1: Anthropology and Human Diversity

the comparative study of human societies and cultures.

anthropology

the use of anthropology in both public and private sectors to solve real-world problems.

applied anthropology

the study of past cultures through their material remains.

archaeology

the study of humankind from a biological perspective.

biological (or physical) anthropology

the study of human society and culture. Cultural anthropologists focus on current-day culture and the cultures, as well as cultures of the recent past.

cultural anthropology

the idea that a people's values and customs must be understood in terms of the culture to which they belong.

cultural relativism

the major way in which human beings adapt to their environments and give meaning to their lives.

culture

a perspective that attempts to capture the meaning of ideas and practices to members of a culture.

emic (perspective)

the idea that one's own culture is superior to any other.

ethnocentrism

the description of society or culture.

ethnography

is the attempt to find general principles or laws that govern culture.

ethnology

a perspective that focuses on understanding culture according to principles drawn from Western scientific traditions.

etic (perspective)

in anthropology, combining the study of human biology, history, and culture.

holistic/holism

the branch of anthropology concerned with understanding language and its relation to culture.

linguistic anthropology

long-term fieldwork that involves gathering data by observing and participating in people's lives.

participant observation

beliefs, actions, and patterns of social organization that exclude individuals and groups from the equal exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on perceived biological differences.

racism

a group of people persisting through time and the social relationships among these people—their statuses and roles.

society