Questions and Answers
What is anthropology?
the study of the human nature, human society, and the human past.
What does holism refer to in anthropology?
a characteristic that integrates all knowledge about human beings and their activities.
What is the concept of comparison in anthropology?
the consideration of similarities and differences in a wide range of human societies.
What does evolution in the anthropological perspective entail?
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What is culture?
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What does the term biocultural organism refer to?
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What is meant by material culture?
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What are races in a social context?
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What is racism?
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What does biological anthropology study?
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What is primatology?
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What is paleoanthropology?
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What is the focus of cultural anthropology?
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What distinguishes sex in humans?
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What is gender?
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What does fieldwork involve in anthropology?
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Who are informants in an anthropological context?
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What is ethnography?
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What does language encompass?
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What is linguistic anthropology?
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What does archaeology study?
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What is applied archaeology?
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What does medical anthropology focus on?
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Study Notes
Understanding Anthropology
- Anthropology examines human nature, society, and history.
- It integrates various disciplines to provide comprehensive understanding of humanity.
Key Characteristics of Anthropology
- Holism: Seeks to understand humanity as an interconnected whole, surpassing the sum of individual components.
- Comparison: Focuses on identifying similarities and differences across diverse cultures before making generalizations.
- Evolution: Considers historical changes and developments over time in relation to human behavior and societies.
Concepts of Culture
- Culture: Encompasses learned behaviors and ideas acquired within societal contexts.
- Material Culture: Refers to physical objects shaped by human societies and affected by cultural practices.
- Biocultural Organism: Highlights the interplay of biological and cultural factors in defining human characteristics.
Social Constructs and Their Implications
- Race: Social categories purportedly reflecting biological differences.
- Racism: Systematic oppression of certain races justified by perceived biological superiority.
Subfields of Anthropology
- Biological Anthropology: Studies humans as biological entities, examining distinguishing and shared traits with other organisms.
- Primatology: Investigates the behavior and biology of nonhuman primates, humanity's closest relatives.
- Paleoanthropology: Searches for fossil remains to uncover humanity's ancient ancestors.
- Cultural Anthropology: Explores cultural variations in behaviors and learned practices among human groups.
- Linguistic Anthropology: Examines human languages and their roles in society.
- Archaeology: Investigates the past through material remains left by earlier civilizations and societies.
- Applied Archaeology: Utilizes findings from anthropology to address practical cross-cultural challenges.
- Medical Anthropology: Understands health, disease, and societal responses to illness across cultures.
Gender and Sex
- Sex: Biological characteristics distinguishing males from females, essential for reproduction.
- Gender: Socially constructed beliefs and behaviors attributed to each sex, reflecting cultural norms.
Research Practices
- Fieldwork: Engages anthropologists in close, immersive study of communities, essential for data collection.
- Informants: Local individuals who provide insights into their culture, aiding anthropological research.
- Ethnography: Comprehensive written or visual descriptions crafted by anthropologists, depicting particular cultures.
- Language: The system of vocal symbols used to represent human experiences and interactions.
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Description
Explore the foundational concepts of anthropology with these flashcards. Learn about key terms such as 'anthropology' and 'holism' that define the anthropological perspective and its inclusive approach to understanding human beings and their activities.
