ANTH 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Biological Anthropology, Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism
Document Summary
Chapter 1: anthropology & the study of culture. Agency: the ability of humans to make choices and exercise free will even within dominating structures. Anthropology: the study of humanity, including its prehistoric origins and contemporary human diversity. Applied anthropology: the use of anthropological knowledge to prevent or solve problems or to shape and achieve policy goals. Archaeology: the study of human cultures through their material remains. Biological anthropology: the study of humans as biological organisms, including evolution and contemporary variation. Biological determinism: a theory that explains human behavior and ideas as shaped mainly by biological features such as genes and hormones. Class: a way of categorizing people on the basis and their economic position in society, usually measured in terms of income or wealth. Cultural anthropology: the study of living peoples and their cultures, including variation and change. Cultural construction: maintains that human behavior and ideas are best explained as products of culturally shaped learning.
