ANT 2A - Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology Midterm 1 Study Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology course, focusing on anthropological theories, cultural concepts, and the critique of scientific racism.

Anthropology

The study of human beings, including their biological and cultural differences.

Sociocultural Anthropology

A subfield of anthropology that studies human social and cultural differences through time and space.

Linguistic Anthropology

The subfield of anthropology concerned with language and its relevance to human social life.

Archaeology

The study of human culture and differences through material remains.

Biological Anthropology

The investigation of human biological diversity through time and space.

Culture

Learned and shared meanings that mediate our relations with the broader social and material world.

Scientific Racism

The belief that humans can be divided into discrete biological races, each characterized by specific attributes and stereotypes.

Prejudice

Negative attitudes about a particular group or category of people.

Racism

The belief that racial differences are intrinsically linked to biological ancestry and determine social capabilities.

Monogenesis

The belief that all human races have a single origin.

Polygenesis

The belief that different races have independent origins.

Craniometry

The measurement of the skull and its dimensions, often used to support claims of racial superiority.

Hypodescent

The practice of assigning mixed-race people to the lower status race.

Cultural Relativism

The principle of understanding another culture in its own context without imposing judgments from one's own culture.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture is superior to others.

Social Race

A category of people regarded as having biological basis and social identity derived from cultural practices.

Empirical Problems

Issues stemming from reliance on inaccurate or poor data in research.

Unilinear Evolution

The theory that societies evolve in a single line of development from simple to complex.

Multilinear Evolution

The idea that different societies can evolve in various ways, not following a single path.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural traits and ideas from one society to another.

Imagined Communities

Socially constructed communities formed by individuals who perceive themselves as part of a larger group.

Transcreation

The adaptation of advertising messages from one language to another while maintaining emotional impact.

Qualisign

A sign that embodies a social or cultural quality, used in advertising to convey cultural significance.