Anthropology

1.1 - Definition of Anthropology / Subfields of Anthropology

Q: What is anthropology?
A: The study of humans around the world over time, focusing on biology and cultures.

Q: What is cultural anthropology?
A: The study of past and present cultures and how behaviors are learned.

Q: What is political and legal anthropology?
A: The study of issues like nationalism, citizenship, colonialism, and globalism.

Q: What is humanistic anthropology?
A: Examines personal, ethical, and political choices humans face.

Q: What is visual anthropology?
A: The study of how art and media influence humans.

Q: What is linguistic anthropology?
A: The study of language and its relation to culture over time.

Q: What do historical linguists study?
A: How languages relate and evolve.

Q: What is archaeology?
A: The study of past human cultures through artifacts and features.

Q: What is forensic anthropology?
A: The study of skeletonized human remains to understand past cultures or crimes.

Q: What is physical anthropology?
A: The study of human biological changes over time and similarities with other mammals.

Q: What is human variation?
A: The psychological differences between humans today.

Q: What is primatology?
A: The study of apes to understand human species.

Q: What is social anthropology?
A: The study of how societies differ and interact socially.

Q: Who was Charles Darwin?
A: An English naturalist (1809-1882) who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Q: Who was Jane Goodall?
A: A primatologist known for researching chimpanzees and their similarities to humans.

1.2 - Data Collection in Anthropology

Q: What is informed consent in anthropology?
A: Subjects must be informed about the purpose, information usage, and confidentiality level.

Q: What is participant observation?
A: When a researcher lives among subjects to gather information without judgment.

Q: Who was Bettylou Valentine?
A: An anthropologist who lived in rat- and roach-infested buildings for research.

Q: What is reflexivity in anthropology?
A: Researchers reflecting on their own biases and asking participants for feedback on their research.

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Q: What is qualitative research?
A: Open-ended, descriptive research using interviews and natural observation.

Q: What is quantitative research?
A: Numerical research using surveys and lab-based observation.

Interviews in Anthropology

Q: What are unstructured interviews?
A: Interviews without prepared questions, allowing for new research directions.

Q: What is a pro of unstructured interviews?
A: Allows researchers to explore new ideas.

Q: What is a con of unstructured interviews?
A: Time-consuming as subjects may go off track.

Q: What are structured interviews?
A: Interviews with fixed questions that do not change.

Q: What is a pro of structured interviews?
A: Anyone can conduct them without needing a prior relationship with interviewees.

Q: What is a con of structured interviews?
A: Questions cannot adapt to new situations.

1.3 - Kitty Genovese (The Bystander Effect)

Q: What happened to Kitty Genovese?
A: She was attacked and killed on March 13, 1964, outside her apartment.

Q: What is the bystander effect?
A: The idea that people are less likely to help in an emergency when others are present.

Q: What were the issues with the original New York Times article on the case?
A: It exaggerated witness inaction, claiming 38 people watched without intervening.

Q: What details were often ignored in the case?
A: Kitty Genovese was a lesbian, worked at a gay restaurant, and 911 didn't exist at the time.

1.5 - Factors Influencing Behavior and Culture

Q: What is globalization?
A: The interaction and integration of nations through trade, technology, and culture.

Q: How does the physical environment influence culture?
A: Natural disasters disrupt societies, economies, and traditions.

Q: How do pandemics affect societies?
A: They spread rapidly and impact global health and social structures.

Q: What is social learning?
A: Learning social behaviors by imitating others.

Q: What is cultural identity?
A: Understanding and connecting with one’s cultural group over time.

1.6 - Cultural Anthropology (Factors Influencing Human Behavior)

Q: How does technology influence culture?
A: It changes lifestyle, communication, and development.

Q: How do culture and language shape human behavior?
A: They influence identity, beliefs, and social interaction.

Q: What is structural functionalism?
A: The idea that cultures function to maintain stability and meet societal needs.

Q: What is cultural materialism?
A: The belief that material conditions shape culture, including technology and economy.

Q: What is feminist anthropology?
A: The study of gender roles, power dynamics, and women’s contributions.

Q: What is postmodern anthropology?
A: A perspective that questions objectivity and emphasizes multiple viewpoints.

1.7 & 1.8 - Human Evolution

Q: What was Charles Darwin’s theory?
A: The theory of natural selection—species evolve over time based on survival advantages.

Q: What was Gregor Mendel’s theory?
A: The theory of genetic inheritance—traits are passed through DNA.

Q: What did Raymond Dart discover?
A: A 2-million-year-old skull proving early humans walked upright.

1.9 - Great Apes and Charter Rights

Q: Why do some argue that great apes deserve rights?
A: They exhibit self-awareness, emotions, and advanced cognitive abilities.

Q: What country granted great apes legal personhood?
A: Spain.

Q: What is a potential consequence of granting apes rights?
A: It could impact animal captivity, research, and welfare laws.

1.10 - Cultural Relativism vs. Ethnocentrism

Q: What is cultural relativism?
A: The belief that cultures should be understood without comparison or judgment.

Q: What is ethnocentrism?
A: The belief that one’s own culture is superior.

1.11 - Linguistic Anthropology & Code-Switching

Q: What is code-switching?
A: Switching between languages or language styles based on social context.

Q: What is non-verbal communication?
A: Communication through facial expressions, body language, and appearance.

1.12 - Factors That Shape Culture

Q: How does technology shape culture?
A: It spreads innovations between cultures (e.g., air conditioning adoption).

Q: How does language shape culture?
A: It allows communication, survival, and adaptation.

1.15 - Rites of Passage

Q: What are the three stages of a rite of passage?
A: Segregation, transition, and incorporation.

1.16 - Cultural Forces in Groups

Q: What is formal justice?
A: Legal systems enforcing laws (e.g., courts).

Q: What is informal justice?
A: Community-based justice like Indigenous sentencing circles.

Q: What are placemakers?
A: People who create meaningful social spaces online and offline.