SOC401 Anthropology
SOC401 Anthropology
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17qQQ2eklSASB3mtLj1rvPzSfKseIWy2Y?usp=sharing
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Definition
of Anthropology
Anthropology
is derived from the Greek words anthropos for human and logos for study, so if
we take its literal meaning it would mean the study of humans.
Anthropology is the study of people, their origins, their development, and
variations, wherever they have been found on the face of the earth. In short
anthropology aims to describe, in the broadest sense, what it means to be
human.
Activities
of an Anthropologist
As we already know, anthropology is the study of
what it means to be human. So the study of the things that make us human is the
focus of anthropologists. Anthropologists study the various components of what its
means to be human.
Branches
of Anthropology
A. Physical Anthropology – Is the
study of humans from a biological perspective.
Essentially this involves two broad areas of
investigation.
a) Human paleontology
-: this sub branch deals with the emergence and subsequent evolution of human
physiology
b) Human variation
-: The second area deals with how/ why the physical traits of current human
populations vary across the world.
B. Archeology – study of lives of
people from the past by examining the material culture they have left behind
C. Anthropological Linguistics –
the study of human speech and language
D. Cultural
Anthropology – the study of cultural differences and
similarities around the world
Cultural
Anthropology (ethnology):
As we have discerned above, cultural anthropology
concerns itself with the study of cultural differences as well as the
similarities around the world. Before cultural anthropologists can examine
cultural differences and similarities throughout the world they must first
describe the features of specific cultures in as much detail as possible. These
detailed descriptions (ethnographies) are the result of extensive field studies
in which the anthropologists observes, talks to and lives with the people under
study. On the other hand
ethnology is the comparative study of living cultures, wherever they are found.
The primary objective of ethnology is to uncover general cultural
principals/rules that govern human behavior.
Areas of Specialization in Cultural Anthropology
I.
Urban Anthropology
– studies impact of urbanization on rural societies and the dynamics of life
within cities
II.
Medical Anthropology
– studies biological and socio-cultural factors that affect health or
prevalence of illness or disease in human societies
III.
Educational Anthropology
– studies processes of learning of both formal education institutions and
informal systems which can use story telling or experiential learning
IV.
Economic Anthropology
– studies how goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed within
different cultural contexts
V.
Psychological Anthropology
– studies relationship between cultures and the psychological makeup of
individuals belonging to them
Common Responses to Cultural Difference:
A. Ethnocentrism
– a belief that one’s own culture is not only the most desirable but also
superior to that of others.
B. Cultural
relativism – looks at the inherent logic behind
different cultures and practices in the attempt to understand them
Relevance
of Cultural Anthropology
·
Cultural anthropology enhances
understanding of differences and prevents oversimplified generalizations.
·
It increases self-knowledge about our
own thinking, values and behavior
·
It helps develop cognitive complexity
through integration (interconnectedness) and differentiation (different aspects
of a singular entity).
·
Cultural anthropology is also useful in
facilitating meaningful interaction with other cultures and sub-cultures.
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Definition
of Anthropology
Anthropology
is derived from the Greek words anthropos for human and logos for study, so if
we take its literal meaning it would mean the study of humans.
Anthropology is the study of people, their origins, their development, and
variations, wherever they have been found on the face of the earth. In short
anthropology aims to describe, in the broadest sense, what it means to be
human.
Activities
of an Anthropologist
As we already know, anthropology is the study of
what it means to be human. So the study of the things that make us human is the
focus of anthropologists. Anthropologists study the various components of what its
means to be human.
Branches
of Anthropology
A. Physical Anthropology – Is the
study of humans from a biological perspective.
Essentially this involves two broad areas of
investigation.
a) Human paleontology
-: this sub branch deals with the emergence and subsequent evolution of human
physiology
b) Human variation
-: The second area deals with how/ why the physical traits of current human
populations vary across the world.
B. Archeology – study of lives of
people from the past by examining the material culture they have left behind
C. Anthropological Linguistics –
the study of human speech and language
D. Cultural
Anthropology – the study of cultural differences and
similarities around the world
Cultural
Anthropology (ethnology):
As we have discerned above, cultural anthropology
concerns itself with the study of cultural differences as well as the
similarities around the world. Before cultural anthropologists can examine
cultural differences and similarities throughout the world they must first
describe the features of specific cultures in as much detail as possible. These
detailed descriptions (ethnographies) are the result of extensive field studies
in which the anthropologists observes, talks to and lives with the people under
study. On the other hand
ethnology is the comparative study of living cultures, wherever they are found.
The primary objective of ethnology is to uncover general cultural
principals/rules that govern human behavior.
Areas of Specialization in Cultural Anthropology
I.
Urban Anthropology
– studies impact of urbanization on rural societies and the dynamics of life
within cities
II.
Medical Anthropology
– studies biological and socio-cultural factors that affect health or
prevalence of illness or disease in human societies
III.
Educational Anthropology
– studies processes of learning of both formal education institutions and
informal systems which can use story telling or experiential learning
IV.
Economic Anthropology
– studies how goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed within
different cultural contexts
V.
Psychological Anthropology
– studies relationship between cultures and the psychological makeup of
individuals belonging to them
Common Responses to Cultural Difference:
A. Ethnocentrism
– a belief that one’s own culture is not only the most desirable but also
superior to that of others.
B. Cultural
relativism – looks at the inherent logic behind
different cultures and practices in the attempt to understand them
Relevance
of Cultural Anthropology
·
Cultural anthropology enhances
understanding of differences and prevents oversimplified generalizations.
·
It increases self-knowledge about our
own thinking, values and behavior
·
It helps develop cognitive complexity
through integration (interconnectedness) and differentiation (different aspects
of a singular entity).
·
Cultural anthropology is also useful in
facilitating meaningful interaction with other cultures and sub-cultures.
Its very helpful but, ye jst 1st lesson h, bki dox n pdf k through study krin?
ReplyDeleteopen the one drive link given on top wahan mily ga sb
ReplyDelete