ANTH 1000 Exam 1 pt.1 - UConn/Williamson

Paleoanthropology

fossil remains and genetic origins

Archeology

(study material culture) (study of past human cultures)

Material Culture

objects, used or displayed, that become part of everyday life and identity

Cultural Anthropology

(living, changing cultures) (study of present and future)

Culture

a set of learned behaviors and beliefs which humans use to CREATE SOCIAL NETWORKS and adapt and change their environment in order to increase their chances of survival

Social Networks

complex matrix of relationships. It's not the quantity of network but quality that is important

FOMO

fear of missing out (people strive to belong)

Cooperation

on small and large scale has allowed for human survival

Enculturation

the process of learning the appropriate behaviors and beliefs of our culture

Sanctions

punishment for the violation of the enculturation process

External Sanctions

depriving someone of their wealth, freedom or life

Internal Sanctions

depriving someone of connection to the group

Reflexivity

trying to understand why you believe what you believe

Cultural Relativism

trying to put yourself in the place of others to see their life through your eyes

Ethnocentrism

see the world only through your eyes and believe what you do in your life is normal and right

Symbolic Communication

the abstract representation of reality in order to explain and control the world

Swastika

ancient symbol meaning good luck or positive energy

The Stars and Bars

Confederate flag

What are the three fundamental questions asked by Anthropology?

What are our origins?

How can we understand human behavior?

How do the decisions we make today change who we are tomorrow?

What are the three reasons why the study of culture is both fascinating and frustrating?

1) complex

2) always changing

3) invisible

What do we mean when we say that culture is invisible?

???

What kind of behavior was most responsible for human survival?

cooperation

How did the survival of early humanity depend on Social Networks?

???

Explain what we mean when we say that all cultures are dynamic. Why is this not always obvious?

cultures change at different rates of speed. Traditional cultures change at a slower rate then contemporary cultures.

What is the "great paradox of culture"?

While all cultures limit our choices, without our relationship with other people (belonging to a culture) we could never reach our full potential as human beings

What are the four main contributions that culture makes to our lives?

1) Foundation of Identity: we take this foundation and craft it to fit our individual nature

2) Goals to Pursue: every culture has goals that are set

3) Explanation of Reality: science vs. religion

4) The Meaning of Life: start to question the meaning of life

What are the three main ways in which we are enculturated? What is thee main purpose of enculturation?

1) Ethics (the rules of life)

2) Laws and Customs

3) Symbolic Language

To pass on the values of a culture in order to ensure lots survival

Example of Internal Sanction

Park in the wrong spot and receive a parking ticket (taking away wealth), commit a crime and go to jail (taking away freedom)

Example of External Sanction

Being ostracized or given the silent treatment, shame, guilt, humiliation

Truth is cultural and historical not universal and eternal

Truths change between cultures and change over time

What is one reason s to why humans are ethnocentric?

The power of enculturation, the invisibility of culture

What are four ways that symbolic thinking contributed to human survival?

1) learn from the past

2) control the past

3) plan for the future

4) recognize patterns in nature

What are three main forms of symbolic communication?

1) Language: generations speak symbolically, through technology as well

2) Gestures: how we stand, use our hands, facial expressions

3) Objects: clothes you wear, car you drive, technology you use, a tattoo could change meaning between the New Zealand Maori and American culture

What are three kinds of symbols that Universities use to create identity?

1) colors to represent the university

2) mascot to represent university's sport teams

3) emblem/seal to represent the university

What is one important way that humans use their body to symbolically communicate information?

through a smile

What are the two main categories of symbols?

1) Explicit: one accepted meaning, non-controversial

2) Implicit: more than one meaning, can be very controversial

Example of Explicit Symbol

traffic lights

Example of Implicit Symbol

swastika, confederate flag

What are two ways that the Swastika might be interpreted?

1) the symbol is used on a Buddha statue, Navajo art, and even a scout medal from the 45th Infantry Division U.S. Army (<1942)

2) the symbol was adopted by the NAZI's

What are three kinds of cultures represented by the Confederate flag?

1) Southern Culture: "you wouldn't understand, its a southern thing" Just part of culture of the south just like New England has things that are different as well

2) Outlaw Culture: "We are the only free people, we do whatever the hell we want" type of culture. "Sheepel" are people who follow the rules and do not rebel

3) Terrorist Culture: People who belong to terrorist organizations use the symbol to intimidate/induce fear in people to show that America belongs to whites (Ku Klux Klan)