Introduction to Anthropology

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Introduction to Anthropology

• Ms. Hernandez
• Period 6

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What is Anthropology?
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Anthropology

• Systematic way of understanding the human
  experience and human diversity
• Comprehensive study of past and present human
  population and origin
• Cross cultural comparison of all societies
• Ancient vs. Modern
• Small vs. Large
• Simple vs. Complex

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Basic Definition

• Study of humankind over time and space

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What makes Anthropology distinctive?

• Study all varieties of people
• Study humankind at all time periods
• Study all aspects of humanity (religion,
  economics, food preferences, art, ecology,
  gender, race, etc.)
• Accept the unity of humanity. We are ALL similar
  somehow.

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Characteristics of Anthropology

• Holistic perception and emphasis on the totality
  rather than the details of the parts.
• Macro- holistic view- looking at the whole
  experience
• Micro-looking at single culture- integration of
  its parts
• Bio-cultural try to understand humans from a
  biological and cultural existence- the PHYSICAL
  and the SOCIAL

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IMPORTANTEthnocentrism versus Cultural Relativism

• Ethnocentrism attitude that a societys customs
  and ideas can be judged within the context of
  ones own culture
• Cultural Relativism the attitude that a
  societys customs and ideas should be viewed
  within the context of that societys ideals and
  values
• Perception of reality socially and
  psychologically conditioned by culture

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What is Culture?
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What is Culture?

• Culture set of learned behaviors, beliefs,
  attitudes, values, and ideals that are shared by
  a particular society

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Major Cultural Characteristics

• Learned
• Shared
• Symbolic

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Culture is Learned

• Learned culture is learned through other members
  of group
• Socialization process internalizing meanings and
  symbols used to interact and express thought
• Learned by language, objects, reactions, etc.

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Culture is Shared

• Shared through social interactions of groups-
  learn from each other
• Cooperative enterprise

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Culture is Symbolic

• Symbolic meaning given to objects, events, and
  concepts
• Holidays (Halloween)
• Rituals (Sweet Sixteen)
• Behaviors (Sporting events)
• Objects (Computer)
• Food (Birthday cake)

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What is Cultural Anthropology?
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Cultural Anthropology

• Study of recent/ contemporary societies and
  cultures in order to understand cultural
  diversity
• Explain behavioral variation within a culture and
  across cultures