Key Concepts in Anthropology

Questions and Answers

What is Anthropology?

The study of species evolution

The study of social behavior in animals

The study of humankind in all times and places (correct)

The study of human history

What does Ethnocentrism mean?

The belief that the ways of one's own culture are the only proper ones.

Define Culture.

Theories about the world and reality based on the assumptions and values of one's own culture.

What is Applied Anthropology?

Use of anthropological knowledge and methods to solve practical problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is Medical Anthropology?

Specialization that brings theoretical and applied approaches from cultural and biological anthropology to the study of human sickness and health. Signup and view all the answers

What does Cultural anthropology study?

Study of customary patterns in human behavior, thought, and feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ethnography?

Detailed description of a particular culture primarily based on fieldwork. Signup and view all the answers

Define Participant observation.

Learning the culture through social participation and personal observation. Signup and view all the answers

What is Ethnology?

Study and analysis of different cultures from a comparative or historical point of view. Signup and view all the answers

What does Linguistic anthropology study?

Study of human languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of Archaeology?

Study of human cultures through the recovery and analysis of material remains and environmental data. Signup and view all the answers

Define Bioarchaeology.

Archaeological study of human remains. Signup and view all the answers

What is Cultural resource management?

Concerned with survey and/or excavation of archaeological and historical remains. Signup and view all the answers

Define Physical anthropology.

Systematic study of humans as biological organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What does Paleoanthropology study?

Study of biological changes through time to understand the origins and predecessors of the present human species. Signup and view all the answers

What is Biocultural anthropology?

An approach that focuses on the interaction of biology and culture. Signup and view all the answers

Define Primatology.

Study of living and fossil primates. Signup and view all the answers

What is Forensic anthropology?

Analysis of human skeletal remains for legal purposes. Signup and view all the answers

What does Empirical approach mean?

An approach based on observations of the world rather than on intuition or faith. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Hypothesis?

Tentative explanation of the relationship among certain phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

Define Theory.

Explanation of natural phenomena supported by a relatable body of data. Signup and view all the answers

What does Doctrine mean?

Assertion of opinion or belief formally handed down by an authority as true and indisputable. Signup and view all the answers

Define Artifact.

Any object fashioned or altered by humans. Signup and view all the answers

What is Material culture?

Durable aspects of culture such as tools, structures, and art. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Fossil?

Preserved remains of past life forms. Signup and view all the answers

What are Soil marks?

Stains that show up on the surface of recently plowed fields that reveal an archaeological site. Signup and view all the answers

Define Midden.

Refuse or garbage disposal area in an archaeological site. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Grid system in archaeology?

System for recording data from an archaeological excavation into three dimensions. Signup and view all the answers

Define Datum point.

Starting point or reference for grid system. Signup and view all the answers

What is Relative dating?

Dating around the time. Signup and view all the answers

Define Absolute dating.

Dating that provides exact dates. Signup and view all the answers

What are Key consultants?

Members of the society being studied who provide information that helps researchers understand the meaning of what they observe. Signup and view all the answers

Define Informal interview.

Unstructured, open-ended conversation in everyday life. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Formal interview?

Structured question-answer session. Signup and view all the answers

Define Eliciting interview.

Activities and objects used to draw out individuals and encourage them to recall and share information. Signup and view all the answers

What are Human relations area files?

Cross-indexed ethnographic, biocultural, and archaeological data. Signup and view all the answers

Define Informed consent.

Formal recorded agreement between the subject and the researcher to participate in research. Signup and view all the answers

What is Globalization?

Movement of natural resources, trade goods, human labor, finance capital, information, and infectious diseases. Signup and view all the answers

Define Chromosomes.

Structures visible during cellular division containing long strands of DNA combined with a protein. Signup and view all the answers

What is DNA?

Genetic material consisting of a complex molecule whose base structure directs the synthesis of proteins. Signup and view all the answers

Define Chromatid.

One half of the X shape of chromosomes visible once replication is complete. Signup and view all the answers

What are Alleles?

Alternate forms of a single gene. Signup and view all the answers

Define Genome.

Complete structure sequence of DNA for a species. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mitosis?

Kind of cell division that produces new cells having exactly the same number of chromosome pairs. Signup and view all the answers

Define Meiosis.

Kind of cell division that produces sex cells each of which has half the number of chromosomes found in other cells of the organism. Signup and view all the answers

What does Homozygous mean?

Chromosome pair that bears identical alleles for a single gene. Signup and view all the answers

Define Heterozygous.

Chromosome pair that bears different alleles for a single gene. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Genotype?

The alleles possessed for a particular trait. Signup and view all the answers

Define Dominant allele.

Term to describe the ability of an allele for a trait to mask the presence of another allele. Signup and view all the answers

What does Recessive allele mean?

Term to describe an allele for a trait whose expression is masked by the presence of a dominant allele. Signup and view all the answers

Define Phenotype.

Observable or testable appearance of an organism that may or may not reflect a particular genotype. Signup and view all the answers

What is Hemoglobin?

The protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. Signup and view all the answers

Define Polygenic inheritance.

Two or more genes contributing to the phenotypic expression of a single characteristic. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gene flow refer to?

Introduction of alleles from the gene pool of one population into that of another. Signup and view all the answers

Define Adaptation.

Series of beneficial adjustments to the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sickle-cell anemia?

Mutation of hemoglobin protein. Signup and view all the answers

Define Clines.

The gradual changes in the frequency of an allele or trait over space. Signup and view all the answers

What is Macroevolution?

Evolution at the species level or leading to the formation of new species. Signup and view all the answers

Define Speciation.

The process of forming new species. Signup and view all the answers

What does Cladogenesis refer to?

Speciation through branching mechanism whereby an ancestral population gives rise to two or more descendant populations. Signup and view all the answers

Define Anagensis.

Sustained directional shift in a population's average characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What is Punctuated equilibria?

Model of macroevolutionary change that suggests evolution occurs via long periods of stability or stasis punctuated by periods of rapid change. Signup and view all the answers

What does Nocturnal mean?

Active at night and at rest during the day. Signup and view all the answers

Define Arboreal.

Living in the trees. Signup and view all the answers

What is Diurnal?

Active during the day and at rest at night. Signup and view all the answers

Define Binocular vision.

Vision with increased depth perception from two eyes set next to each other allowing their visual fields to overlap. Signup and view all the answers

What is Stereoscopic vision?

Complete 3D vision or depth perception images from each eye. Signup and view all the answers

Define Opposable.

Ability to bring the thumb or big toe in contact with tips of the other digits on the same hand or foot to grab objects. Signup and view all the answers

What are Prosimians?

Subdivision within the primate order based on shared anatomical characteristics: lemurs, lorises, tarsiers. Signup and view all the answers

Define Anthropoids.

New World and Old World monkeys. Signup and view all the answers

What are Strepsirhines?

Based on shared genetic characteristics; lemurs and lorises. Signup and view all the answers

Define Haplorhines.

New World, Old World monkeys, apes. Signup and view all the answers

What does Prehensile mean?

Ability to grasp. Signup and view all the answers

Define Brachiation.

Moving from branch to branch using the arms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Community?

Unit of social organization composed of fifty or more individuals who together inhabit a large geographic area. Signup and view all the answers

Define Dominance hierarchy.

Observed ranking system in animal groups ordering individuals from high to low standing. Signup and view all the answers

What is Grooming in animal behavior?

Ritual of cleaning another animal. Signup and view all the answers

Define Tool.

Object used to facilitate some task or activity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Anthropology

Anthropology: Comprehensive study of human beings across time and space.
Ethnocentrism: Cultural bias where one's culture is regarded as superior or the only correct way.
Culture: Shared ideologies and values that shape perceptions and experiences.

Specializations in Anthropology

Applied Anthropology: Utilization of anthropological insights to address practical issues.
Medical Anthropology: Examination of health and illness through cultural and biological lenses.
Cultural Anthropology: Exploration of established patterns in human behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Bioarchaeology: Focus on human skeletal remains to derive insights about past populations.
Cultural Resource Management: Management and preservation of archaeological sites.

Research Methods

Ethnography: In-depth cultural description derived from field research.
Fieldwork: Hands-on research conducted in the natural environment of the subjects.
Participant Observation: Understanding a culture through active involvement and observation.

Archaeology and Material Culture

Archaeology: Recovery and analysis of materials to understand human cultures.
Artifacts: Objects created or modified by humans, significant for historical insights.
Midden: Waste or refuse sites reflecting past human behavior and domestic life.
Soil Marks: Surface stains indicative of underlying archaeological features.

Biological Anthropology

Physical Anthropology: Study of humans as biological entities; includes molecular genetics.
Paleoanthropology: Investigation of biological evolution to trace human origins.
Primatology: Study of non-human primates, both living and extinct.

Genetics and Evolution

Chromosomes/DNA: Genetic material stored in chromosomes, containing hereditary information.
Mitosis/Meiosis: Cell division processes leading to somatic and reproductive cells, respectively.
Alleles: Variants of a gene, influencing traits in organisms.
Genome: Complete genetic blueprint for a species.

Inheritance Patterns

Homozygous vs. Heterozygous: Refers to allele uniformity versus variability in gene pairs.
Dominant/Recessive Alleles: Dominant alleles mask the expression of recessive alleles.
Polygenic Inheritance: Multiple genes contribute to a single trait's expression.

Evolutionary Concepts

Speciation: Formation of new species through evolutionary processes.
Macroevolution vs. Microevolution: Differences in evolutionary changes at species level versus population level.
Cladogenesis vs. Anagensis: Branching and gradual change leading to new species.

Primate Characteristics

Nocturnal/Diurnal: Referring to active periods of animals; active at night or during the day.
Binocular and Stereoscopic Vision: Depth perception enhanced by alignment and contribution of both eyes.
Opposable Traits: Ability to grasp objects, signifying advanced dexterity in primates.

Dominance Hierarchy: Rank-ordering within groups indicating social structure.
Community: Social units of individuals cohabiting a defined area.
Grooming: Social behavior indicating bonding and hygiene among group members.

Research Ethics

Informed Consent: Essential agreement acknowledging participant awareness in research.
Key Consultants: Local informants aiding anthropologists in cultural comprehension.

Global Interactions

Globalization: Examination of interconnected movements of resources, trade, people, and ideas across borders.

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Description

This quiz explores essential concepts and specializations in anthropology, including ethnocentrism, culture, and various applied fields. Test your knowledge on research methods like ethnography and fieldwork. Perfect for students delving into the rich tapestry of human behavior and societies.