Cultural Anthropology Lecture Notes - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the provided cultural anthropology notes.

Cultural Anthropology

The study of human cultures, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and other domains of social and cognitive organization.

Emic

Insider’s perspective in cultural anthropology; researcher uses an insider’s point of view and emphasizes subjective meaning.

Etic

Outsider’s perspective in cultural anthropology; researcher relies on external theories and concepts to study a culture.

Organizational Culture

A system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that guide behavior within an organization.

Artifacts (Organizational Culture)

Visible signs of an organizational culture, such as posters, dress codes, job titles, and workspace design.

Edgar Schein’s Organizational Culture Triangle

A model of organizational culture with layers including artifacts (visible signs), espoused values, and underlying assumptions.

Artifacts

Visible indicators of culture, such as symbols, rituals, and physical layout.

Espoused Values

The values and rules of conduct that are stated or adopted by leaders over time within an organization.

Fundamental Beliefs

Underlying, deeply held beliefs that shape an organization’s culture more than surface behaviors or stated values.

National Culture

The norms, beliefs, and values shared by the population of a nation.

Global Culture

Shared experiences, norms, symbols, and ideas that unite people at a global level.

Culture

The set of patterns of human activity within a community; derived from the Latin colere (to tend, grow, cultivate).

Cultural Diversity

The presence of multiple cultural groups in a society; often referred to as multiculturalism.

Social Distinctions

Differences among groups based on biological, physiological, and sociocultural factors (sex, age, ethnicity, status, etc.).

Social Distinction = Social Recognition

How a society perceives a group as distinct from others.

Cultural Practices

Norms, behaviors, and customs practiced by cultures locally and globally.

Cultural Heritage

Culturally learned customs, codes, and rules of behavior transmitted across generations; includes intangible and tangible heritage.

Intangible Heritage

Traditions and living expressions inherited from ancestors (oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, knowledge, etc.).

Tangible Cultural Heritage

Physical objects, places, and landscapes that have cultural significance.

Oral Traditions

Traditions and knowledge transmitted verbally across generations.

Socialization

Central process through which norms and values are transmitted from one generation to the next; helps form identity.

Primary Socialization

Early socialization by family and close friends, teaching basic norms and customs.

Secondary Socialization

Socialization within groups or organizations that are part of a larger community (e.g., clubs, schools) focusing on appropriate behaviors.

Anticipatory Socialization

Learning the values and expectations of groups one hopes to join in the future.

Professional/Developmental Socialization

Developing skills and attitudes for future roles and careers.

Enculturation

Learning your own culture.

Acculturation

Learning parts of another culture while maintaining aspects of your own.

Assimilation

Losing your own culture and fully adopting another culture.

Consanguineal Kinship

Kinship based on blood relations (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.).

Affinal Kinship

Kinship based on marriage (spouse, in-laws, relatives by marriage).

Fictive Kinship

Socially recognized relationships not based on blood or marriage (godparents, close friends treated as relatives, adoptive ties).

Patrilineal

Descent traced through the father’s line.

Matrilineal

Descent traced through the mother’s line.

Bilineal/Bilateral Kinship

Descent traced through both mother’s and father’s sides.

Monogamy

A marriage or union with one partner.

Polygamy

Having more than one spouse.

Polygyny

A man married to more than one wife.

Polyandry

A woman married to more than one husband.

Group Marriage

A marriage arrangement in which multiple husbands and wives share partners.

Ingroup

Groups to which an individual belongs and identifies with.

Outgroup

Groups to which an individual does not belong or identify with.

Reference Group

Groups used as a standard of comparison for attitudes, values, and behavior.

Kinship Patterns

Descent and marriage rules that structure family relationships (e.g., patrilineal, matrilineal, bilateral).

Descent

The system by which kin are traced through generations (patrilineal, matrilineal, bilateral).