Anthropological_Conceptualization_of_Self

What is the primary focus of anthropology?

Anthropology is concerned with how cultural and biological processes interact to shape human experience.

According to Edward Tylor, what is culture?

Culture is defined as a complex whole including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

What are the two main influences on the development of the self according to anthropological perspectives?

Both biological (nature) and cultural (nurture) factors have significant influence in the development of the self.

What does Martin Sokefeld believe about the concept of self in anthropology?

Sokefeld believes that the concept of self is a necessary supplement to the concept of culture and should be regarded as a human universal.

How is identity primarily understood in social anthropology?

Identity is used in the context of 'ethnic identity', pointing out the sameness of the self with others within a group.

What is an egocentric view of the self?

An egocentric view sees the self as an autonomous and distinct individual capable of acting independently from others.

What is a sociocentric view of the self?

A sociocentric view sees the self as contingent on a situation or social setting, indicating context-dependent identity.

What role do personal names play in cultural identity?

Personal names represent the self and are intimate markers differentiating individuals from others, symbolizing their cultural identity.

What are the three phases of the rite of passage according to Arnold van Gennep?

The three phases are separation, liminality, and incorporation.

What is the 'identity toolbox' concept in anthropology?

The identity toolbox refers to features of a person's identity that he or she chooses to emphasize in constructing a social self.

How does Katherine Ewing describe the 'Illusion of Wholeness'?

Ewing describes it as how individual selves continuously reconstitute themselves into new selves in response to internal and external stimuli, creating an illusory sense of cohesiveness and continuity.

What does Clifford Geertz emphasize about culture?

Geertz emphasizes that culture is a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms through which humans communicate and understand life.

How does Geertz define humans in relation to culture?

Humans are considered cultural animals who create meanings of objects, persons, behaviors, emotions, and events, operating based on shared meanings in their culture.

What is the significance of cultural control mechanisms according to Geertz?

Geertz suggests that cultural programs are necessary for ordering behavior, emphasizing that man is dependent on outside-the-skin control mechanisms for his actions.