Anthropology

What do anthropologists study?

The study of human societies, cultures and their development.

### Kinship

(human relations through mating, genealogy, adoption) is defined by different cultures differently.

### Fictive Kinship

are constructed kinships such close family friends who are like family, Godparents, etc.

### Patriarchy/Matriarchy

Patriarchy sets the father as the head of the family and as such is typically responsible for decision-making and earning an income.   This also includes the subornation of other family members to the patriarch (from mild to very strong).

### School of thought

A perspective within a field of study

### Institution

Organizations, laws, practices, customs

### Binary Opposite

A pair of direct and exact opposites like good and evil

### Materialism

Technological and economic factors are of the highest importance

### Determinism

An outcome/result is determined by preceding factors

### Infrastructure

Goods, services, materials needed for survival and prosperity

### Functionalism

Studies problems in society and how institutions meet those needs

### Structuralism

Studies what makes culture unique

### Cultural Materialism

Technological and economic aspects

### Intuition

Intuition: To Think Based on Personal Experience or Feelings

### Knowledge

Knowledge: To Know Based on Empirical Evidence Through Research/Experimentation

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Why is scientific research important?

* Some things are an obvious part of human experience (or is in some cultures).
* Other beliefs widely held to be true are in fact false (ex. the death penalty reduces murder rates).
* Social sciences separate fact from fiction, even when those fictions are widely held to be fact.