genes work, without changing your actual DNA sequence

consumerism

an economic and cultural belief that buying more goods and services leads to personal happiness and economic growth

society

an enduring group of people who live together in an ordered community, sharing a common territory, culture, institutions, and regular social interactions.

social stratification

a system where a society categorizes and ranks people into a hierarchy based on factors like wealth, income, education, family background, and power.