ECON 2000 Chapter : Anthropology 1
Anth. Unit 1 1/21/2011 4:38:00 PM
Biocultural Approach
• – inter between biology and ppl and what they learn
Holistic
• – looking at all aspects of life (morals, spiritual aspects, living,
food)
Comparative
• – comparisons are made… None to judge
Ethnocentric
• – a view that is centered on a specific ethnic group usually one’s
own. Belief in superiority of one’s group
Cultural “Relativism” (perspective)
• View each behavior in its own cultural context (may compare, no
judgement)
Field work
• Going out and doing work
Anthropology
Four subfields:
• Linguistic
o Dealing with languages and how people communicate
• Cultural (sociocultural)
o Learned behavior that is distinct among groups of ppl past
through generations and cultures change
• Archaeology
o Study of the past based on the material remains of a culture
1/21/2011 4:38:00 PM
1/24/11
Anthropology
→ The study of people
Biocultural Approach
→ An interrelationship between biology and culture (what people learn and
inherit genetically)
Holistic Approach
→ Look at whole system of humans (all aspects)
→ Look at genetics, life histories, religious/spiritual beliefs, how they live,
food, morals, etc.)
Comparative Approach
→ Make comparisons, but not to judge or view any group inferior
Ethnocentric Approach
→ A view that is centered on a specific ethnic group, usually one’s own, and
is a belief in the superiority of one’s own group
→ (e.g. There’s no way like the American Way)
Cultural “Relativism” (perspective)
→ Viewing the culture on its own terms
→ View/study each behavior in its own cultural context (not going to judge)
→ (e.g., Marriage)
→ (e.g., Beauty with regards to Weight)
Fieldwork
→ Going out to the field and collecting data
→ Excavation, archaic research, going into other cultures to try &
understand
Four Subfields
Linguistic Anthropology
→ Looking at how people communicate (languages)
→ (e.g., does language influence how you think, non-verbal communication)
2.) Cultural Anthropology
→ Learned behavior that is distinct among groups of people; passed down
through generations (learned)
→ Evolutionary (Cultures change) – e.g. = clothing
Archaeology
→ The study of the past based on the material remains of a culture
(anything left behind)
→ (e.g., pottery, ceramic, tools, weapons)
4.) Biological Anthropology
→ Studying humans from the biological perspection; includes both past
(fossil record, humans involving) and present; non-human primates (closest
living relatives)
American Anthropology
Franz Boas (1858-1942)
→ “4-field approach”
→ Professor at Colombia University, trained many anthropologists
(influential)
Alês Hrdliĉka (1869-1943)
→ Organized physical anthropology
→ Started the American Journal of Physical Anthropology (1918)
(Serves as the voice of the field)
→Started the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (1929)
(Group presents research)
History of Evolutionary Thought
Charles Darwin
→ Idea of species changing (evolution)
→ Adaptive radiation = from one species can descend multiple species
→ Gradualism = species change over time
→ Natural Selection
Middle Ages
Two common world views:
→ Order = hierarchal way of life
→ Stasis = idea that things don’t change
Document Summary
1/21/2011 4:38:00 pm: inter between biology and ppl and what they learn. Holistic: looking at all aspects of life (morals, spiritual aspects, living, food) Comparative: comparisons are made none to judge. Ethnocentric: a view that is centered on a specific ethnic group usually one"s own. Cultural relativism (perspective: view each behavior in its own cultural context (may compare, no judgement) Field work: going out and doing work. An interrelationship between biology and culture (what people learn and inherit genetically) Look at whole system of humans (all aspects) Look at genetics, life histories, religious/spiritual beliefs, how they live, food, morals, etc. ) Make comparisons, but not to judge or view any group inferior. A view that is centered on a specific ethnic group, usually one"s own, and is a belief in the superiority of one"s own group. (e. g. there"s no way like the american way) Viewing the culture on its own terms.
