CA Exam 1 ( 2B )

100 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, emic/etic perspectives, power, ethics, and related topics.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture; often involves stereotypes or romanticization.

Cultural Relativism

The principle that behavior should be understood within its own cultural context; methodological step.

Emic Perspective

Insider view within a cultural group.

Etic Perspective

Outsider/analytic view of a culture.

Nacirema

Term describing American culture as studied by outsiders; used to illustrate emic vs etic.

Humanization

Process of producing and maintaining human beings, societies, and cultures via social power at the household level.

Kinship

The social network of relatives and family ties that transmits culture.

Cultural Transmission

The process by which culture is passed from generation to generation.

Social Power

The ability to influence others for personal advantage.

Ideological Power

Control over beliefs and what is accepted as truth.

Economic Power

Ability to direct the labor of others to one’s advantage.

Political Power

Centralized and territorial regulation of social life.

Military Power

Organization of concentrated and lethal violence.

Dunbar’s Number

The average number of stable social relationships; about 150 in humans.

Neocortex

Brain region linked to higher cognitive functions; relates to social network size.

Social Intelligence

The ability to imagine what others are thinking and feel.

Tribal Organization

Social form organized around kin-based groups (tribes).

Imperial Organization

Centralized political organization (chiefdoms/states).

Commercial Organization

Global market-based system.

Reg Regulation (Function of Culture)

Function of culture that governs behavior.

Maintenance (Function of Culture)

Function of culture that preserves norms and institutions.

Survival and Reproduction (Function)

Function of culture that ensures life and reproductive success.

Fitness Enhancement

Cultural traits that improve reproductive success.

Adaptive Culture

Cultural traits that help populations adapt to the environment.

Maladaptive Culture

Cultural traits that hinder adaptation or well-being.

Summum Bonum

The highest good; the ultimate aim of life within a culture.

Irreducible Minimum

The minimal material conditions required for life and well-being.

Delusion of Progress

The belief that society is always progressing, often overlooking inequality.

Unilineal Cultural Evolution

19th-century ranking of cultures from savagery to civilization; Eurocentric.

Eurocentrism

Worldview centered on European/Western norms and values.

Frames of Reference

Mental frameworks used to interpret the world.

Culture as Mental Structure

The idea that culture is partly a mental construct.

Do No Harm

Ethical maxim to avoid harming people in research.

AAA Ethics Statement

Guidelines by the American Anthropological Association for ethical practice.

Applied Value of Anthropology

Using anthropological knowledge to promote well-being, justice, and sustainability.

Colonialism

Domination and exploitation of one group by another.

Racism

Belief in racial hierarchies and discriminatory practices.

Human Rights

Rights based on justice and morality beyond cultures or nations.

Are Human Rights Universal?

The question of whether rights apply universally across cultures.

Universal Rights

The idea that human rights are universal.

Cultural Relativism as Methodological Step

Using relativism as a research approach to study cultures on their own terms.

Lila Abu-Lughod

Anthropologist known for critical view of Western savior narratives about Muslim women.

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?

Abu-Lughod’s article arguing against Western savior narratives and for cultural relativism.

Veil

Face- or head-covering worn by some Muslim women; central to debates on rights and culture.

Hijab

Headscarf covering hair worn for religious/cultural reasons.

Burqa

Full-face veil that covers the face and eyes.

Burqa Ban

Laws banning full-face coverings (noted as occurring in multiple countries).

The Good Life

Culturally defined notion of an ideal life.

Three Cultural Worlds

Distinction by power organization: Tribal, Imperial, Commercial.

Tribal

Social form organized around kin-based groups.

Imperial

Centralized, hierarchical political organization (chiefdoms/states).

Commercial

Global system based on commerce and exchange.

Emic vs Etic (Distinctions)

Difference between insider (emic) and outsider (etic) viewpoints in analysis.

Cultural Frames of Reference

Shared mental frameworks used to interpret events.

Mental Representation of Culture

Culture partly exists as mental constructs and meanings.

Regulation of Social Life

Culture’s role in shaping norms and rules in a society.

Social Organization

Arrangement of people into families, kin groups, and institutions.

Language and Symbols

Verbal and symbolic communication within a culture.

Material Culture

Physical objects created by a culture.

Adaptation

Process of adjusting to environmental conditions.

Cultural Variation

Differences in beliefs, practices, and values across cultures.

Ethnography

Systematic study and description of a culture.

Fieldwork Ethics

Ethical considerations in collecting data in communities.

Savagery to Civilization

Part of unilineal evolution: the progression from 'savage' to 'civilized'.

Health and Well-being

Capturing how culture shapes health outcomes and life quality.

Social Justice

Efforts to promote fairness and rights within societies.

Social Sustainability

Long-term viability of social systems and cultures.

Cultural Construct of the Good Life

Idea that the good life is defined by cultural norms and values.

Global Inequality

Unequal distribution of resources across populations.

Poverty in the Modern World

Economic disparities within and between societies.

Cultural Change

Transformation of cultural practices and beliefs over time.

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness and interdependence among cultures.

Ethnography Methods

Qualitative approaches such as participant observation, interviews.

Symbolic Communication

Use of symbols and language to convey meaning within culture.

Non-material Culture

Beliefs, values, norms, and symbols—non-physical aspects of culture.

Norms

Social rules that guide acceptable behavior.

Beliefs

Convictions considered true within a culture.

Practices

Recurrent actions embedded in culture.

Values

Shared principles guiding behavior and judgment.

Cultural Identity

Sense of belonging to a cultural group.

Cultural Knowledge

Information and practices that a culture holds and teaches.

Worldviews

Overall perspective through which a culture interprets reality.

Cultural Change Agents

People or processes driving cultural transformation (e.g., globalization, technology).

Ethics in Publication

Ethical considerations in reporting and disseminating research.

Human Flourishing

State of well-being and thriving within a cultural context.

Cultural Ecology

Study of how culture and environment influence each other.

Symbolic Violence

(Note: not explicitly in the notes, included as a concept often discussed in related literature)

World Systems Concept

Framework for understanding global interconnections (implicitly linked to Commercial World).