UCSP Reviewer (Quarter 1) - Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the major terms and concepts from the notes across anthropology, sociology, and political science.

Anthropology

The study of humanity, with a focus on human culture; from Greek anthropos (man) and logos (study).

Physical/Biological Anthropology

Subfield studying human biological variation across time and space, including genetics, growth, development, and primatology.

Cultural Anthropology

Subfield focusing on beliefs and daily life; study of human society and culture and their similarities/differences.

Archaeological Anthropology

Study of human behavior and cultural patterns through material remains.

Linguistic Anthropology

Focuses on language and identity; descriptive, comparative, and historical study of language across time, space, and society.

Applied Anthropology

Using anthropological knowledge to solve contemporary problems by applying theories and approaches.

Material Culture

Tangible parts of culture, such as clothes, food, and buildings.

Non-Material Culture

Intangible parts of culture, including values, norms, laws, sanctions, and knowledge.

Culture is Shared

Culture is shared among members of a group.

Culture is Learned

Culture is learned through socialization and interaction.

Culture is Adaptive

Culture adjusts to changing environments and situations.

Culture is Maladaptive

Cultural traits that may not be beneficial or may cause negative effects.

Culture Changes

Culture evolves and undergoes change over time.

Cross-cultural/Comparative Emphasis

Comparing economic systems, norms, beliefs, and practices across cultures.

Evolutionary/Historical Emphasis

Focus on ancient civilizations and the historical development of language and society.

Ecological Emphasis

Study of the relationship between humans and their environment.

Holistic Emphasis

Viewing humans as a whole—mind, body, society, and environment.

Sociology

Behavioral science that studies society; from socius (group) and logos (study).

Society

A group of people living together with a social system containing shared norms, culture, and territory.

Complex Whole

Society is a complex, integrated social system.

Large Size

Societies are relatively large and socially integrated.

Means for Socialization

Societal norms can be learned and taught to newcomers.

Endures, Produces, and Restraints Its Members for Generations

Society sustains and regulates generations through production, endurance, and social controls.

Common Culture

Members share a common set of cultural traits.

Definite Territory

Society occupies a specific geographic area.

Symbolic Interactionist Theory

Theory that people attach meanings to symbols and act according to those meanings.

Structural-Functional Theory

Also functionalism; views society as a complex system whose parts work together to maintain stability.

Social Conflict Theory

Theory viewing society as a competition for scarce resources; macroscale; associated with Karl Marx.

Political Science

Branch of social science dealing with government, power distribution, and political behavior; from Politika.

Politics (etymology)

From Greek Politika, meaning the affairs of the cities.

Political Institutions

The state, government agencies, political systems, and their functions.

Political Ideologies

Belief systems directing political, economic, and social action (e.g., democracy, monarchy, dictatorship).

Political Parties

Groups seeking to occupy public office.

Political Issues

Governmental and societal controversies (e.g., abortion, taxation, foreign policy, free trade).

Participation (Good Governance)

People have a voice in decision-making, directly or through intermediaries.

Rule of Law (Good Governance)

Fair, impartial enforcement of laws, including human rights.

Transparency (Good Governance)

Information is accessible and easy to understand for those concerned.

Responsiveness (Good Governance)

Institutions serve all stakeholders and consider the welfare of the majority.

Consensus Orientation (Good Governance)

Mediating differing interests to reach broad agreement.

Equity (Good Governance)

Law and governance promote social justice for all.

Effectiveness and Efficiency (Good Governance)

Institutions produce positive results in resource allocation and service delivery.

Accountability (Good Governance)

Public office as a public trust; decision-makers answer to the public.

Strategic Vision (Good Governance)

Long-term perspective on development and citizen needs.

Traditional/Historical Approach

Focus on events and development over time; uses history to understand governmental structures.

Scientific/Behavioralist Approach

Examines political processes and behavior; emphasizes empirical, observable phenomena.

Systems/Structural-Functional Approach

Highlights how government structures function together to maintain stability.

Political Economy Approach

Views politics and economics as interconnected; resource conflict and distribution.

Cultural Relativism

Analytical approach that evaluates cultures by their own standards without ranking them.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture; belief in superiority of one’s own group.

Xenocentrism

Typically defined as valuing other cultures over one’s own (opposite of ethnocentrism).

Emic View

Insider perspective; the culture’s members’ own words, beliefs, and perceptions.

Etic View

Outsider perspective; information gathered by an observer from outside the culture.

Culture (etymology and definition)

From Latin colere (to tend, cultivate); a set of patterns, knowledge, and way of life of a people.

National Culture

Beliefs and values shared by the population of a nation, including norms and customs.

Global Culture

Shared experiences, norms, symbols, and ideas that unite people worldwide.

Socialization

Process of internalizing the norms and ideologies of society; learning and teaching to sustain cultural continuity.

Primary Socialization

Birth to adolescence; early life influence from family and close friends.

Secondary Socialization

Ongoing learning in groups beyond the family; develops new behaviors.

Professional/Developmental Socialization

Learning to develop social skills and adapt to new adult roles (marriage, job).

Anticipatory Socialization

Learning the values and standards of groups one hopes to join to ease entry.

Re-Socialization

Giving up old values and norms to adapt to a new group.

Kinship

Culturally defined relationships among people; the web of social ties.

Affinity

Bond by marriage (in-laws and related relationships).

Consanguinity

Bond by blood (family by blood).

Fictive Kinship

Kinship by social courtesy (godparenthood, adoption).

Unilineality

Descent traced exclusively through one parental line (patrilineal or matrilineal).

Matrilineality

Descent traced through the female line.

Patrilineality

Descent traced through the male line (agnatic kinship).

Bilineal Descent

Descent and kinship ties traced through both maternal and paternal lines.