Unit 1: Anthropology Flashcards
djAnthropology
Is the study of humans-their origin, biological characteristic and cultural development.
Area of specialisation of anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Linguistic anthropology
Archaeology anthropology
Physical anthropology
Ways to collect data
Interviews and participant observations
1. * Unstructured interview
2. * Structured interview
3. * Participant observations
All subjects must include informed consent
Unstructured interview
Questions are not prearranged
Pros: Allows researcher to test out new ideas
Allows minimal research bias
Often first step in the research project
Cons: Can be time consuming, since no prearranged agenda
Structured interview
Use a set list of questions that do not change
Pros: Anyone can conduct the interview
A relationship between researcher and interviewee does not need to be established
Produce consistency data to be compared between respondent
Cons: Questions cannot be adapted to deal with changing situations
Participant observations
Living with subject for an extended period of time and engaging in their daily activities
Used to gather information about culture
This approach was developed by Malinowski: a Polish anthropologist
Researchers must try to understand the world as their informants see it
They do not judge what they see
Reflexivity
Reflecting on their own worldviews, biases and impact on the culture they are studying. Researchers must share their work with the participant and ask if their interpretations are accurate
2 Types of researches
Quantitative and Qualitative
Quantitative research
Closed ended questions
Numerical results
Ex: How many people in York region live in a 2-parent household
Qualitative research
Open ended questions
Descriptions and comparison
Ex: Interviews
What is observation Methods
Very detailed description of an event or behaviours which is recorded as it happens
They are recorded in present tense and provide step by step commentary of what is observed
Very helpful for closely analyzed interactions
Details must be factual as they can be important in the future
Do not make any assumptions during the observation
Subjective Vs Objective Language
Subjective writing is based on personal opinions, interpretation, pov and emotions
Objective writing is fact-based, measurable and observable it influences just the facts
Charles Darwin: Theory of evolution
Charles Darwin noticed how species on earth don’t always stay the same
This made him establish the theory of evolution
He proposed that humans share a common ancestor with apes
Believed that natural selection shaped human characteristics like intelligence behaviour and physical traits
Artificial selection
the process by which humans choose organisms with desirable traits and selectively breed them to enhance those traits over time
ex: They picked which dogs to breed based on their characteristics such as size, survival skills and cuteness. People have used this process to turn grey wolves into all kinds of dogs we see today.
Natural selection
Conditions of a habitat will naturally select for characteristics that will increase the chances of survival of organisms in a specific environment.
Ex: Looking at a bear and going into a cellular level to look at its eggs and going into a molecular level and looking at its DNA and nucleus and watching the DNA split, then when the DNA is replicated. Although there are chances of mutation it can be beneficial and the other organism dies or decreases and as the mutation species grows and evolves they become a different species of bear.
Cultural relativism
Frank Boas presented the idea of cultural relativism
This means that anthropologists are not allowed to compare 2 cultures because they have different beliefs and there are no universal standard
Key term: Ethnocentric: Believing one’s culture is superior to all the others
Functional theory
Boas Malinowski
The concept that all cultural being, behaviors and relationship are serve to satisfy the needs of individuals
Cultural materialism
Introduced by Marvin Harris
Theory states that materials or conditions within the environment influence who a culture develops
Ex: Hindu belief is the cow as it is a sacred animal
Feminist anthropology
Ernestine Friedl presented the idea of feminist anthropology
The idea is women’s freedom is tied to their contributions to the food supply
Men get more control from hunt-based society being more dominant and women have less control over their lives
Postmodernism
Jean-Francois Lyotard presented the idea
It denies the objective aspect of reality
There is no scientific or historical truth
Can be applied in everyday life as people define their own reality thru personal experiences
3 branches of cultural anthropology
Archaeology, Linguistic, and Ethnography
Major goal within these branches: Cultural relativism
Hinders with the study of culture: Ethnocentrism and glorification of other cultures
Ethnocentrism: The belief that one culture is better than another leading to prejudice thoughts and behaviour
glorification of other cultures: Viewing other cultures as more appealing because they perceive them as simpler or closer to nature
Marget Mead
Believe cultures all have something in common called “cultural universals”
Build shelter
Make tools
Seek help from supernatural beings
Communicate through language
Have an idea of what is beautiful
What is cultural anthropology
When monumental changes and shift come about, **anthropologist are interested in the ways that human cultures and behaviours adapt to these changes. The reason for this is because it is culture that helps people adjust to their physical and social environments. **
There are seven areas of society and culture that experience the most adaptations, and ultimately, these adaptations affect our behaviour as humans.
7 Areas of society that experience most adaptation
-technology
-culture and language
-social formation:Kinship
-laws
-politics
-economy and economic system
-religion and belief system
Rite of passage
-Important events in human life cycle that are marked in many societies by ceremonies
-They can mark a person’s progress
-The fact we create them sets us apart from other species
3 Stages of rite of passage
- Segregation
The person undergoing the rite of passage is separated from the rest of society
2.Transition
Time of testing, learning and growing
The person is learning their new role becoming a new person (can last up for a period of time)
Might be an mentor guiding along the person
3.Incorporation and reintegration
They are reintegrated into society in their new role
Sometime a person is marked by tattoos, cloything
They are recognized by their new status and assume the responsibility of their new role
How does ceremonies work?
Help individuals by
1.Relieving stress
2.Promoting personal growth
3.Providing feelings of unity
Help the group by:
1.Passing on values, traditions and morals
2.Ensuring group survival
Pictography
A series of literal drawings would represent an idea;
essentially just need to understand the objects to understand the meaning
Ideography
Writing with symbols
Body language
A smile can been seen aggressive in some culture
Considers how we greet each other
Body language sends a powerful message
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Suggest that the language a person speaks influences their reality (worldview, thought and how they experience and understand the world)
Ex: An aboriginal people in Australia uses cardinal directions
This makes them more orientated as their are more distinguished with directions
Languages can differ in describing events (can be how english speaker assign blame)
Language has big (directions), deep(differentiate colour), early (, broad, weighty effects
Euphemisms
A set of words used to indirectly describe an uncomfortable situation Ex: He died -> He passed away (It replaces harsh blunt words with words or phrases that are more considerate)
Slang
A type of language that consist of different words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing
How does the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis apply to the slang or euphemism used in your definition?
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is the theory that language influences our thoughts and it influences our reality. With euphemism we came up with a set of words to indirectly describe an uncomfortable situation and the form of slang has become a big part of society especially with younger generations. As we continue to use slang more it starts to influence our thoughts especially when most of the slang developed is a non-existent word that is used as jokes. Sooner or later the slang influences our reality and it can replace the concept of euphemisms and those slangs may be used during situations it shouldn’t be applied in.
Diffusion
The spreading of culture (traits, ideas, language and clothing)
-Can spread from Tv shows, media, etc
Assimilation
the process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.
Multiculturalism
The acceptance and appreciation of multiple ethnic groups within a geographic area.
key principal of Darwin’s theory
**1. Variation **
- Species have many variations that can be inherited (finches beaks)
2.Overproduction
-Organisms produced more than what could survive (turtle lay 100 of eggs but only a few matured)
3. Competition (struggle for existence)
-Resources like food, space, and mates are limited, organisms must compete to survive
4. Natural selection (survival of the fittest)
-Same traits organism posses allows them to have a better advantage, eventually which allows them to survive and pass onto their offspring
5. Adaptation
-Overtime the more desired trait is adapted by everyone which helps them survive in that environment
