1. Chapter One
What Is Anthropology?

2. What We Will Learn
How does anthropology differ from other social and behavioral sciences?
What is the four- field approach to the discipline of anthropology?
How can anthropology help solve social problems?
What is meant by “cultural relativism,” and why is it important?
What skills will students develop from the study of anthropology?

3. What is Anthropology? Anthropology is the study of people
their origins
their development, and contemporary variations
wherever and whenever they have been found

4. Branches of Anthropology
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology
Anthropological Linguistics
Cultural Anthropology

5. Physical Anthropology
Paleontology
Primatology
Human variation
Forensic Anthropology
Applied Physical Anthropology

6. Archaeology Historical archaeology Prehistoric archaeology
Contract archaeology
Applied archaeology

7. Anthropological Linguistics
Historical linguistics
Descriptive linguistics
Ethnolinguistics
Sociolinguistics
Applied linguistics

8. Cultural Anthropology
Economic anthropology
Psychological anthropology
Educational anthropology
Medical anthropology
Urban anthropology
Political anthropology
Applied cultural anthropology

9. Biological Anthropology
In 1991, construction workers in Manhattan unearthed a burial ground dating to the 17th century containing the remains of 10,000 African slaves.
Biological anthropologist Dr. Michael Blakey headed the African Burial Ground Project.

10. Physical Anthropology
Study of humans from a biological perspective.
Areas of investigation:
Paleoanthropology - emergence of humans and how humans have evolved.
Human variation - how and why the physical traits of human populations vary.

11. Forensic Anthropology
Dr. Kathy Reichs, a forensic anthropologist, works with police, the courts, medical examiners, and international organizations to identify victims of crimes, disasters, and genocide.
Dr. Reichs inspired the primetime TV series Bones.

12. Primatology
Study of anatomy and social behavior of nonhuman primate species: gorillas, baboons, and chimpanzees.
Effort to learn about human evolution by studying contemporary nonhuman primates in similar environments.
Tool-making skills found in chimpanzees help explain human strategies for adapting to the environment.

13. Primatology
Primatologist Diane Brockman studies the behavior of Coquerel's sifaka at the Duke University Primate Center.

14. Archaeology
Study people from the past by analyzing material culture they leave behind:
Artifacts
Example: tools, arrowheads.
Features
Examples: foundations and fireplaces.
Ecofacts
Examples: bones, seeds, and wood.

15. Question The study of humans from a biological perspective is called
anthropological linguistics.
zoology.
forensic anthropology.
physical anthropology.

16. Answer: d
The study of humans from a biological perspective is physical anthropology.

17. Archaeologists Historic archaeologists:
Reconstruct the cultures of people who used writing and about whom historical documents have been written.
Prehistoric archaeologists:
Study the human record of cultures that existed before the development of writing.

18. Anthropological Linguistics
Historical linguistics
Study of emergence of language and how specific languages have diverged over time.
Descriptive linguistics
Study of sound systems, grammatical systems, and the meanings attached to words in specific languages.

19. Anthropological Linguistics
Ethnolinguistics
Study the relationship between language and culture.
Sociolinguistics
Study the relationship between language and social relations.

20. Anthropology
Dr. Owen Sichone, an anthropologist at the University of Cape Town, conducts research on African migrants to Cape Town, issues of xenophobia, and emerging political structure in South Africa.

21. Cultural Anthropology
Areas of Specialization
Urban anthropology
Medical anthropology
Educational anthropology
Psychological anthropology

22. Two Facets of Cultural Anthropology
Ethnography
Ethnology
Descriptive
Comparative
Based on direct fieldwork
Uses data collected by
other ethnographers
Focuses on a single culture or subculture
Generalizes across cultures or subcultures

23. Non-Academic Career Opportunities in Anthropology
Subfield
Examples
Physical Anthropology
Forensic specialists with law enforcement
Museum curator Genetic counselor Human rights investigator
Zoologist/primatologist Public health official

24. Non-Academic Career Opportunities in Anthropology
Subfield
Examples
Archaeology
Cultural resource management
Museum curator
Environmental impact specialist
Historical archaeologist
Contract (salvage) archaeologist

25. Non-Academic Career Opportunities in Anthropology
Subfield
Examples
Anthropological Linguistics
ESL teacher in public schools
International business trainer
Foreign language teacher
Cross-cultural advertising/marketing
Translator/interpreter

26. Non-Academic Career Opportunities in Anthropology
Subfield
Examples
Cultural Anthropology
International business consultant
Cross-cultural consultant in hospital
Museum curator
International economic development worker
Cross-cultural trainer
Public school educator
Immigration/refugee counselor

27. Holism
A distinguishing feature of the discipline of anthropology is its holistic approach to the study of human groups.
Anthropology involves both biological and sociocultural aspects of humanity.
The time frame goes from the earliest beginnings of humans to the present.
Anthropology studies all varieties of people wherever they may be found.

28. Ethnocentrism
The practice of viewing the customs of other societies in terms of one’s own.

29. Cultural Relativism
The idea that cultural traits are best understood when viewed within the cultural context of which they are a part.

30. Limits of Cultural Relativism
If every society is unique and can only be evaluated in terms of its own standards, a cross-cultural comparison impossible.
There is no behavior that could be considered immoral if the people who practice it consider it acceptable or it functions for the well-being of the society.

31. Question
A distinguishing feature of anthropology is its ________ approach to the study of human groups.
emic
etic
ethnocentric
holistic

32. Answer: d
A distinguishing feature of anthropology is its holistic approach to the study of human groups.

33. Question
________ is the belief that one's own culture is superior to all others.
Holism
Ethnocentrism
Cultural relativism
Emeticism

34. Answer: b
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to all others.

35. Emic Versus Etic Approaches
The emic approach (insider view) seeks to describe another culture in terms of the categories, concepts, and perceptions of the people being studied.
In the etic approach (outsider view), anthropologists use their own categories and concepts to describe the culture under analysis.

36. Value of Anthropology Individual
The study of different cultures provides a better understanding of one’s own culture and develops valuable leadership skills.
Societal
Understanding different cultures can contribute to the solution of pressing societal problems.

37. Cultural Anthropology
The study of cultural anthropology prepares people for working in the global economy of the twenty-first century.