Chapter 3

• Anthropology


  The study of humanity, including cultures, languages, material remains, and human evolution
• Anthropology


  • Comprised of four subfields: cultural anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology
• Cultural Anthropology


  Studies the similarities and differences among living societies and cultural groups through immersive fieldwork
• Culture is a powerful defining characteristic of human groups that shapes our perceptions, behaviors, and relationships
• Biological Anthropology


  Studies human origins, evolution, and variation, including the study of nonhuman primates
• Archaeology


  Focuses on the material past, recovering and analyzing tools, food, pottery, art, shelters, seeds, and other objects left behind by people
• Linguistic Anthropology


  Studies human language, which makes it possible to teach, learn, plan, think abstractly, coordinate efforts, and contemplate our own demise
• People can be observed to project multiple, inconsistent self-representations that are context-dependent and may shift rapidly
• Self


  Encompasses the physical organism, all aspects of psychological functioning, and social attributes
• Self-representations


  Culturally shaped concepts of self that one applies to oneself, composed of labels, images, and other knowledge
• Any sense or experience that individuals have of a cohesive, continuous self is illusory