Anthropology Midterm Flashcards
39 Questions
101 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

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

    <p>All kinds of societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ethnography is the

    <p>Fieldwork component of cultural anthropology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is anthropology?

    <p>The study of humans around the world and through time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes biological anthropology?

    <p>The study of human biological diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Primatology is a specialty within

    <p>Biological anthropology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Linguistic anthropology

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

    Applied anthropology

    <p>Encompasses any use of the knowledge and/or techniques of its four subfields to identify, assess, and solve practical problems.</p> 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

    <p>Of its fundamental respect for human diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A holistic and comparative perspective

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

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

    <p>True</p> 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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Archaeologists study only prehistoric communities.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>Enculturation</p> 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?

    <p>Long-term physiological adaptation</p> 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?

    <p>Cultural means of adaptation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Anthropologists study only non-Western cultures.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Culture can be adaptive or maladaptive. It is maladaptive when

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

    Which of the following is a cultural generality?

    <p>The nuclear family</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are cultural particularities?

    <p>Traits unique to a given culture, not shared with others</p> 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

    <p>Ethnocentrism</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

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

    Human rights are seen as inalienable. This means that

    <p>Nations cannot abridge or terminate them.</p> 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?

    <p>Acculturation</p> 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?

    <p>Agriculture</p> 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.

    <p>True</p> 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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Regarding human capacity for culture, anthropologists agree that

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

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

    <p>True</p> 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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>True</p> 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?

    <p>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.</p> 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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

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

    <p>False</p> 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

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

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

    <p>Symbol</p> 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.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    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.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser