Socio-Cultural Anthropology Unit Two
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of social evolution theory in socio-cultural anthropology?

  • The preservation of indigenous cultures
  • The dynamic nature of socio-economic relations
  • The moral implications of cultural practices
  • The stages of cultural development as universal (correct)

    • Which anthropologist is credited with further subdividing the stages of social evolution into low, middle, and high?

  • Karl Marx
  • Herbert Spencer
  • E.B. Tylor
  • Lewis Henry Morgan (correct)

    • What did Herbert Spencer's notion of 'survival of the fittest' primarily imply about societies?

  • Survival depends on cooperation among societies
  • All societies must lose to evolve
  • Societies engaged in warfare are more evolved (correct)
  • Cultural practices must remain static to be successful

    • What basis did social evolutionists use to classify different societies?

    <p>Technological characteristics and social organization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant limitation of the data used by early social evolutionists?

    <p>It was second-hand and rarely first-hand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of social evolution, what was one criticism of placing Western societies at the highest rank of civilization?

    <p>It promoted ethnocentrism and cultural superiority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term was often used interchangeably with Spencer’s theory of social evolution?

    <p>Social Darwinism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group applied Herbert Spencer’s views to encourage practices such as intellectual and ethnic cleansing?

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

    What aspect of culture does structuralism primarily focus on?

    <p>The structural arrangement of cultural elements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of structural functionalism as proposed by A.R. Radcliffe-Brown?

    <p>The significance of societal structure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with the development of structuralism?

    <p>Claude Levi-Strauss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two scholars are primarily associated with the Culture and Personality theory?

    <p>Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research method begins with the collection of data before forming hypotheses?

    <p>Inductive method</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Cultural Ecology, developed by Julian Steward, suggests that culture is dictated by what factor?

    <p>Material components of culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did critiques of structuralism suggest about its analytical methods?

    <p>They lack objectivity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT considered part of the cognitive structure theories?

    <p>Cultural Ecology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level is NOT part of the three levels of social systems identified in cultural materialism?

    <p>Community dynamics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the proponents of Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology emphasize?

    <p>Individuals give meaning to their cultural experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influence did Boas' cultural relativism have on the Culture and Personality theory?

    <p>It underscored the significance of understanding different cultures without bias.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method did the proponents of Culture and Personality NOT employ in their research?

    <p>Genetic testing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to structuralism, which component does NOT represent culture?

    <p>Personal feelings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to cultural materialism, which stage is believed to follow capitalism?

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

    How does symbolic anthropology analyze cultural symbols?

    <p>By applying psychological and historical contexts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes the Cultural Ecology perspective from 19th-century social evolutionism?

    <p>It is not ethnocentric or racist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do anthropologists prefer face-to-face interviews over questionnaires?

    <p>Interviews provide richer and more detailed information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the genealogical method in anthropology?

    <p>To understand kinship, descent, and marriage in small-scale societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic defines key informants in anthropological research?

    <p>They have extensive knowledge of community life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant advantage of conducting life history interviews in anthropology?

    <p>They can reveal unique, in-depth personal narratives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do emic and etic techniques differ in anthropology?

    <p>Emic uses subjects' viewpoints, while etic represents the observer's analysis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What additional sources can anthropologists use to complement interview data?

    <p>Documents from archives and observations of the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important for anthropologists to combine emic and etic techniques?

    <p>To gain a comprehensive understanding while reducing biases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of societies primarily benefit from the genealogical method?

    <p>Small-scale, kin-based societies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic feature of longitudinal research?

    <p>It studies a community through repeated visits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is survey research not commonly used in anthropological research?

    <p>Anthropologists prefer qualitative methods over quantitative.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of data analysis is often used for qualitative data?

    <p>Content analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a component of a standard research report?

    <p>Data collection tools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method of data collection is traditionally preferred by social science disciplines?

    <p>Survey research</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do anthropologists refer to their subjects during research?

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

    What approach might be used to analyze interviews in qualitative research?

    <p>Grounded theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what venues can research findings be disseminated?

    <p>Seminars, conferences, and symposiums</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Theories in Socio-Cultural Anthropology

    • Theories explain facts and help predict future observations; they evolve through testing.
    • Main theories include Social Evolution, Functionalism, Culture and Personality, Cultural Ecology, Cultural Materialism, Structuralism, and Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology.

    Social Evolution

    • Known as Unilineal Evolution, this early 19th-century theory suggests societies evolve in a universal order but at different rates.
    • Key proponents include E.B. Tylor, Lewis Henry Morgan, and Herbert Spencer, primarily using second-hand data.
    • Societies classified into stages: savagery, barbarism, and civilization; Western societies rated highest, often viewed as superior.
    • Spencer's Social Darwinism posits warfare as a driver of evolution, introducing the concept of "survival of the fittest," opposing aid for the poor.

    Functionalism

    • Divided into structural functionalism (A.R. Radcliffe-Brown) and psychological functionalism (Bronislaw Malinowski).
    • Structural functionalism emphasizes societal structures over individuals; psychological functionalism focuses on culture's influence on individual personality.

    Culture and Personality

    • Early 20th-century theory by Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead linking childrearing practices to human behaviors.
    • Focuses on two relationships: culture vs. human nature, and culture vs. individual personality.
    • Influenced by Boas’ cultural relativism and Freud’s psychoanalysis; research includes dream analysis, interviews, and participant observation.

    Cultural Ecology

    • Developed by Julian Steward in the 1930s, relates human conditions to cultural and material factors.
    • Advocates that environment shapes culture and vice versa; less ethnocentric than 19th-century theories.
    • Influences various fields, including archaeology and ecology.

    Cultural Materialism

    • Grounded in Marxist doctrine, exploring societal progression from tribalism to communism.
    • Proposes that the material world influences human behavior, categorizing societies into infrastructure, structure, and superstructure.

    Structuralism

    • Developed by Claude Lévi-Strauss, posits that cultures are systems shaped by mental structures.
    • Cultural patterns result from human cognition; culture cannot be understood solely through logic.
    • Critiques highlight subjective analysis due to personal interpretations.

    Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology

    • Founded by Victor Turner, Clifford Geertz, and David Schneider, emphasizes the relationship between culture and individual interpretation.
    • Cultures are seen as shaped by individual meanings and symbols, integrating events' interpretations into cultural contexts.

    Research Methods in Socio-Cultural Anthropology

    • Employs systematic observation and classification; utilizes either inductive (data collected first) or deductive (theory-driven) research approaches.
    • Face-to-face interviews preferred over questionnaires, supported by genealogical methods to study kinship and descent.

    Data Collection Techniques

    • Key informants are crucial for gathering community knowledge and perspectives.
    • Life histories offer rich qualitative data; anthropologists conduct in-depth studies on unique informants’ experiences.
    • Emic perspective uses subjects' viewpoints; etic perspective captures the observer's insights; a balanced approach minimizes bias.

    Kinds of Research Designs

    • Problem-Based Ethnography collects data from various sources, including direct observations and archival research.
    • Longitudinal Research involves repeated studies over time to observe changes within communities.
    • Survey Research, traditionally less favored in anthropology, is quantitative and contrasts with qualitative approaches.

    Data Analysis and Reporting

    • Qualitative data undergoes rigorous analysis via methods like content analysis and narrative analysis; software tools can assist.
    • Research reports follow standard formats, including introduction, methods, results, and dissemination through seminars or journals.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the main theories in socio-cultural anthropology as presented in Unit Two. It explores how these theories function to explain phenomena and predict outcomes. Understanding these theories is crucial for a deeper comprehension of socio-cultural dynamics.

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