Study Guide for Midterm Exam ANTH 120

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminologies relevant to the ANTH 120 midterm exam, aiding in the revision of anthropological theories and methods.

General Anthropology

The study that encompasses four subdisciplines: Cultural, Archaeological, Biological, and Linguistic Anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology

A subdiscipline of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group.

Cultural Relativism

The practice of understanding a culture on its own terms without judgment.

Symbolic

Representing ideas or qualities through symbols during cultural expression.

Integrated

The interconnectedness of various aspects of culture.

Emic and Etic

Emic refers to an insider's perspective, while Etic refers to an outsider's perspective in cultural analysis.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural heritage or identity based on common cultural traits.

Race

A socially constructed category based on perceived physical differences.

Phenotype

Observable characteristics of an organism, including appearance.

Colonialism

The practice of acquiring control over another territory or people, often through force.

Adaptive strategy

Methods employed by societies to acquire food and sustain their population.

Foraging

A subsistence method involving the gathering of wild plants and hunting animals.

Reciprocity

A social exchange that involves mutual giving and receiving.

Plural Society

A society composed of multiple cultural groups that maintain their distinct identities.

Political systems

The structures and processes through which authority is exercised in a society.

Elman Service’s sociopolitical typology

A classification of societies based on their political organization into bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states.