1. © 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.

2. 1
C H A P T E R
WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
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3. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY? Human Diversity General Anthropology
The Subdisciplines of Anthropology
Anthropology and Other Academic Fields
Applied Anthropology
The Scientific Method

4. WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?
What distinguishes anthropology from other fields that study human beings?
How do anthropologists study human diversity in time and space?
Why is anthropology both scientific and humanistic?

5. HUMAN DIVERSITY
Anthropology: study of human species and its immediate ancestors
Uniquely comparative and holistic: study of the whole of the human condition—past, present, and future; biology, society, language, and culture
Cultures: traditions and customs, transmitted through learning, that form and guide the beliefs and behavior of the people exposed to them

6. ADAPTATION, VARIATION, AND CHANGE
Adaptation: process by which organisms cope with environmental forces and stresses
Humans adapt using biological and cultural means

7. ADAPTATION, VARIATION, AND CHANGE
Rate of change accelerated during past 10,000 years
Foraging was sole basis of human subsistence for millions of years
It took only a few thousand years to develop food production: economy based on plant cultivation and/or animal domestication
Spread of industrial production profoundly affected human life

8. RECAP 1.1: Forms of Cultural and Biological Adaptation (to High Altitude)

9. GENERAL ANTHROPOLOGY
General anthropology: academic discipline of anthropology, also known as “four-field” anthropology, includes:
Sociocultural (cultural anthropology)
Archaeological
Biological
Linguistic

10. GENERAL ANTHROPOLOGY Developed as scientific field in U.S.
Early American anthropologists studying native peoples of North America combined studies of customs, social life, language, and physical traits in the 19th century

11. GENERAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Subdisciplines explore variations in time and space
Influence each other
Sound conclusions about “human nature” cannot be derived from studying a single nation, society, or cultural tradition

12. CULTURAL FORCES SHAPE HUMAN BIOLOGY
Biocultural: combining biological and cultural approaches to a given problem
Culture is key environmental force determining how human bodies grow and develop
Cultural standards of attractiveness and propriety influence participation and achievement in sports

13. THE SUBDISCIPLINES OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural anthropology
Archaeological anthropology
Biological, or physical anthropology
Linguistic anthropology

14. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Describes, analyzes, interprets, and explains social and cultural similarities and differences
Ethnography: fieldwork in a particular culture; provides an account of that community, society, or culture
Ethnology: comparative, cross-cultural study of ethnographic data, society, and culture

15. RECAP 1.2: Ethnography and Ethnology— Two Dimensions of Cultural Anthropology

16. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Study of human behavior and cultural patterns and processes through culture’s material remains
Artifacts (potsherds, jewelry, tools)
Garbage
Burials
Remains of structures

17. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Many archaeologists examine ecology: study of interrelations among living things in an environment
Paleoecology looks at ecosystems of the past
Possible to infer cultural transformations
Reconstruct behavior patterns and lifestyles

18. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Archaeologists also study the cultures of historical and living people
Historical archaeology combines archaeological data with textual data to reconstruct historically known groups
Rathje’s “garbology” shows that what people report may contrast with their real behavior

19. BIOLOGICAL, OR PHYSICAL, ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of human biological variation in time and space

20. BIOLOGICAL, OR PHYSICAL, ANTHROPOLOGY
Human evolution (paleoanthropology)
Human genetics
Human growth and development
Human biological plasticity
Biology, evolution, behavior, and social life of monkeys, apes, and other nonhuman primates (primatology)

21. LINGUISTIC ANTHROPOLOGY
Study of language in its social and cultural context across space and time
Historical linguists reconstruct ancient languages and study linguistic variation through time
Sociolinguistics: investigates relationships between social and linguistic variation

22. ANTHROPOLOGY AND OTHER ACADEMIC FIELDS
Anthropology is a science: study that seeks reliable explanations with reference to the material and physical world
Unique blend of biological, social, cultural, linguistic, historical, and contemporary perspectives
Also linked to humanities

23. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY
Cultural anthropology and sociology share an interest in social relations, organization, and behavior
Initially, sociologists focused on industrial West, anthropologists on nonindustrial societies
Different methods of data collection and analysis emerged
In many areas and on many topics, anthropology and sociology are converging

24. ANTHROPOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY
Psychological anthropology studies cross-cultural variations in psychological traits
Malinowski’s study of Trobriand Islanders of the South Pacific suggested modifications in Freud’s Oedipus complex theory

25. Figure 1.1: Location of Trobriand Islands

26. APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
Application of anthropological data, perspectives, theory, and methods to identify, assess, and solve contemporary social problems
Usually called public archaeology

27. APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
Includes cultural resource management, contract archaeology, public educational programs, and historic preservation
Cultural resource management (CRM): decide what needs saving, and preserve significant information about the past when sites cannot be saved

28. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Anthropology a humanistic science
Ethnology a comparative science
Attempt to identify and explain cultural differences and similarities
Compare, contrast, and make generalizations about societies and cultures

29. THEORIES, ASSOCIATIONS, AND EXPLANATIONS
Theory: a set of ideas formulated to explain something
Association: observed relationship between two or more measured variables
Hypotheses: suggested but as yet unverified explanations
In social sciences, associations usually stated in form of probability

30. THEORIES, ASSOCIATIONS, AND EXPLANATIONS
Theories suggest patterns, connections, and relationships that may be confirmed by new research
Hypothesis testing should be done using a sample of cases that have been selected randomly from some statistical universe

31. WHEN MULTIPLE VARIABLES PREDICT
How has variable exposure to television affected Brazilians?
Current viewing level and length of home TV exposure
Strong correlation between liberal social views and current viewing hours
Stronger correlation between years of home viewing by individuals and liberal social views

32. RECAP 1.3: Steps in the Scientific Method