Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is Anthropology?
Study of human beings and populations as well as their similarities & differences both biologically & culturally
- From ancestral populations to present
Generalization of Human Beings in Anthropology
Must be applicable to many times and many people, not just a limited group
Who established Professional Anthropology?
Wilfred Laurier in 1910
Holistic/Biocultural Approach
Approach that studies many aspects of a multifaceted system
Examples of the Hollistic Approach
- Many aspects of the human experience as a whole
- Looks for patterns of traits & attempt to explain them
- Tend to focus in typical characteristics of humans rather than variation
Is it true that Anthropologists tend to specialize in 1 topic or area?
Yes
Applied Anthropologists
Solves practical issues using anthropological methods, info, and results
The Scope of Anthropology
It has a broad scope, both geographically & historically
- Anthropologists are interested in people of all periods
Anthropology’s Distinctive Curiosity
Anthropology is different compared to other discplines concerned with humans in its scope, holistic approach, and distinctive curiosity
Biological Variation
Influenced by genetics, environmental forces, and culture
- Shaped by 4 evolutionary forces
4 Evolutionary Forces of Biological Variation
- Gene flow
- Random Genetic Drift
- Natural Selection
- Mutation
Cultural Variation
By-product of a learned behaviour
- Result of membership in a culture group
Examples of Culture Variation
- How we learn how to interact with the world around us
- Our expectations
- What is expected of us
- Our likes & dislikes
4 Major Subfields of Anthropology
- Social/cultural
- Linguistic
- Physical/Biological
- Archaeology
- All overlap in interest & intent
Biological Anthropology
Study of humans as biological organisms, dealing with evolution of humans & contemporary variations
