Anthro

Question 1

Define Cultural Relativism.

Answer 1

Cultural Relativism is the idea that a culture must be understood on its own terms, without judging it by the standards of another culture.

Question 2

Describe Functional Theory in cultural anthropology.

Answer 2

Functional Theory suggests that cultural practices and institutions serve a specific function for society, contributing to its stability.

Question 3

How does Cultural Materialism explain culture?

Answer 3

Cultural Materialism argues that material conditions, such as economics and environment, shape culture.

Question 4

What is the focus of Feminist Anthropology?

Answer 4

Feminist Anthropology focuses on understanding gender roles, relations, and inequalities across different cultures.

Question 5

Explain the approach of Postmodernism in cultural anthropology.

Answer 5

Postmodernism is a skeptical approach that questions universal truths and emphasizes the subjective nature of knowledge.

Question 6

Define Independent Invention in the context of cultural change.

Answer 6

Independent Invention is the process by which humans innovate solutions independently in different parts of the world.

Question 7

What is Acculturation?

Answer 7

Acculturation is the process of cultural change and adaptation resulting from contact between different cultures.

Question 8

Describe the aspect of Behaviour in culture.

Answer 8

Behaviour refers to the observable actions or responses of individuals within a culture.

Question 9

How do Knowledge & Beliefs shape a culture?

Answer 9

Knowledge & Beliefs are shared understandings, beliefs, and knowledge that define a culture’s worldview.

Question 10

Describe the three stages of Rites of Passage.

Answer 10

1. Separation – The individual is removed from their usual environment or status. 2. Transition – The person goes through a transformation, often involving rituals. 3. Incorporation – The individual is reintegrated into society with a new status.

Question 11

Define material in the context of culture.

Answer 11

Material refers to physical objects or artifacts created and used by members of a culture.

Question 12

How does cultural globalization differ from economic globalization?

Answer 12

Cultural globalization involves the spread of cultural products and ideas across the world, while economic globalization refers to the integration of national economies through trade, investment, and market exchange.

Question 13

Explain the concept of culture as an iceberg.

Answer 13

The idea that much of culture is hidden beneath the surface, with only some aspects visible (e.g., behavior, symbols) while deeper values and assumptions remain unseen.

Question 14

What are the two types of ancestry?

Answer 14

Matrilineal (through the mother) and patrilineal (through the father).

Question 15

Describe the different types of marriage in cultural contexts.

Answer 15

Different cultural forms of marriage include monogamy (one partner) and polygamy (multiple partners).

Question 16

Define a symbol in cultural terms.

Answer 16

A symbol is something that stands for or represents something else, often culturally significant, such as language or signs.

Question 17

Describe enculturation.

Answer 17

Enculturation is the process by which individuals learn their culture’s values, norms, and social practices.

Question 18

Define culture.

Answer 18

Culture refers to the shared, learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, and material objects of a group of people.

Question 19

How does observational learning occur?

Answer 19

Observational learning occurs by watching others and imitating their behaviors.

Question 20

Explain unconscious learning.

Answer 20

Unconscious learning is the process of acquiring knowledge without being aware of it, often through everyday interactions.

Question 21

What is ethnology?

Answer 21

Ethnology is the comparative study of different cultures, often through fieldwork and observation.

Question 22

Define etic perspective.

Answer 22

The etic perspective is a viewpoint from an outsider or anthropologist that looks at a culture objectively.

Question 23

Describe emic perspective.

Answer 23

The emic perspective is the insider’s viewpoint, which understands culture from the perspective of those who live within it.

Question 24

What does ethnocentric mean?

Answer 24

Ethnocentric refers to the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own, often viewing one’s own culture as superior.

Question 25

Explain naive realism.

Answer 25

Naive realism is the belief that people everywhere see the world the same way, failing to recognize cultural differences.

Question 26

How does diffusion occur in cultures?

Answer 26

Diffusion occurs through the spread of cultural traits and practices from one society to another.