Anthropology

• What is does Anthropology study?

  The behaviors of humans, and their cultures from past and present
• What are the two types of anthropology?

  Cultural and physical
• What are the subfields of physical anthropology?

  Primatology, human variation, paleoanthropology, forensic anthropology.
• Paleontology: focuses on the bone and stone fossils of human evolution
• Human variation: Focuses on the physical differences and similarities within human populations
• Primatology: Study of primates and their biological and behavioral similarities to humans
• Forensic anthropology: The study of human remains to determine the identity of deceased and cause of death.
• Ethnology: The study of the origins, customs, and social organization of a particular people or group.
• Linguistic anthropology: Focus of the history and structure of languages and the way humans use language
• Archeology: Study the physical remains of past human societies and their cultures (Way of living, hunting, eating, etc.)
• What are hominids?


  Groups of human ancestors including primates (Neanderthals)
• Natural selection: The gradual process by which nature selects the traits most fit for survival and reproduces in a given environment.
• Three principles required for natural selection

  Variability (variety in genes), Heritability (passing on traits), Environmental fitness ("survival of the fittest")
• What is culture?


  Beliefs, customs, and behaviors shared by a group of people.
• Ethnocentrism: The tendency to view one's own culture as superior to others.
• Informants: Willing participant who are from the specific culture who provide reliable information to the researcher
• Unstructured interviews: Researcher asks open-ended question which have not been pre-prepared
• Semi-structured interviews: Researcher has some pre-prepared questions, however it is very flexible as the reseracher and interviewee may change up the questions.
• Structured interview: Researcher has a set list of questions which do not change. Non-experts in the field may ask these question since they are objective and information is easily gained.
• Counting People, Photographs, Mapping: How are the human using there space? Researchers use this to become familiar with the society they are studying.
• Ethnology: Study if the origins and culture of different people
• Kinship: the relationship between two or more people based on blood marriage or adoption.
• Participant observation: The researcher lives with the group and partakes in their culture
• Ethnography: Written account of culture
• What is a rite of passage?

  Ceremony or ritual which marks the change in life or status
• What are the three stage process of a rite of passage?

  Segregation, transition/liminal, incorporation
• What are the factors influence culture?

  Climate, technology, globalization, and language
• Diffusion of a culture: When aspects of one culture spreads to other societies
• Assimilation of a culture: Adopting customs and beliefs of one culture and leaving behind their own heritage
• Multiculturism of a culture: People or a society which accept cultural diversity and embrace it
• Fictive kin: Someone who is considered family although not blood or marriage related
• Marriage: A written or unwritten union which establishes social, legal, and identity of any children
• 3 functions of a family:

  • Define social relationships
  • Defines rights and obligations
  • Create new relationships
• What are the 3 type of families?

  • Nuclear --> Parents and children
  • Extended --> Additional family members not immediate
  • Blended --> Brining in children from a alternate marriage
• Linguistic anthropology: The study of languages and how it influences the social life of humans
• Historical linguists: Study the developments or historical background of languages.

  • Edward Sapir: Shared almost extinct Indigenous languages to other native communities
• Structural linguists: The physical structure of languages and how sounds are put together to have meaning

  • Noam Chomsky: Children have the ability to master languages based on their innate knowledge - universal grammer
• Sociolinguistics: How people use language in social settings. Include body language.
• How does ASL pass on culture?

  Members are given a unique medium for personal expression through emphasize on the hands, face, body, and eyes. The belief that language does not have to be verbal but just a form of communication between others within a community.
• Ethnomusicology: The study of music in its cultural and social contexts