Module 1

Question 1

Define Anthropology

Answer 1

• The study of humanity including prehistoric origins and human cultural and linguistic diversity throughout history

Question 2

Define Culture

Answer 2

Learned and shared beliefs and behaviors

Question 3

Roots of 2 Ways of Knowing

Answer 3

• Plato: Humanistic Approach

- Aristotle: Scientific Approach

Question 4

Enduring Themes

Answer 4

• Environment and landscape shape humanity: the interaction and relationship between environment, economics and other systems of culture
• Culture
• Valuing cultural unity and diversity: differences in humans based on adaptations
• Humanity changes

Question 5

Define Enculturation

Answer 5

How we learn our own culture by participating and communicating socially within groups

Question 6

Define Acculturation

Answer 6

The willing or forced adaptation of a dominant culture by members of a subordinate culture

Question 7

5 subordinates of General Anthropology

Answer 7

• Cultural
• Archeological
• Linguistic
• Biological/Physical
• Applied

Question 8

What is Archeology?

Answer 8

Study of the past through material remains of ancient people

Question 9

What are the 3 subfields of Archeology?

Answer 9

• Prehistoric Archeology (material remains only)
• Historic Archeology (written records, archives)
• Underwater Archeology (80% of world submerged)

Question 10

What is Biological Anthropology?

Answer 10

Study of human evolution (how our bodies have changed to adapt to environment)

Question 11

What are the 4 subfields of Biological Anthropology?

Answer 11

• Paleoanthropology (fossils, genetics)
• Primatology (apes and humans)
• Paleopathology (disease patterns)
• Genetics, anatomy and ecology

Question 12

What is Linguistic Anthropology?

Answer 12

Human communication systems including language (signed, verbal, written) and the link between language and culture

Question 13

What are the 3 subfields of Linguistic Anthropology?

Answer 13

• Historical Linguistics (traces origins of people based on commonalities in language/ protolanguage)
• Structural Linguistics (study of the smallest units in language including sounds, words, symbols, sentences)
• Sociolinguistics (study of discourse or language used in conversation)

Question 14

What is Applied Anthropology?

Answer 14

The use of anthropological knowledge to solve social problems

Question 15

What are the 3 subfields of Applied Anthropology?

Answer 15

• Applied Archeology (cultural resource management)
• Applied Bioanthropology (genetics, forensics)
• Applied Cultural (international development)
• Applied Linguistics (language programs)

Question 16

What is the Holistic Approach?

Answer 16

Seeing aspects of culture as interrelated and connected

Question 17

What is the comparative and interdisciplinary perspective?

Answer 17

Considers similarities and differences in a large range of human activities and beliefs

Question 18

What is the relativistic and reflexive perspective?

Answer 18

Relativism: not judging others based on your beliefs
Reflexivity: awareness of how your presence within the community impacts the people being studied

Question 19

Define Ethnography

Answer 19

Writing about culture based on first-hand immersion into the lifeways, beliefs and practices of people

Question 20

Define Ethnology

Answer 20

Cross cultural analysis of topics/ problems in two or more cultures or subcultural groups

Question 21

Define Ethnocentrism

Answer 21

Judging of people of other cultures based on beliefs of your own

Question 22

Absolute Cultural Relativism

Answer 22

Whatever goes on in cultures must not be questioned by outsiders

Question 23

Critical Cultural Relativism

Answer 23

Critiques about cultural practices in terms of who is accepting them and why

Question 24

Biological Determinism vs Cultural Constructionism

Answer 24

Biological Determinist: Nature

Cultural Constructionism: Nurture

Question 25

Cultural Materialism vs Interpretivism

Answer 25

Cultural Materialism: explains culture as constrained and constructed according to climate
Interpretivism: explain culture according to how people make sense of their own cultures

Question 26

Structuralism vs Individual Agency

Answer 26

Structuralist: argue people think and behave the way they do based on forces beyond their control
Individual Agency: explains culture as the outcome of continual and constant negotiations

Question 27

Who was connected to Holism?

Answer 27

Edward Tylor

Question 28

What are some important characteristics of culture?

Answer 28

• Adaptive
• Related to nature but not the same as nature
• Symbolic
• Holistic
• Enculturated, acculturated and diffused
• Cultural change (syncretism)