ANT 160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Ethnocentrism, Monster Truck, Emic And Etic
11 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
Cultural learning is the accumulation of knowledge about experiences and information not perceived directly by the organism, but transmitted to it through symbols. Culture is learned through both direct instruction and through observation. Culture is located and transmitted in groups. The social transmission of culture tends to unify people by providing us with a common experience. The commonality of experience in turn tends to generate a common understanding of future events. Diffusion: the spread of culture traits through borrowing from one culture to another. It has been a source of culture change throughout human history. Diffusion can be forced (through warfare, colonization, or some other kind of domination) or unforced (intermarriage) Acculturation: the exchange of features that results when different groups come into continuous, firsthand contact. Usually refers to the loss of traditional culture. Acculturation may occur in any or all groups engaged in such contact. The human ability to use symbols is the basis of culture.
