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Anthropology the integrated study of human nature, human society and human history (the study

of humans) understanding origins (biological, cultural, evolutionary), behavior (past present;


across time), thought systems and material possessions. What it means to be human - what we
have, think, do and are

Physical Anthropology biological perspective. Focus is on evolutionary history and


biological variation (subfields are primatology, paleo-anthropology, human variation and
forensic anthropology) study of humans from a biological perspective. The subfield of
anthropology that studies biological evolution of human beings and the contemporary physical
variations among people of the world

Cultural Anthropology how different realms of life are interrelated. Has ethnographies and
ethnologies. The scientific study of cultural similarities and differences wherever and in
whatever form they may be found.

Linguistic Anthropology Linguistic anthropology is the interdisciplinary study of how


language influences social life.

Archeology The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the
analysis of artifacts and other physical remains

Applied Anthropology: Applied anthropology is anthropology put to use. It is any kind of


anthropological research that is done to solve practical problems.

Primatology: study of human evolution and adaptation over time and space. The study of our
nearest living relatives (apes, monkeys, prosimians) in their natural habitats for the purpose of
gaining insights into the human evolutionary process

Paleo-anthropology: interested in reconstructing the evolutionary record of the human species;


they ask questions about the emergence of humans and how humans have evolved up to the
present time. Study of human and nonhuman primate evolution through fossil remains

Human variation studies how and why the physical traits of contemporary human
populations vary throughout the world

Cultural Resource Management a form of applied archaeology that involves identifying,


evaluating and sometimes excavating sites before roads, dams and buildings are constructed

Garbology The study of modern refuse and trash as well as the use of trash cans, compactors
and various types of trash can liners.

Middens A midden (also kitchen midden or shell heap) is an old dump for domestic waste
which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, mollusc shells, sherds,
lithics (especially debitage), and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human
occupation. These features, therefore, provide a useful resource for archaeologists who wish to
study the diets and habits of past societies
Culture: Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms
found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and
habits of the individuals in these groups. Humans acquire culture through the learning processes
of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies.

Ethnographies: An illuminative account of social life and culture in a particular social


system based on multiple detailed observations of what people actually do in the social setting
being observed.

Patterns of Culture book by Ruth Benedict. Claimed that each society unconsciously chooses
a limited number of cultural traits and that individuals within society internalize them through a
wide range of enculturation practices. This results in similar ways of thinking and behaving that
form a group personality pattern

Holistic Holism is the idea that various systems should be viewed as wholes, not merely as
a collection of parts.

Relativistic Cultural relativism means that while the anthropologist is in the field, he or she
temporarily suspends their own esthetic and moral judgements. The aim is to obtain a certain
degree of "understanding" or "empathy" with the foreign norms and tastes.

Ethnocentrism Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the


standards and customs of one's own culture.

Emic a perspective in ethnography that uses the concepts and categories that are relevant and
meaningful to the culture under analysis (insider point of view)

Etic a perspective in ethnography that uses the concepts and categories of the anthropologist's
culture to describe another culture (outsider's point of view, comparing it to your culture)

Frontstage How someone acts when they know they are being watched, reflecting
internalized norms and expectations for behavior.

Backstage: How someone acts when they are alone

Norms a standard or pattern, especially of social behavior, that is typical or expected of a group.

Symbols: Symbols are the basis of culture. A symbol is an object, word, or action that
stands for something else with no natural relationship that is culturally defined. Everything one
does throughout their life is based and organized through cultural symbolism. Symbolism is
when something represents abstract ideas or concepts.

culture shock: Culture shock is an experience a person may have when one moves to a cultural
environment which is different from one's own; it is also the personal disorientation a person
may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life
Enculturation: The process of learning our own culture is called enculturation, while the process
of learning another culture is called acculturation. Both of these happen on subconscious and
conscious levels, take time and practice, and are never fully complete.

Acculturation: assimilation to a different culture, typically the dominant one.

Subculture: A subculture is a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from
the parent culture to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles.
Subcultures develop their own norms and values regarding cultural, political and sexual matters

Unilineal Evolutionism: Unilineal evolution, also referred to as classical social evolution, is


a 19th-century social theory about the evolution of societies and cultures. It was composed of
many competing theories by various anthropologists and sociologists, who believed that Western
culture is the contemporary pinnacle of social evolution.

American Historicism / Historical Particularism: Rejected a general theory of culture change.


Believed that each society could only be understood in light of its particular history.

In what ways is anthropology a holistic discipline? Anthropology has a 4-field approach in


which every category is interrelated. (cultural, physical/biological, linguistic, archaeology) This
area of study is very broad, so this is a way to categorize and organize it while still being
interrelated (also creates specializations in areas of study) You cannot speak of one area without
also speaking of/relating to another? *refer to definition of anthropology
It synthesizes the knowledge of many disciplines into a coherent study of what it means to be
human.

Explain the statement, "Race as a biological category does not exist". Race is not a
biological factor; there is no genetic basis and it is not a part of evolution. No significant genetic
variations between races but within races there are. Race is a cultural/social construct that we
have made.

• What are some of the characteristics of "culture"? Ferraro defines "culture" as "everything that
people have, think and do as members of their society, and further explains that "it consist of
material Objects, ideas, values, and attitude and normative or expected patterns of behavior,
which is shared by at least two or more people
1)The learned nature of culture ;2)how culture influences biological processes ;
3)cultural universals ;4)the ubiquity of culture change ;5)ethnocentrism ; and 6)the
intergrated nature of culture. It is the description of these variations in behaviors within limits
that constitutes the patterns of any specific culture Edward Taylor: "that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as a member of society"

Why is culture a biological characteristic for humans? Why do we need it? Everyone has culture!
It is an elemental part of being human and is essential for survival. It is innate and the means by
which we as humans adapt to the environment
Postnatal development - most development happens post nataly. Bipedalism Size of birth canal.
Fire cooking size of teeth. Genital mutilation

• Who is the Father of American anthropology? Franz Uri Boas was a German-born
American anthropologist and a pioneer of modern anthropology who has been called the "Father
of American Anthropology". His work is associated with the movements known as Historical
Particularism and Cultural Relativism.

What is unique about American Anthropology? It emphasized empiricism, anti-racism and


preserving Native-American cultures. Also had an emphasis on fieldwork. Attracted women to
the discipline.

What were Franz Boas's contributions to Anthropology? Boas is often referred to as the
"Father of American Anthropology" because, in his role at Columbia, he trained the first
generation of U.S. scholars in the field, encouraging the use of the scientific method into
research. His primary contribution was the theory of cultural relativism. Famous anthropologists
Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict were both his students, as was the writer Zora Neale Hurston.

What are some of the main tenets of the American Anthropological Association's (AAA) code of
ethics for anthropologists? 1) Do No Harm;
2) Be Open and Honest Regarding Your Work;
3) Obtain Informed Consent and Necessary Permissions;
4) Weigh Competing Ethical Obligations Due Collaborators and Affected Parties;
5) Make Your Results Accessible;
6) Protest and Preserve Your Records;
7) Maintain Respectful and Ethical Professional Relationships.

What are some of the main methods used in doing an ethnography?Participant observation,
interviews and surveys. Immersing self in environment. Field notes, collect data.

What is theory? Why do we need theory? Use an example to explain how theory is used in social
science to analyze a problem A theory is a statement that suggests a relationship among
phenomena - it can explain as well as predict these relationships. It can reduce reality to an
abstract set of principles. It is the source of hypotheses, can never be proven to be true (things
can support it...) but can always be proven false - corroborated through empirical evidence.
We need theory in anthropology to account for cultural variations (idk why)

If you were an anthropologist, how would you go about designing a research project and
implementing a solution that would ultimately improve on a wood burning cook stove Health
issue; pulmonary issues with lungs, eye sight, heart etc. Gendered situation- women are the ones
cooking so they are experiencing the health issues (esp. because it's in an enclosed space)
Children are also being affected bc they hang around their mothers. (Men not affected really)
When are the times they cook the most (time of max use)?
HOW to improve this? Change the ventilation of the house or get a different kind of stove, such
as gas etc.? Does the culture/area they live in allow for these changes? How will they be
implemented? How will they be paid for? Local or gov level?
My example: I would design a research project that would improve the ventilation of the use of
the stove in the house and/or possibly situate the kitchen in an area that does not affect the rest of
the house, especially where the kids play. Wouldn't change the type of stove bc if they are using
wood burning in the first place, they are presumably in a place that does not have electricity and
it would be hard/very expensive to get electricity there for everyone. Women are kind of a
minority - only cook and clean and care for children - so take it up on a local level first and
educate the people in the society about what was wrong/going on. Would then take this to the
government and ask them to fund it
Need to get IRB approval and also approval from the host country and the people within the
society/culture
Collect data and interact with people in a genuine way- don't show that you are an expert but
show that you have knowledge on the matter and that you care
Be an advocate for women. Be an educator about all of this. Implement education programs????
Idfk

Franz Boas father of modern American anthropology; argued for cultural relativism and
historical particularism

Margaret Mead Mead was best known for her studies of the nonliterate peoples of
Oceania, especially with regard to various aspects of psychology and culture—the cultural
conditioning of sexual behaviour, natural character, and culture change

What are the conditions like in the Kung resettlement camps? What happens to their norms and
values after re-settlement? Why? The conditions became a lot worse as the bushmen had
90% of their land taken, leading to people starting to conflict with each other over food and
resources and became much more hostile due to the alcohol that had been supplied, people
seceded and started farming settlements and the government suggested making the bushmen area
a game reserve where farming would be forbidden. That led to the bushmen supporting
themselves on a mixed economy of hunting and gathering, farming, and army supplies.
Eventually 15 farming settlements became the Nyae Nyae farming cooperative. After re-
settlement, egalitarianism diminished and men and women were no longer equal.

How does the status of women in Kung society change with resettlement? What contributes to
the loss of status of women in resettlement camps? There is little work for men as it is, so there
is no work for women besides caring for the children. They do not contribute to the economy or
hunt etc. and have no voice. Important to note that this is not on their own accord; it was not their
decision. (whos was it? idk)

Explain how Junger's essay on PTSD in the US is an example of "applying anthropology"


Junger's essay is "applying" anthropology vs applied because it is more emic and uses a
first person narrative. Applying relies on a holistic approach, is ethnocentric, across a long span
of time and has a cross cultural comparison. The PTSD article mirrors this as it takes a holistic
view of awareness of the disorder and how we as a society treat it.

Discuss the biological and social root causes of PTSD in the US. What does this imply for
treatment options for PTSD? Social root causes of PTSD, in regards to the war example in the
article, is isolation/alienation. The war environment is very communal (you are always around
people no matter what you're doing etc.) and coming back to american society is very different
from that and at times, opposite. Recovery process needs to be social. Focus needs to be on
family and community to put them in a situation of collective healing
Treatments for PTSD are usually CBT, exposure therapy and psychotherapy
Unsure of biological part....... Maybe has something to do with the lack of dopamine and
oxytocin?

In "Eating Christmas in the Kalahari", what was it about Bushmen ways of life and Lee's role as
an anthropologist that led to their reactions to his generosity? He was not generous -- this is
because he went to the Kalahari to study the hunting and gathering economy of the Kung and to
accomplish this it was not essential to provide them with food or share his food with them or
interfere with their food gathering activities. He liberally handed out tobacco and medical
supplies. They glared with disparity and thought of him to be stingy and hard-hearted.
Christmas ox, though, was his gift to them to say thank you for their cooperation for the past
year. Thought the ox was too small and would leave them still hungry - they like/want the fat
ones. JK IT WAS A JOKE. it is in their culture to do such things. Don't want people to boast and
think too highly of themselves if they know they caught something huge etc.
"There are no totally generous acts; they all have an element of calculation. One black ox does
not wipe out a year of careful manipulation of gifts given to serve your own ends."
What he did for the Bushmen is what they do for each other on a daily basis

What issues did anthropologist Claire Sterk encounter during her fieldwork among prostitutes?
What strategies did she use to deal with these problems? First challenge was identifying
locations where street prostitutions took place
Asked around: law enforcement officials, health care providers, taxi drivers, bartenders,
community representatives
Being an unknown woman in the area makes you stick out like a sore thumb and people notice
you... people would look away from her almost in fear of talking to her
Refrain from presenting herself as an expert but important to show that you have knowledge on
the matter
Get people to trust her.... Immerse herself in their community and hang out with them. Give
rides, babysit, buy groceries and listened to stories (things unrelated to the study to show you
care)
Also pimps freaked her out
Just looked away or left

Based on Scheper-Hughes's essay "House Gun...", explain the processes by which structural
violence becomes everyday violence.Structural violence is enforced by racisms and in South
Africa is continued after the aparthied regime. This leads to everyday violence which manifests
in poor living conditions and bad economic standing, ignoring the rights of minorities, domestic
violence, poor quality of education, and these everyday occurrences of violence "normalize"
violence as part of the society. White fear of minorities becoming too wealthy and taking away
white's control.
In the essay on the "House Gun..." by Scheper-Hughes, how are the cases of Trayvon Martin,
Michael Brown and Oscar Pistorius related?\Trayvon and Michael were innocent black men that
were killed because they were a perceived threat because of their race?????????????
Armed white men attributed violent intent to black strangers
Just talk about racism
Yes, white fear.

How does Scheper-Hughes build and support her argument that gun ownership in the US and in
South Africa is related to "white fear" of people of color? Paranoid, rich, white upper class is
afraid of non-white, black, minority communities.

In Anderson's ethnography of gun owners, how do biblical mythologies influence gun rights
groups' world view? Sheep, sheepdogs and wolves
sheep= willing to go on acting as if life isn't dangerous (a clear reference to advocates of gun
control) but they require sheepdogs (gun owners) willing to live a harder life to keep the wolves
(mass shooters and other violent criminals) from taking weaker members of the herd
Good guys vs. bad guys debate, Yes. This has biblical origins of saints and sinners. They must be
wrong because we are right.
With monsters like the Vegas shooter, why would people be willing to hand over what they see
as the most effective tool for keeping the wolves at bay? There's no rational reason that the devil
still exists and encompasses all evil. He just is. God is good because he "just is"

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