Socio-Cultural Anthropology Unit Two

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?

Technological characteristics and social organization Signup and view all the answers

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

It was second-hand and rarely first-hand 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?

It promoted ethnocentrism and cultural superiority Signup and view all the answers

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

Social Darwinism Signup and view all the answers

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

Eugenicists Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of culture does structuralism primarily focus on?

The structural arrangement of cultural elements Signup and view all the answers

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

The significance of societal structure Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the development of structuralism?

Claude Levi-Strauss Signup and view all the answers

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

Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead Signup and view all the answers

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

Inductive method Signup and view all the answers

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

Material components of culture Signup and view all the answers

What did critiques of structuralism suggest about its analytical methods?

They lack objectivity. Signup and view all the answers

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

Cultural Ecology Signup and view all the answers

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

Community dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What do the proponents of Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology emphasize?

Individuals give meaning to their cultural experiences. Signup and view all the answers

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

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

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

Genetic testing Signup and view all the answers

According to structuralism, which component does NOT represent culture?

Personal feelings Signup and view all the answers

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

Communism Signup and view all the answers

How does symbolic anthropology analyze cultural symbols?

By applying psychological and historical contexts Signup and view all the answers

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

It is not ethnocentric or racist. Signup and view all the answers

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

Interviews provide richer and more detailed information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the genealogical method in anthropology?

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

Which characteristic defines key informants in anthropological research?

They have extensive knowledge of community life. Signup and view all the answers

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

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

How do emic and etic techniques differ in anthropology?

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

What additional sources can anthropologists use to complement interview data?

Documents from archives and observations of the environment. Signup and view all the answers

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

To gain a comprehensive understanding while reducing biases. Signup and view all the answers

What type of societies primarily benefit from the genealogical method?

Small-scale, kin-based societies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of longitudinal research?

It studies a community through repeated visits. Signup and view all the answers

Why is survey research not commonly used in anthropological research?

Anthropologists prefer qualitative methods over quantitative. Signup and view all the answers

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

Content analysis Signup and view all the answers

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

Data collection tools Signup and view all the answers

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

Survey research Signup and view all the answers

How do anthropologists refer to their subjects during research?

Informants Signup and view all the answers

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

Grounded theory Signup and view all the answers

In what venues can research findings be disseminated?

Seminars, conferences, and symposiums 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.

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.