SOC 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Culture Shock, Ethnocentrism
Document Summary
Even when we tell ourselves sternly that we must be objective, that we must examine the people of other cultures in terms of their cultures, it is difficult. Anthropologist napoleon chagnon gives a startling example of how difficult it can be to avoid being ethnocentric. Chagnon studied the yanomam indians of south america by living among them for more than a year. Here"s part of what he wrote about his first day in the field. My first day in the field illustrated to me what my teachers meant when they spoke of culture shock. We arrived at the village, biaasi-teri, about 2:00 p. m. and docked the boat along the muddy bank at the terminus of the path used by the indians to fetch their drinking water. It was hot and muggy, and my clothing was soaked with perspiration.
