Introduction to Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology Lecture Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts in Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology based on lecture notes.

Cultural Anthropology

A branch of anthropology that analyzes the cultures and social organizations of living people, studying both past and present cultures.

Ethnology

The study of the origins and cultures of different groups and peoples, often involving immersion in a culture for months or years.

Ethnography

A written account of a specific culture based on research and observation.

Participant Observation

A primary research tool where the researcher interacts with the group being observed.

Reflexivity

The practice of a researcher reflecting on their own worldview and biases to ensure they do not interfere with observations.

Historical Linguistics

The study of similarities and differences between languages from the past and the present, associated with Edward Sapir.

Structural Linguistics

The study of how sounds are put together to create meaning, associated with Noam Chomsky.

Sociolinguistics

The study of how language is used to express status and context, associated with Roger Brown and Marguerite Ford.

Archaeology

The study of physical remains of a past culture through excavation and reconstruction.

Paleo-anthropology

The study of bone and stone remains of ancient ancestors from millions of years ago, specifically focusing on fossils.

Primatology

The study of the anatomy and behaviors of living primates.

Environmental Fitness

The principle that individuals best adapted to their environment will produce more offspring and pass traits to the next generation.

Rites of Passage

A three-stage process (Segregation, Transition, and Incorporation/Reintegration) marking progress from one phase of life to another.

Kinship

Social relationships that led to important economic trade relationships between bands in hunter-gathering and agricultural societies.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's theory of unlocking the unconscious mind to resolve conflicted feelings.

ID

The part of Freud's personality formation representing instinctual desires or "what you want."

EGO

The part of Freud's personality formation that seeks to fulfill desires in a realistic way.

SUPEREGO

The part of Freud's personality formation that acts as a moral conscience, thinking about what is right.

Repression

A defense mechanism where the mind pushes away uncomfortable thoughts, desires, or memories.

Oedipus Complex

A concept in the Phallic stage where boys unconsciously desire their mothers and compete with their fathers.

Object Permanence

A cognitive development concept occurring between birth and $2$ years where a child understands that objects continue to exist even when not seen.

Strange Situation Experiment

An experiment by Mary Ainsworth used to identify child attachment styles, such as Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Ambivalent, and Disorganized.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus, associated with Pavlov.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for voluntary behavior, associated with Skinner.

Broca's Area

An area in the Frontal Lobe responsible for speech production and the formation of words.

Wernicke's Area

An area in the Temporal Lobe that helps humans understand spoken language.

Bystander Apathy

A social phenomenon where individuals do not offer help to a victim when other people are present.

Diffusion of Responsibility

A reason for bystander apathy where individuals assume someone else will help, so they do not have to.

Catatonic Schizophrenia

A severe case of schizophrenia where the patient becomes rigid and mute.

Nature Theory

The belief that certain aspects of human behavior are inborn or result from genetic structure.

Nurture Theory

The belief that certain aspects of behavior are learned or developed through social interaction.

Macro Sociology

The study of social systems and institutions on a large scale.

Conflict Theory

A theory suggesting that social institutions primarily serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful rather than everyone equally.

Looking Glass Theory

Charles Horton Cooley's theory that individuals base their sense of self on how they believe others perceive them.

Prejudice

A preconceived, often negative opinion or attitude formed before having actual knowledge or experience.

Discrimination

Unfair action or behavior directed at a person or group based on their social identity.

Bipedalism

One of the "Steps to Humanness" defined as the ability to walk on $2$ feet.