Anthropology Midterm Quiz & Flashcards on Subdisciplines

Questions and Answers

What are the four subdisciplines of anthropology?

Genetic anthropology, physical anthropology, psychological anthropology, and anthropology and linguistics

Medical anthropology, ethnography, ethnology, and cultural anthropology

Archaeology, biological anthropology, applied linguistics, and applied anthropology

Primatology, ethnology, cultural anthropology, and paleoscatology

Biological (or physical) anthropology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology (correct)

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans

Is an important historical reason for the development of four-field anthropology in the U.S. (correct)

Is unique to European anthropology.

Was replaced in the 1930s by the two-field approach.

Proved early on that culture is a function of race.

Was more important than interest in the relation between biology and culture in the development of U.S. four-field anthropology.

How are the four subfields of U.S. anthropology unified?

Each subfield studies the human capacity for language.

Each subfield studies human variation through time and space. (correct)

The subfields really are not unified; their grouping into one discipline is a historical accident.

Each subfield studies human biological variability.

Each subfield studies human genetic variation through time and space.

Cultural anthropologists carry out their fieldwork in

All kinds of societies. Signup and view all the answers

Ethnography is the

Fieldwork component of cultural anthropology. Signup and view all the answers

What is anthropology?

The study of humans around the world and through time. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes biological anthropology?

The study of human biological diversity. Signup and view all the answers

Primatology is a specialty within

Biological anthropology. Signup and view all the answers

Linguistic anthropology

Includes sociolinguistics, descriptive linguistics, and the study of the biological basis for speech. Signup and view all the answers

Applied anthropology

Encompasses any use of the knowledge and/or techniques of its four subfields to identify, assess, and solve practical problems. Signup and view all the answers

Anthropology is a science, yet it has been suggested that anthropology is among the most humanistic of all academic fields. This is because

Of its fundamental respect for human diversity. Signup and view all the answers

A holistic and comparative perspective

Most characterizes anthropology when compared to other disciplines that study humans. Signup and view all the answers

Humans can adapt to their surroundings through both biological and cultural means.

True Signup and view all the answers

Adaptation refers to the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses, such as those posed by climate and topography.

True Signup and view all the answers

Archaeologists study only prehistoric communities.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which children learn a particular cultural tradition?

Enculturation Signup and view all the answers

The presence of more efficient respiratory systems to extract oxygen from the air among human populations living at high elevations is an example of which form of adaptation?

Long-term physiological adaptation Signup and view all the answers

Over time, humans have become increasingly dependent on which of the following in order to cope with the range of environments they have occupied in time and space?

Cultural means of adaptation Signup and view all the answers

Anthropologists study only non-Western cultures.

False Signup and view all the answers

Culture can be adaptive or maladaptive. It is maladaptive when

Cultural traits, patterns, and inventions threaten the group's continued survival and reproduction and thus its very existence. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a cultural generality?

The nuclear family Signup and view all the answers

What are cultural particularities?

Traits unique to a given culture, not shared with others Signup and view all the answers

The tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to use one's own standards and values in judging others is called

Ethnocentrism Signup and view all the answers

In anthropology, cultural relativism is not a moral position but a methodological one. It states that

To understand another culture fully, we must try to understand how the people in that culture see things. Signup and view all the answers

Human rights are seen as inalienable. This means that

Nations cannot abridge or terminate them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the kind of cultural change that results when two or more cultures have consistent firsthand contact?

Acculturation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of independent invention, the process by which people in different societies have innovated and changed in similar but independent ways?

Agriculture Signup and view all the answers

Cultures are integrated, patterned systems in which a change in one part often leads to changes in other parts.

True Signup and view all the answers

Although humans do employ tools much more than any other animal does, tool use also turns up among several nonhuman species, including birds, beavers, sea otters, and apes.

True Signup and view all the answers

Regarding human capacity for culture, anthropologists agree that

Although individuals differ in their emotional and intellectual capacities, all human populations have equivalent capacities for culture. Signup and view all the answers

Cultural particularities are unique to certain cultures, while cultural generalities are common to several (but not all) cultures.

True Signup and view all the answers

Cultural relativists believe that a culture should be judged only according to the standards and traditions of that culture and not according to the standards of other cultural traditions.

True Signup and view all the answers

Diffusion plays an important role in spreading cultural traits around the world.

True Signup and view all the answers

Anthropologist Clifford Geertz defined culture as ideas based on cultural learning and symbols. For anthropologist Leslie White, culture originated when our ancestors acquired the ability to use symbols. What is a symbol?

Something verbal or nonverbal within a particular language or culture that comes to stand for something else, with no necessary or natural connection to the thing for which it stands. Signup and view all the answers

In many countries, use of the English language reflects a colonial history and is thus a consequence of forced diffusion.

True Signup and view all the answers

Independent invention occurs when two or more cultures independently come up with similar solutions to a common problem.

True Signup and view all the answers

Acculturation is the process by which people lose the culture they learned as children.

False Signup and view all the answers

People must eat, but culture teaches us what, when, and how to do so. This is an example of how

Culture takes the natural biological urges we share with other animals and teaches us how to express them in particular ways. Signup and view all the answers

Something, verbal or nonverbal, that stands for something else is known as a

Symbol Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Subdisciplines of Anthropology

Four main subdisciplines: biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology.
Each subfield examines human diversity across time and space.

Historical Context

Early interest in Native North Americans catalyzed the development of four-field anthropology in the U.S.
Focus on cultural aspects strengthened the discipline's foundations.

Unity of Anthropology

The four subfields are unified through their exploration of human variation over time and space.

Fieldwork in Cultural Anthropology

Cultural anthropologists conduct fieldwork in diverse societies, not limited to specific regions.

Key Concepts in Anthropology

Ethnography represents the fieldwork component of cultural anthropology.
Anthropology studies humans globally and throughout history, emphasizing cultural adaptations.

Specializations

Primatology is a branch of biological anthropology focused on primates.
Linguistic anthropology spans sociolinguistics, descriptive linguistics, and the biological basis of speech.

Applied Anthropology

Encompasses the practical application of anthropological methods to real-world problems.

Human Rights

Human rights are considered inalienable, meaning they cannot be revoked by any government or authority.

Cultural Change

Acculturation occurs when cultures interact directly and influence each other.
Independent invention refers to similar innovations emerging separately in different cultures.

Cultural Integration

Cultures function as integrated systems, where changes in one aspect often impact others.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture.
Cultural relativism promotes understanding based on the perspectives of other cultures without imposing one's own values.

Adaptation and Flexibility

Humans adapt through biological and cultural means, allowing them to thrive in various environments.
Cultural traits can be either adaptive or maladaptive—maladaptive traits threaten cultural survival.

Symbols and Meaning in Culture

Symbols are vital cultural elements that signify concepts, with no intrinsic connection to what they represent.

Language and Colonial Influence

The English language's prevalence in many nations reflects historical colonial influences and enforced cultural diffusion.

Nature vs. Culture

Culture shapes biological urges, determining how fundamental needs, like food, are addressed and expressed within societies.

Conclusion

Anthropology merges scientific inquiry with a humanistic perspective, underscoring the diversity of human experiences and cultural practices.

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Test your knowledge of the four subdisciplines of anthropology with these midterm flashcards. This quiz covers essential concepts and terminology foundational to the study of human societies and cultures.

Anthropology Midterm Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the four subdisciplines of anthropology?

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans

How are the four subfields of U.S. anthropology unified?

Cultural anthropologists carry out their fieldwork in

Ethnography is the

What is anthropology?

Which of the following best describes biological anthropology?

Primatology is a specialty within

Linguistic anthropology

Applied anthropology

Anthropology is a science, yet it has been suggested that anthropology is among the most humanistic of all academic fields. This is because

A holistic and comparative perspective

Humans can adapt to their surroundings through both biological and cultural means.

Adaptation refers to the processes by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses, such as those posed by climate and topography.

Archaeologists study only prehistoric communities.

What is the process by which children learn a particular cultural tradition?

The presence of more efficient respiratory systems to extract oxygen from the air among human populations living at high elevations is an example of which form of adaptation?

Over time, humans have become increasingly dependent on which of the following in order to cope with the range of environments they have occupied in time and space?

Anthropologists study only non-Western cultures.

Culture can be adaptive or maladaptive. It is maladaptive when

Which of the following is a cultural generality?

What are cultural particularities?

The tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to use one's own standards and values in judging others is called

In anthropology, cultural relativism is not a moral position but a methodological one. It states that

Human rights are seen as inalienable. This means that

What is the term for the kind of cultural change that results when two or more cultures have consistent firsthand contact?

Which of the following is an example of independent invention, the process by which people in different societies have innovated and changed in similar but independent ways?

Cultures are integrated, patterned systems in which a change in one part often leads to changes in other parts.

Although humans do employ tools much more than any other animal does, tool use also turns up among several nonhuman species, including birds, beavers, sea otters, and apes.

Regarding human capacity for culture, anthropologists agree that

Cultural particularities are unique to certain cultures, while cultural generalities are common to several (but not all) cultures.

Cultural relativists believe that a culture should be judged only according to the standards and traditions of that culture and not according to the standards of other cultural traditions.

Diffusion plays an important role in spreading cultural traits around the world.

Anthropologist Clifford Geertz defined culture as ideas based on cultural learning and symbols. For anthropologist Leslie White, culture originated when our ancestors acquired the ability to use symbols. What is a symbol?

In many countries, use of the English language reflects a colonial history and is thus a consequence of forced diffusion.

Independent invention occurs when two or more cultures independently come up with similar solutions to a common problem.

Acculturation is the process by which people lose the culture they learned as children.

People must eat, but culture teaches us what, when, and how to do so. This is an example of how

Something, verbal or nonverbal, that stands for something else is known as a

Study Notes

Subdisciplines of Anthropology

Historical Context

Unity of Anthropology

Fieldwork in Cultural Anthropology

Key Concepts in Anthropology

Specializations

Applied Anthropology

Human Rights

Cultural Change

Cultural Integration

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Adaptation and Flexibility

Symbols and Meaning in Culture

Language and Colonial Influence

Nature vs. Culture

Conclusion

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