Comprehensive Anthropology of Health, Kinship, Identity, and Globalization

Biomedical Model

Western medical approach focusing on biological causes and pathologies, seeing the body as a machine, separating mind and body, and treating illness individually.

Significance of Biomedical Model

Dominates global healthcare; often ignores cultural and social determinants of health.

Sociocultural Model

Health model that emphasizes cultural beliefs, values, and social structures in shaping health behaviors and outcomes.

Significance of Sociocultural Model

Encourages culturally appropriate, patient-centered care.

Interpersonal Theories of Disease

Attribute illness to human or supernatural agents (e.g., witches, spirits).

Significance of Interpersonal Theories of Disease

Shows how health beliefs are culturally specific and socially embedded.

Hot-Cold Theory of Disease

Classifies illnesses, foods, and treatments as "hot" or "cold" based on symbolic qualities; health is balance between them.

Significance of Hot-Cold Theory of Disease

Illustrates non-Western frameworks for understanding illness and healing.

Medical Pluralism

The coexistence of multiple medical systems, such as biomedicine and traditional healing.

Significance of Medical Pluralism

Demonstrates how people navigate diverse healing systems to achieve holistic health.

Culture-Bound Syndromes

Illnesses recognized in specific cultures, with culturally coherent explanations and treatments.

Significance of Culture-Bound Syndromes

Challenges universality of Western psychiatric diagnoses.

Idioms of Distress

Culturally meaningful ways of expressing and experiencing distress.

Significance of Idioms of Distress

Reveal the intersection of personal suffering and structural conditions.

Structural Violence

Social structures and institutions that systematically harm individuals by preventing them from meeting basic needs.

Significance of Structural Violence

Frames health disparities as outcomes of political and economic systems.

Kinship

"Mutuality of being" — persons who are part of each other's lives emotionally and socially; not limited to biology.

Significance of Kinship

Core concept in anthropology; highlights cultural variation in family structures.

Bilateral Kinship

Tracing descent through both mother and father.

Significance of Bilateral Kinship

Common in North America; shapes inheritance and identity.

Matrilineal Kinship

Tracing descent only through the mother's line.

Significance of Matrilineal Kinship

Seen in societies like the Mosuo; affects residence patterns and inheritance.

Patrilineal Kinship

Tracing descent only through the father's line.

Significance of Patrilineal Kinship

Common in rural Chinese families; linked to patrilocal residence.

Kin Type

Anthropological term for actual biological relationships.

Significance of Kin Type

Used for cross-cultural comparison.

Kin Term

Culture-specific vocabulary for family relationships.

Significance of Kin Term

Reflects cultural perceptions of relatedness.

Bride Service

Groom works for bride's family after marriage.

Significance of Bride Service

Marriage as social and economic exchange.

Matrilineage

Lineage traced through the female line.

Significance of Matrilineage

Organizes inheritance, land rights, and responsibilities.

Extended Family

Family group of three or more generations.

Significance of Extended Family

Common in many cultures; offers economic and social support.

Incest Taboo

Prohibition on sexual relations between certain kin.

Significance of Incest Taboo

Near-universal; reinforces social organization.

Clans

Unilineal descent groups claiming common ancestor.

Significance of Clans

Organize identity and group solidarity.

Exogamy

Marriage outside one's group.

Significance of Exogamy

Expands social alliances.

Endogamy

Marriage within one's group.

Significance of Endogamy

Maintains group boundaries.

Dowry

Goods/valuables from bride's family to groom's family or couple.

Significance of Dowry

Economic aspect of marriage; reflects gender roles.

Polygamy

Marriage to multiple spouses.

Significance of Polygamy

Shows cultural variation in marriage norms.

Polygyny

Man with multiple wives.

Significance of Polygyny

Often tied to wealth/status.

Polyandry

Woman with multiple husbands.

Significance of Polyandry

Often linked to resource management.

Partible Inheritance

Property divided among heirs.

Significance of Partible Inheritance

Influences wealth distribution.

Impartible Inheritance

Property passed undivided to one heir.

Significance of Impartible Inheritance

Maintains estate integrity.

Clinical Gaze (Foucault)

Medical focus on disease over the whole person; decontextualizes illness.

Significance of Clinical Gaze (Foucault)

Can depersonalize care and ignore structural causes.

Structural Competency

Ability to recognize and address structural determinants of health.

Significance of Structural Competency

Moves beyond cultural stereotyping in healthcare.

Imagined Community (Anderson)

Socially constructed sense of belonging to a group/nation, even among strangers.

Significance of Imagined Community (Anderson)

Explains formation of nationalism.

Nurture

Debate over whether behavior/identity is determined by biology or environment.

Biocultural Approach

Considers both biology and culture in shaping behavior.

Egocentric Self

Independent, self-contained view of the self.

Sociocentric Self

Self defined in relation to others/context.

Ethnic Identity

Shared sense of group due to common history, language, culture.

Rites of Passage (Van Gennep)

Rituals marking change in status: separation → liminality → reincorporation.

Principle of Reciprocity (Mauss)

Gifts create obligations to reciprocate.

Kula Ring

Ceremonial exchange network among Trobriand Islanders.

Potlatch

Ceremonial feast among Indigenous Northwest Coast groups; redistributes wealth and status.

Indigenous Peoples

Groups with precolonial ancestry, distinct culture, often seeking self-government.

Symbolic Violence (Bourdieu)

Internalized acceptance of inequality as natural.

Globalization

Intensification of worldwide social relations linking distant places.

Mediascapes / Technoscapes / Ethnoscapes / Financescapes / Ideoscapes (Appadurai)

Five dimensions of global cultural flows (media, technology, people, finance, ideas).

Neoliberalism

Economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention, free markets, and strong property rights.

Ideological State Apparatus (Althusser)

Institutions that reproduce dominant ideology through consent, not force.

Market Externalities

Hidden social/environmental costs not included in prices.

Applied Anthropology

Use of anthropological theory/methods to solve real-world problems outside academia.

Cultural Brokerage

Acting as a mediator between cultural groups.