Chapter 1: Anthropology & Human Diversity

Anomie

A situation where social or moral norms are confused or entirely absent; often caused by rapid social change.

Anthropology

The comparative study of human societies and cultures

Applied anthropology

The application of anthropology to the solution of human problems

Archaeology

The sub discipline of anthropology that focuses on the reconstruction of past cultures based on their material remains

Artifact

Any object made or modified by human beings. Generally used to refer to objects made by past cultures.

Biological (physical) anthropology

The sub discipline of anthropology that studies people from a biological perspective, focusing primarily on aspects of humankind that are genetically inherited. It includes osteology, nutrition, demography, epidemiology, and primatology.

Biophysical equality

The notion that all human groups have the same biological and mental capabilities

Cultural anthropology

The study of human thought, meaning, and behavior that is learned rather than genetically transmitted, and that is typical of groups of people

Cultural relativism

The notion that cultures should be analyzed with reference to their own histories and values, in terms of the cultural whole, rather than according to the values of another culture

Cultural resource management (CRM)

The protection and management of archaeological, archival, and architectural resources

Culture

The learned behaviors and symbols that allow people to live in groups. The primary means by which humans adapt to their environments. The way of life characteristic of a particular human society.

Emic (perspective)

Examining society using concepts, categories, and distinctions that are meaningful to members of that culture

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures from the perspective of one's own culture. The notion that one's own culture is more beautiful, rational, and nearer to perfection than any other.

Ethnography

A description of society or culture

Ethnohistory

Description of the cultural past based on written records, interviews, and archaeology

Ethnology

The attempt to find general principles or laws that govern cultural phenomena

Etic (perspective)

Examining society using concepts, categories, and rules derived from science; an outsider's perspective, which produces analyses that members of the society being studied may not find meaningful.

Forensic anthropology

The application of biological anthropology to the identification of skeletalized or badly decomposed human remains

Historical linguists

Study relationships among languages to better understand the histories and migrations of those who speak them

Holistic/holism

In anthropology an approach that considers culture, history, language, and biology essential to complete understanding of human society

Human variation

The sub discipline of anthropology concerned with mapping and explaining physical differences among modern human groups

Indigenous peoples

Societies that have occupied a region for a long time and are recognized by other groups as its original (or very ancient) inhabitants

Linguistic anthropology

A branch of linguistics concerned with understanding language and its relation to culture

Medical anthropology

A subfield of cultural anthropology concerned with the ways in which disease is understood and treated in different cultures

Paleoanthropology

The sub discipline of anthropology concerned with tracing the evolution of humankind in the fossil record

Prehistoric

Societies for which we have no usable written records

Primate

A member of a biological order of mammals that includes human beings, apes, and monkeys as well as prosimians (lemurs, tarsiers, and others).

Racism

The belief that some human populations are superior to others because of inherited, genetically transmitted characteristics

Society

A group of people who depend on one another for survival or well-being as well as the relationships among such people, including their status and roles

Urban archaeology

The archaeological investigation of towns and cities as well as the process of urbanization