Introduction to Anthropology Concepts

The total diversity of human cultures, including languages, traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. It's the sum of everything humans have created and adapted over time.

The unique version of culture shared by people from similar backgrounds, families, and upbringings.

Recognizing a culture's beliefs and practices as right simply because they are different from our own.

The aspect of culture that is invisible to us but helps us in our everyday lives. We are not aware of it, it's just what we do.

Viewing a culture from the outside, using universal concepts to understand it.

Viewing a culture from the inside, understanding it based on its own values and perspectives.

Understanding and sharing the feelings and experiences of the people being studied. Seeing the world from their perspective.

The study of human societies and cultures, focusing on understanding diverse ways of life.

Gaining in-depth understanding of a culture through direct observation and interaction with people in their natural environment.

A feeling of confusion and discomfort when adapting to a new culture, including its customs, values, and behaviors.

The tendency to view a culture as monolithic and assume all members share the same traits and beliefs.

Changes in meanings that people ascribe to experiences and changes in their way of life.

A systematic approach to research that involves collecting data, identifying patterns, and interpreting findings from the data itself.

A group's shared beliefs and understandings about how the world works, based on their values, experiences, and cultural knowledge.

The intentional destruction of a people, culture, or way of life.

The systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

A belief that individuals have the ability to influence others through the manipulation of certain substances or powers.

The manipulation of words or substances to influence spiritual beings for good or evil purposes.

A figure of speech where words or phrases from one experience are used to describe something else.

Groups of words related to a specific topic or concept.

Metaphors that represent common ideas shared in a culture, shaping people's understanding of the world.

A word or object representing something else.

A series of actions with shared meanings within a group, reinforcing their sense of belonging or importance.

A story that explains the deeper meanings people attach to their experiences.

The belief that animals, plants, and non-human objects have spirits or consciousness.

A belief system where shamans (spiritual leaders) enter a trance to communicate with spirits for guidance.

Ability to understand and respond to your environment, follow social rules and expectations. Helps you be a responsible member of your community.

Biological differences between males and females (like chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs).

Social and cultural roles, behaviors, and identities that society associates with being male or female, or even third genders.

The ability to know the landscape, learn to navigate, assess weather conditions, and make intelligent decisions about travel and shelter.

The ability to use your body skillfully to travel long distances in harsh weather, move quickly when needed, and stay alert for long periods. It's essential for surviving in the Arctic environment.

Children of siblings of the same sex (e.g., your father's brother's children).

A marriage system found in certain cultures where individuals must marry someone outside their own 'dala' (lineage or clan).

A universal social custom that prohibits sexual relations between close family members.

The practice of the parents, typically the father, being the one to 'give away' their daughter in a marriage, rather than the son choosing his wife.

Goods, valuables, or money that the bride's family provides to the groom's family or the couple upon marriage.

A group of people who share common language use patterns and norms, often due to common social experiences.

The process of transferring information or ideas between two or more people, either verbally or nonverbally.

A structured system of symbols used to encode our understanding of the world and each other. It allows us to convey complex thoughts and ideas.

A design feature of human language that allows us to create and understand entirely new messages.

A design feature of human language allowing us to communicate about things that are not present, including past, future, or imagined events.