Anthropological Perspective Flashcards
- is the systematic study of humans, with the goal of knowing our evolutionary origins, our distinctive natures as species, and the vast diversity of our modes of social life in the world and over time.
Anthropology
Anthropology holds a holistic view of human nature. It is concerned with how ___ and ___ processes interact to shape the self.
cultural
biological
- It considers human experience as an __________ (the genetic inheritance which sets the individual’s potentials) and nurture (the sociocultural environment).
Interplay of nature
- Both biological and cultural factors have significant influence in the development of the self.
THE SELF AS EMBEDDED IN CULTURE
> There are 2 major ways of categorizing the self according to anthropology:
- Egocentric concept of the self
- Sociocentric concept of the self
- suggests that each person is defined as a replica of all humanity but capable of acting independently from others.
- the self is viewed as autonomous and as a distinct individual with inherent characteristics.
Example: Americans. They believe that as an individual, they should be assertive and independent.
- Egocentric concept of the self
- the self is viewed as dependent on the situation or social setting; our identity is attached to the social setting we belong into or to the social class/group that we are in.
Example: Filipinos who value kin ties and submission to authority figures.
- Sociocentric concept of the self
- it refers to the features of a person’s identity that s/he chooses to emphasize in constructing a social self
Identity toolbox
> Self-identification may be attained by:
a. Kinship & family membership
b. gender
c. age
d. language
e. religion
f. personal appearance
g. ethnicity
h. SES
- is a universal practice with numerous cross-cultural variations that establishes a child’s birthright and social identity.
- is an important device to individualize a person and to have an identity.
Personal naming
- The changes in our status and identity
Rites of Passage
- The changes in our status and identity are marked by three phases:
Separation
Liminality
Incorporation
-People detach from their identity to be able to attach to another
Separation
A person transitions from one identity to another
Liminality
The change in one’s status is officially incorporated
Incorporation
is not considered as passive user of culture.
The Generation Z or the “Selfie” generation
In the research of Jose Villa entitled, “Cross-cultural Gen Z), he found out that:
a. Majority of the Gen Z will define their cultural identity in a diverse means/manner, an exact opposite of the generations who came before them.
b. This generation has embraced and balanced multiple cultures that they are moving their cultural identity beyond simple definitions of race and ethnicity. (We basically adapt cultures from others)
a. Majority of the Gen Z will define their cultural identity in a
diverse means/manner, an exact opposite of the generations who came before them.
b. This generation has embraced and balanced multiple cultures that they are moving their cultural identity beyond simple definitions of race and ethnicity.
(We basically adapt cultures from others)
It is the genetic inheritance which sets the individual’s potentials
Nature
It’s a sociological environment of one individual
Nurture
