Cultural Anthropology Exam Review Complete

What is the primary focus of anthropology?

Studying humanity over time and space.

Define ethnocentrism.

The tendency to view one’s own culture as most important and correct, serving as the standard by which to measure all cultures.

List the four major fields of anthropology.

Cultural, Linguistics, Archeology, Physical.

What is medical anthropology focused on?

The relationship between health, illness, and culture.

What is ethnography?

The in-depth study of the everyday practices and lives of people.

Define ethnology.

A narrative of culture that compares different peoples and the relationships between them.

What is linguistic anthropology?

The study of languages and the connection between languages and culture.

What are the branches of linguistic anthropology?

Descriptive linguistics, Historical linguistics, Sociolinguistics.

What does bioarchaeology focus on?

The study of human evolution and the biological aspects of humans.

Define physical anthropology.

The study of human evolution and the biological aspects of humans.

What is forensic anthropology?

The study of how humans died.

What is the primary goal of anthropological field work?

To solve social problems and influence behavior and social conditions.

Identify a challenge faced during anthropological fieldwork.

Ethical issues.

Define globalization in anthropology.

The creation of an interconnected world through travel, trade, and media.

What does culture encompass?

Behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that people learn and share as members of a society.

What are the components of culture?

Material (physical objects) and non-material (intangible objects).

What is culture lag?

When non-material culture is unable to keep up with material culture.

Explain linguistic relativity.

The idea that structures and words of a language influence how its speakers think, behave, and shape the culture itself.

What is cultural linguistics?

The field of study that examines the relationship between language and culture.

List factors that lead to culture change.

Innovation, Diffusion, Acculturation, Globalization.

Define cultural adaptation.

The process of adapting to a new cultural environment or modifying programs to meet the needs of a specific group.

What is participant observation?

A type of observation where the anthropologist participates in the same activities as their informants.

What ethical concerns may arise in fieldwork?

Anthropologists face ethical issues that can be referenced through a code of ethics.

What is cultural anthropology?

The study of culture over time and space.

Define applied anthropology.

The application of anthropological perspectives.

What do biological anthropologists work on in applied anthropology?

Medicine, mental illness, nutrition.

What is development anthropology?

The application of anthropology on development studies.

Differentiate between equity and equality.

Equity gives people what they need to succeed, while equality gives everyone the same resources.

Explain overinnovation.

Major changes implemented on behalf of the local community.

What role does anthropology play in education?

Helps adapt learning experiences based on classroom demographics.

How can anthropology be applied in business?

It can assist in marketing and understanding consumer behavior in other countries.

What is urban anthropology?

The study of anthropology in cities.

Define language.

An idealized form of speech, usually referred to as the standard variety.

What are call systems?

Communication used by primates consisting of sounds produced after stimuli that cannot be combined.

What is foxp2?

A genetic variation that allows humans to speak.

What is kinesics?

The study of nonverbal communication.

Define phonology.

The study of phonetics, focusing on small sounds that form words.

What is syntax?

The arrangement of clauses and sentences.

What is a lexicon?

The vocabulary of a language.

Explain universal grammar.

A theory suggesting a basic template for all human languages embedded in our genes.

What is semantics?

The study of meanings in language.

Define sociolinguistics.

The study of language performance in social contexts.

What is Black English Vernacular?

An example of style shifting used by Black Americans in the United States.

What does historical linguistics study?

How language has developed over time and how we can understand historical events.

Situational Negotiation of Social Identity

People have different identities in different contexts

Identities in the Past VS Identities Today

In the past identities were often constrained by physical attributes, but today identities are more flexible due to modern communication technology that allows people to selectively reveal their desired identity

Ethnicities

Identification with, and a sense of belonging to, an ethnic group, leading to exclusion from other groups.

What do ethnic groups often share?

Share cultural distinctions such as language, religion, geography, history, ancestry, and race.

What is ethnic identity based on?

Shared beliefs, values, customs, and norms, which define members of an ethnic group.

True or False: People constantly negotiate their social identities and present themselves in different ways depending on the context.

True

Status

social positions individuals occupy

Ascribed

assigned at birth, such as race, age, gender

Achieved

earned through actions, like occupation or talents

Status Shifting

People adjust their status in response to different social contexts, which is part of the situational negotiation of social identity.

What can ethnic identity depend on?

perceptions from others as well as an individual’s own assertions of their status.

True or False: Race is a social construct

True

What defines ethnic groups, including races?

social perceptions and distinctions, not by scientific classifications based on genetics.

True or False: Terms like Hispanic or Latino often refer to ethnicity (based on language) but are frequently used incorrectly as racial categories in everyday conversation.

True

True or False: Human populations are not clearly demarcated biological groups; there is greater genetic variation within racial groups than between them.

True

What are racially constructed social differences based on?

on historical ideas and ideologies that rank groups, often with discriminatory purposes.

True or False: Racial categories are cultural and social, not biological.

True

Hypodescent

Children of racially mixed unions are automatically classified in the minority group.

True or False: The U.S. Census has collected race data since 1790, but debates over how to categorize race have increased, including the proposal of a "multiracial" category.

True

True or False: In countries like Japan, despite a substantial minority population, the dominant racial ideology assumes racial and ethnic homogeneity.

True

What are racial differences based on in Japan?

perceived biological distinctions, even when there is no physical difference. Minority groups like the Burakumin, despite being genetically similar to the majority, are considered a different race and face significant discrimination.

Race in Brazil

fluid and flexible understanding of race, with more than 500 distinct racial labels. Race in Brazil is less rigid than in the United States and Japan, and individuals may be categorized differently depending on their achieved status and other factors.

Nation State

an independent, centrally organized political entity. Ethnic groups may not have formal political organization but can still be politically significant.

Nationalities

are groups that seek political autonomy, often through the formation of "imagined communities," where members identify as part of a group, even without direct interaction. This is shaped by mass media, migration, and colonial histories.

Assimilation

the process by which a minority group adopts the cultural patterns of the dominant group. This process may be voluntary or forced, and its degree varies.

Plural Society

A society where ethnic groups maintain distinct identities while living in interdependent relationships, often structured by ecological specialization (e.g., utilizing different resources).

Multiculturalism

the recognition and celebration of cultural diversity, opposing assimilationist ideals. It promotes the acceptance of different ethnic and cultural practices, encouraging cultural relativism.

Prejudice

devaluing a group based on assumptions about its members' behavior or attributes.

Stereotypes

fixed ideas about what members of a group are like, often unfavorable.

Discrimination

actions or policies that harm a group.

De jure descrininationl

legally sanctioned, like apartheid

De facto discrimination

like racial profiling

True or False: Historical ethnic tensions, such as those in Los Angeles after the Rodney King incident, are rooted in differential access to political and economic opportunities.

True

Cultural Oppression

Practices like genocide, forced assimilation, and ethnocide fuel ethnic conflicts.

Genocide

The systematic destruction of a group, such as the Holocaust or ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

Forced Assimilation

The suppression of cultural identities, as seen in the repression of the Basques under Franco’s rule in Spain.

Colonialism

The domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power, shaping racial and ethnic identities and relations for centuries.

Gender Roles

Tasks and activities assigned by culture to individuals based on gender.

Gender Stereotypes

Oversimplified, often rigid, views about males and females.

Sex

Biological differences (e.g., reproductive organs, physical traits).

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes that society attributes to individuals based on their perceived sex.

Sexual Dimorphism

The differences in male and female biology (e.g., average height, strength, longevity).

Margaret Mead’s Study

Found variations in gender roles across cultures

Arapesh (Mead)

Both men and women were gentle.

Mundugumor (Mead)

Both men and women were aggressive.

Tchambuli

Men were seen as “catty”; women had leadership roles.

Gender Stratification

Unequal distribution of social rewards (power, resources, prestige) based on gender.

Where is gender stratification?

often higher in societies with a strong distinction between the public and private spheres.

Domestic-Public Dichotomy

The division between domestic (private) and public (work/social) spheres, with men typically associated with public roles and women with domestic roles. Public roles are often seen as more prestigious, reinforcing gender stratification.

Matrilineal Descent

Lineage traced through the mother's side.

Matrilocal Residence

Couples live with the wife’s family after marriage.

Patriarchy

A system where men hold the power and women have inferior social and political status.

Matriarchy

A system where women play a central role in social, economic, and ceremonial life (not necessarily having more power than men).

Do societies with patrilineal descent and patrilocal residence have greater gender stratification?

Yes

True or False: Patriarchal systems are often linked to higher rates of violence against women, including domestic abuse and practices like dowry murder and female infanticide.

True