Introduction to Anthropology: Sub-disciplines and Concepts

What is Anthropology? What are the sub-disciplines of Anthropology?

Anthropology - the study of the human species and its immediate ancestors

Subdisciplines (CABL)

Cultural - study of human society and culture. Analyzes, interprets, and social and cultural similarities and differences. Ex: ethnography (field work) - live in small communities and study behavior, belief, custom, social life, economic activities, politics, and religion. Ethnology (based on cross-cultural comparison) - examines, compares, analyzes, and interprets results of ethnography and archaeology to compare similarities and differences.

Archaeological - reconstructs, describes, and interprets human behavior and cultural patterns through material remains (tools, weapons, garbage, campsite)

Biological aka Physical - study human biological diversity in time and space ex: fossils, genetics

Linguistic - study language in its social and cultural context across space and over time.

Define and explain each subfield: Cultural Anthropology, Physical/Biological Anthropology, Archaeology, Linguistic Anthropology (Above)

What is Applied Anthropology?

Applied Anthropology - the application of anthropological data, perspectives, theory, and methods to identify, assess, and solve contemporary social problems. The fields they work in are business, government, economic development, education, social service, action, and outreach. Applied anthropologists come from all four subfields

What is meant by holistic study?

Interest in the whole of the human condition; past, present, and future; biology, society, language, and culture

Difference between culture and society

Culture refers to the traits of a population’s behavior, values, practices, beliefs, and religion, while society is the environment or community that surrounds an individual. While culture is the total practices of a people, society is the general humanity.

What is enculturation?

The social process by which culture is learned and transmitted across the generations.

What is adaptation?

The process by which organisms cope with environmental stress

Difference between ethnography and ethnology

Difference Between Ethnography And Ethnology. Ethnography is a field of anthropological research based on direct observation of and reporting on a people’s way of life. As such, ethnography is the core method of cultural anthropology. Ethnographic subjects are usually cultural groups, such as communities, tribes, or dialect groups.