SOC401 Anthropology

 SOC401 Anthropology

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 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.