Study Guide for Midterm Exam ANTH 120

The exam will consist of 50 multiple choice questions, each worth 2 points.

General Anthropology:
- Divided into four subdisciplines:
  - Cultural Anthropology
  - Anthropological Archaeology
  - Biological Anthropology
  - Linguistic Anthropology
Ethnocentrism:
- Definition: The practice of evaluating other cultures based on the standards of one's own culture.
Cultural Relativism:
- Definition: The principle of understanding other cultures in their own context, without bias.

Learned:
- Culture is not biologically inherited; it is learned through socialization.
Symbolic:
- Culture includes symbols that convey meaning.
Shared:
- Culture is shared among a group of people.
All-Encompassing:
- Culture encompasses all aspects of social life, influencing behavior, beliefs, and social norms.
Integrated:
- Elements of culture are interconnected and influence one another.
Adaptive:
- Cultures can evolve and adapt to changes in the environment.
Universal and Particular:
- Some elements are universal across cultures, while others are unique to specific cultures.

Observation and Participant Observation:
- Key research method involving immersive engagement in the community being studied.
Conversations and Interviewing:
- Collecting qualitative data through informal and formal discussions.
Key Cultural Consultants:
- Individuals who provide insight into the culture being studied, often referred to as informants.
Life Histories:
- Detailed accounts of an individual’s experiences that contextualize cultural phenomena.
Longitudinal Study:
- Research conducted over a long period to observe changes and continuities in culture.
Emic and Etic:
- Emic: Perspective from within the culture.
- Etic: Perspective from outside the culture.

Ethnicity:
- Shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group from another.
Ethnic Identity:
- The self-identification of individuals with a particular ethnic group.
Race:
- Socially constructed category based on perceived physical differences.
Phenotype:
- Observable physical characteristics influenced by genetics and environment.
Plural Society:
- A society characterized by two or more culturally distinct groups coexisting.
Colonialism:
- The practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, exploiting it economically.
Stratified:
- A hierarchical structure within society, often based on class or race.

Adaptive Strategy:
- Methods by which societies obtain food and resources necessary for survival.
Agriculture:
- Systematic cultivation of plants and domestication of animals for food.
Band:
- A small, typically nomadic group of people that live and work together.
Food Production:
- The cultivation and harvesting of food resources.
Foraging:
- The act of gathering wild plants and hunting for food.
Horticulture:
- Gardening practices involving the cultivation of plants for subsistence.
Pastoralists:
- Groups that rely on the herding of animals for food and resources.
Reciprocity:
- An exchange process where goods or services are exchanged among people, promoting social ties.

Plural Society: (reiteration)
Social Control:
- Mechanisms, strategies, and institutions used to maintain social order and conformity.
Types and Trends:
- Elman Service’s Sociopolitical Typology: Categorizes societies into:
  - Band: Small, decentralized communities that govern themselves.
  - Tribe: Larger than bands; kinship-based societies that may have informal leadership.
  - Chiefdom: Political organization with a hierarchical structure led by a chief.
  - States: Centralized political entities with formal governments.
  - Capitalist Economy and Market Principles: Economic systems based on private ownership and market exchange.

The * indicates concepts read about and discussed in the class as part of student-led article presentations. Students should understand how these concepts fit into the larger context of anthropology.