Anthropological Theories and Methods Flashcards
What is Cultural Evolution?
this theory said that culture changes in a predictable fashion, from smaller to larger population, and from simpler to more complex over time.
- Complex here means more components and more relationship among the components
- Lewis Henry Morgan (1818-1881) USA, Edward Tylor (1832-1917) Britishi
What is Cultural Relativism?
This theory said that each culture is the result of its own particular history.
- It is a direct reaction against culture revolution.
- Since it is not comparing one culture with others, it is atheorical
- Franz Boas (1858-1942) USA
What is Functionalism?
This theory said that every cultural trait or element of culture serves a purpose. The anthropologist’s job is to explain how that trait serves the culture as a whole.
- Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942)
What is Structuralism?
This theory said that the basic elements of culture are physically present in all people.
- It tries to answer the question “what is shared between every culture?” and in seek of the “universal mind”.
- Claude Levi-Strauss (1908-2009): “They way of the mass”, analyze myth
What are the two main approach of anthropology after 1960s?
Materialism: has scientific approach of social sciences and tries to find the laws of human behavior;
Interpretivism: has humanistic approach to analyze culture and discover the meanings of culture to its participants.
What is Science?
It is the form of knowledge acquired by the scientific method.
It is not important and necessary to every day life like other forms of knowledge (sensual, emotional, experience knowledge, common sense) but it is the most reliable in predicting the long term.
What is Scientific Method?
It is a way of self-correcting knowledge through addressing problems, forming hypothesis, testing them against the real world and drawing conclusion.
What is Fieldwork?
It is the first hand contact with the people one studies.
What is Participant Observation?
It is partaking of the daily lives of the people one studies.
What is Human-subjects protection?
It is protecting the people that one studies: physical well-being and mental well-being.
