Anthropology 101 Exam 1

Anthropology

The study of human beings, their biology, their prehistory and histories, and their changing languages, cultures, and social institutions

Cultural Anthropology

Focuses on cultures, beliefs, and social practices

Ethnography

Detailed qualitative description of a culture through participant observation, interviews, and immersion. Primary method in cultural anthro

Archaeology

The study of past human societies through material remains like artifacts, structures, and other physical evidence

Biological anthropology

Focus on human evolution, genetics, and physical diversity

Primatology

(Study of primates) is a subfield of biological anthro. Studying closes living relatives to understand human evolution

Linguistic Anthropology

Studies relationship between language and culture

Phonology

(Sound)

Morphology

(Word structure)

Syntax

(Sentence structure)

Sociolinguistics

How language varies based on factors like class, gender, and race

Holistic

Looking at human beings as a whole - biologically, culturally, linguistically, and historically

Comparative Method

Comparing different cultures or societies to identify patterns

Cross cultural comparison

Technique in anthro to compare cultural traits or behaviors across different societies

Miner, Nacirema

Horace Miner wrote a satirical ethnographic article, "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema," where he describes American customs as if they were the practices of a strange, exotic culture. This challenges ethnocentrism and highlights how cultural practices can seem bizarre when viewed through an outsider's lens.

Homology

Refers to traits shared by different species due to common ancestry.

Terrestrial

Refers to animals that live primarily on the ground, such as many species of monkeys and humans.

Arboreal

Refers to animals that live primarily in trees, such as many primates like gibbons and lemurs.

Nocturnal

Active during the night. Many primates, especially Strepsirrhini like lemurs, are nocturnal.

Diurnal

Active during the day. Most Haplorhini primates (like monkeys and apes) are diurnal.

Trends in primate evolution

Evolutionary trends include bipedalism (walking on two legs), increased brain size, and more complex social behaviors.

Primate Taxonomy

Primates classified into two main suborders Strepsirrhini and Haplorhini

Strepsirrhini

Lemurs, galagos, lorises. Have a more developed sense of smell and are often nocturnal. Less complex social structures.

Haplorhini

Monkeys, apes, humans. Larger brains and mostly diurnal. Complex social structures.

New World Monkeys

Monkeys found in south and central america, typically with prehensile tails (tails that can grasp objects). Ex. spider monkeys and capuchins

Prehensile Tail

A tail capable of grasping and holding onto branches or other objects found in some New World Monkeys

Old World Monkeys

Monkeys found in africa and east asia. Unlike New World Monkeys, do not have prehensile tails and generally narrower nostrils. Ex. baboons and macaques

Sexual Dimorphism

Physical differences between males and females of a species

Apes

A group of primates that includes chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and humans. Apes are generally larger and more intelligent than monkeys and lack tails.

Shared Ape Traits

Traits common to all apes include larger brains, more complex social behaviors, and the ability to use tools.

Brachiation

A form of locomotion where animals swing from branch to branch using their arms. Gibbons are a prime example of brachiators.

Knuckle Walking

A form of quadrupedalism where primates like chimpanzees and gorillas walk on all fours, using their knuckles for support.

Common Chimpanzees vs Bonobos

Common chimpanzees are more aggressive and have male-dominated social structures. Bonobos, on the other hand, are more peaceful, have matriarchal societies, and resolve conflict through sexual behaviors.

Coalitionary Hunting

Cooperative hunting behaviors, seen in chimpanzees, where individuals work together to catch prey, like monkeys.

"Apes on a Plane"

Sarah Hrdy is a prominent primatologist. Her work focuses on how female primates, particularly apes, make strategic decisions about mating, reproduction, and social behaviors.

Human uniqueness

Refers to traits that distinguish humans from other primates, such as complex language, culture, and extended child-rearing.

Alloparents

Are non-parental individuals (e.g., grandparents, aunts, uncles) who help care for offspring.

Film Clip: Chimp Empire

Likely refers to a documentary or film about the social dynamics of chimpanzees. These films often highlight complex behaviors like cooperation, aggression, and family bonds.

Enculturation

Learning one's own society's culture.

Wink

Conscious, intentional gesture in communication.

Twitch

Involuntary movement, often unconscious.

Features of Culture

Characteristics defining culture's nature and impact.

Learned Culture

Culture passed down through generations, not innate.

Symbolic Culture

Uses symbols like language to convey meaning.

Dynamic Culture

Culture continuously changes and adapts over time.

Integrated Culture

Influences all aspects of life, including food.

Azande

Central African ethnic group with witchcraft beliefs.

Space in Azande Culture

Organization of world geographically and socially.

Influence of Culture

Shapes communication, values, and beliefs in life.

Naturalness of Culture

Feels instinctual but is socially learned.

Shared Culture

Collective beliefs and practices among society members.

Dominant Culture

Most widely accepted culture in a society.

Subculture

Distinct group within a larger culture.

Norms

Social rules guiding behavior in society.

Values

Core beliefs important to a society.

Globalization

Increased cultural interconnectedness through technology and trade.

Evolutionary Model

Cultural evolution based on technological advancement.

Anthropology and Colonialism

Anthropology's historical ties to colonial practices.

Eugenics

Discredited movement aiming to improve human genetics.

Historical Particularism

Franz Boas' theory of unique cultural development.

Long-Term Fieldwork

Malinowski's method for in-depth cultural understanding.

Rapport

Trust-building relationship between anthropologist and subjects.

Participant Observation

Research method involving immersion in daily life.

Key Informants

Knowledgeable individuals guiding anthropological research.

Life History

In-depth interviews revealing personal cultural experiences.

Emic Perspective

Insider's viewpoint studying a culture.

Etic Perspective

Outsider's analytical viewpoint on a culture.

Ethics of Fieldwork

Considerations for responsible anthropological research.

Informed Consent

Participants must agree to research voluntarily.

Confidentiality

Protecting identities of research participants.

Avoiding Harm

Preventing harm to study subjects.

Studying Migration

Understanding impacts of migration on identity and culture.

DeLeon

Anthropologist focusing on US-Mexico border migration.

Holmes

Anthropologist studying migration and border issues.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture is superior to others. This bias can lead to misinterpretation and judgment of other cultures based on one's own cultural standards.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that a culture should be understood and interpreted based on its own values and context, rather than being judged against the standards of another culture. It is a foundational principle in anthropology, helping researchers avoid ethnocentrism.

Differential Consequences of Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism can lead to misinterpretation of other cultures and reinforce stereotypes. In some cases, ethnocentric attitudes can cause harm, such as in the case of colonization or policies that marginalize certain groups.

Veiling and War on Terror

The practice of wearing a veil (such as the hijab) is often seen through ethnocentric lenses, especially in Western countries where it may be perceived as oppressive. The War on Terror has influenced how Muslims, particularly Muslim women, are perceived, with the veil becoming a symbol of political and cultural conflict.

Emic and Ethnocentric Interpretations

Different cultural practices can be interpreted from both emic (insider) and ethnocentric (outsider) perspectives, affecting understanding and judgment.

Lee ('Insulting the Meat')

Lee's article discusses the practice among the !Kung people of insulting the meat after a successful hunt. This practice, from an emic perspective, serves social functions (such as preventing arrogance and maintaining equality), but an ethnocentric view might judge it as disrespectful or strange.

Conklin ('Compassionate Cannibalism')

Conklin explores the practice of cannibalism among the Tupinamba people of Brazil. From an emic perspective, cannibalism is viewed as an expression of respect for the dead, while ethnocentric interpretations often deem it barbaric or uncivilized.

Rosaldo ('Head-Hunting')

In his study of the Ilongot people of the Philippines, Rosaldo examines headhunting as a response to grief and a way to cope with loss. Ethnocentric interpretations might condemn headhunting as barbaric, while an emic perspective helps understand its emotional and social significance.

Call System

A system of vocalizations used by animals to communicate basic information (e.g., danger calls). Unlike human language, it is fixed and context-specific.

Human Language

A complex system of communication that includes elements such as conventionality, productivity, and displacement.

Conventionality

Language is based on arbitrary symbols (e.g., words), and the meaning of these symbols is agreed upon by speakers of the language.

Productivity

The ability to create and understand an infinite number of new messages or ideas using a finite set of rules and symbols (words).

Displacement

The ability to talk about things that are not present in the immediate environment (e.g., past, future, or imaginary events).

Phonology

The study of sounds in language.

Phoneme

The smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word. For example, changing the first sound in 'pat' to 'bat' changes the meaning of the word.

Morphology

The study of the structure of words, including how they are formed and how they function.

Morpheme

The smallest meaningful unit of language, such as a root word, prefix, or suffix. For example, 'un-' in 'untie' is a morpheme.

Syntax

The set of rules that govern the structure of sentences in a language, including word order and agreement between subjects and verbs.

Focal Vocabulary

A set of words and terms that are specific to a particular culture or group, reflecting what is important or unique to that group's experiences.

Kinesics

The study of body movements and gestures as a form of communication.

Proxemics

The study of how people use space in communication, such as how far apart people stand when talking to each other.

Linguistic Change

The process by which languages evolve over time, including changes in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

Linguistic Variation in the US

Refers to the differences in language use across regions, social classes, ethnic groups, etc.

Sociolinguistics

The study of how language varies and is used in different social contexts.

Language Ideology

The beliefs, attitudes, and opinions people have about language and its use.

Language and Stratification (Gender, Class, Race)

The way that language reflects and reinforces social stratification by gender, class, and race.