Chapter 1What is Anthropology?

The Scope of AnthropologyThe Holistic ApproachThe Anthropological CuriosityFields of AnthropologySpecializationThe Relevance of Anthropology

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What is Anthropology?1. The study of mankind, humanity, evolution and

adaptation2. Study of human behavior, culture, interaction, and

relationship between humans and the environment

What is Cultural Anthropology? 1. The study of culture, customs, beliefs, and traditions2. Study of differences in culture

Most common answers from our class assessment…

The Scope of AnthropologyAnthropology can be defined as the

study of humankind in all times and placesBroader in scope than other

disciplinesEvery part of the world containing

human populations is of interest to anthropological study.

Includes studying other primates to look for clues about our ancestral origins

The Holistic ApproachAnthropology is a unique discipline because it employs a holistic, or multifaceted, approach to the study of human beings.

The Anthropological CuriosityAnthropologists generally focus on

typical characteristics of a population.When describing a group of people, anthropologists

may discuss: the history of the area in which they live, the physical environment, the organization of family life, the general features of their language, their political and economic systems, their religion, their diet, or their styles of art and dress.

Figure 1-1 (p. 5)The Subdivisions of AnthropologyThe four major subdisciplines of anthropology (in bold letters) may be classified according to subject matter (physical or cultural) hand according to the period with which each is concerned (distant past versus recent past and present). There are applications of anthropology in all four subdisciplines.

Fields of Anthropology

Biological (physical) Anthropology Two Primary Focuses of Study: Human Paleontology

Look at the emergence of humans and their later evolution

Reconstruct human evolution through fossils

Human Variation Investigate how and why human populations differ in

biological or physical characteristics

Cultural AnthropologyCultural anthropology is concerned

with how and why cultures vary or are similar in the past and present.

The Three Branches of Cultural Anthropology are:ArchaeologyLinguisticsEthnology

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ArchaeologyArchaeologists try to reconstruct history from the remains of human cultures.

How do archaeologists differ from historians?

Most studies deal with prehistorySome specialize in historical archaeology

Anthropological LinguisticsThe anthropological study of language.Historical Linguistics

Study of how languages change over time and how they are related

Descriptive or Structural Linguistics Study how contemporary languages may differ

Sociolinguistics Study how language is used in social context

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Ethnology

Commonly referred to as cultural anthropology, ethnology is concerned with patterns of thought and behavior.EthnographersEthnohistorianCross-Cultural Researcher

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Applied AnthropologyAbout half of all professional anthropologists are applied, or

practicing, anthropologists.

Applied anthropologists may be trained in one or more of the

subfields of anthropology.

The Relevance of AnthropologyIn order to understand humans,

it is essential that we study humans in all times and places.

Anthropological studies can illustrate why other people are

the way they are, both culturally and physically.