Cultural Anthropology: Key Concepts

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the focus of cultural anthropology?

  • Analyzing the skeletal structure of early hominids.
  • Investigating linguistic changes over extended historical periods.
  • Examining genetic variations across different human populations.
  • Studying the traditions, beliefs, and behaviors within a specific society. (correct)

How does cultural relativism challenge ethnocentrism?

  • By promoting the idea that all cultures should strive to achieve a single, universal standard.
  • By asserting that each culture should be understood on its own terms, rejecting hierarchical judgments. (correct)
  • By advocating for the superiority of one's own cultural practices.
  • By ignoring cultural differences in favor of highlighting human universals.

Which of the following best illustrates the application of cultural materialism?

  • Investigating the genetic basis of human behavioral traits.
  • Examining how environmental constraints influence social structures and belief systems. (correct)
  • Analyzing ancient religious texts to understand early belief systems.
  • Studying the evolution of language through comparative linguistics.

How does feminist anthropology contribute to our understanding of culture?

<p>By examining the roles of gender and power dynamics in shaping cultural practices and norms. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of sociolinguistics?

<p>Studying how language use reflects social class, gender, and context. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the 'shared' element of human language?

<p>Members of a community using the same words and phrases to communicate. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of primate paleontology?

<p>To understand human evolution by studying fossilized primates. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does collective learning contribute to human adaptation and progress?

<p>By allowing humans to accumulate and build upon knowledge from previous generations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a significant difference between human and primate behavior?

<p>The capacity for complex language and abstract thought. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of rites of passage, what characterizes the liminal stage?

<p>The individual occupies an ambiguous, transitional state between roles. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does cyborg anthropology approach interactions between humans and technology?

<p>By examining how technology shapes human identity, social interaction, and cultural practices. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is 'race' considered a social construct rather than a biological one?

<p>Because there is more genetic variation within so-called racial groups than between them. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following studies would fall under the scope of physical or biological anthropology?

<p>Examining the fossil record to understand human evolutionary lineages. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A researcher acknowledges that their own cultural values might influence their interpretation of the data collected from a different culture. This awareness is an example of:

<p>Reflexivity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'culture' in the anthropological sense?

<p>The shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors of a group of people. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The assumption that one's own culture is superior to others is known as:

<p>Ethnocentrism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Historical linguistics is primarily concerned with:

<p>How languages change and evolve over time. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Measuring the size and shape of human skulls to study variations in brain development falls under which subfield?

<p>Anthropometry (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Observing chimpanzees using sticks to fish for termites in order to better understand the evolutionary roots of human tool use is an example of:

<p>Primatology (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Darwin's principles of natural selection, what determines which traits become more common in a population over time?

<p>The traits that help organisms survive and reproduce in their environment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Cultural Anthropology

Studies human societies, traditions, beliefs, and behaviors.

Physical/Biological Anthropology

Studies human evolution and biological diversity using methods like examining bones and DNA.

Definition of Culture

Shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and material objects that characterize a society.

Reflexivity

Researchers reflect on how their own background affects their research.

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Cultural Evolutionism

Early belief that cultures evolve in a straight line from 'primitive' to 'civilized'.

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Cultural Relativism

Idea that each culture should be understood in its own context, without judgment.

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Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.

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Cultural Materialism

Material conditions (infrastructure) shape society's structure and beliefs (superstructure).

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Feminist Anthropology

Examines how gender roles and power dynamics impact culture.

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Historical Linguistics

Studies how languages change over time.

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Structural Linguistics

Analyzes rules of language such as grammar and syntax.

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Sociolinguistics

Studies how language reflects social class, gender, and context.

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Paleoanthropology

Study of early humans through fossils.

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Anthropometry

Measurement of the human body

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Primatology

Study of primates to understand human behavior.

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Collective Learning

Humans build on knowledge over generations using language.

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Rites of Passage (3 Stages)

Taking the driver's test, waiting for results, and receiving your license.

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Cyborg Anthropology

Examines human interaction with technology.

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Human Variation

Genetic and physical differences among people.

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Race as a Social Construct

"Race" is a social construct based on perceived physical traits which have no biological basis.

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Study Notes

  • Cultural Anthropology studies human societies, traditions, beliefs, and behaviors.
  • Physical/Biological Anthropology studies human evolution and biological diversity.

Definition of Culture

  • Culture encompasses the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and material objects that members of a society use to cope with their world.

Reflexivity

  • Researchers reflect on how their background, biases, and presence affect their research.

Cultural Evolutionism vs. Cultural Relativism

  • Cultural Evolutionism is the early belief that cultures evolve linearly from "primitive" to "civilized".
  • Cultural Relativism is the modern idea that no culture is superior; each must be understood in its own context.

Ethnocentrism

  • Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture is superior.

Cultural Materialism

  • Material conditions (infrastructure) shape society.
  • Infrastructure refers to resources available.
  • Structure refers to society organization.
  • Superstructure refers to beliefs.

Feminist Anthropology

  • It looks at how gender roles and power affect culture.

Linguistic Anthropology

  • Historical Linguistics studies how languages change over time.
  • Structural Linguistics analyzes rules of language like grammar and syntax.
  • Sociolinguistics studies how language reflects social class, gender, and context.

Four Elements of Human Language

  • Language is learned.
  • Language is symbolic.
  • Language is shared.
  • Language is structured.

Paleoanthropology

  • Study of early humans through fossils.

Primate Paleontology

  • Studies fossilized primates to understand evolutionary history.

Anthropometry

  • Measurement of the human body.

Primatology

  • Study of primates (monkeys, apes) to understand human behavior.

Collective Learning

  • Humans build on knowledge over generations using language.

Human-Primate Similarities and Differences

  • Shared Traits: Tool use, social groups, facial expressions, communication
  • Differences: Complex language, art, morals, advanced planning, religion.

Rituals & Rites of Passage (3 Stages)

  • Separation involves preparing for the new circumstances.
  • Transition (Liminal) is a time of uncertainty.
  • Incorporation is when the change is recognized.

Cyborg Anthropology

  • Examines how humans interact with technology.

Human Variation

  • Genetic and physical differences among people.

Darwin’s Principles of Natural Selection

  • Organisms with traits that help survival reproduce more. Over time, those traits become more common.

Race as a Social Construct

  • "Race" is based on social ideas about physical traits. There's more genetic variation within races than between them.

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