Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology

What is anthropology?

Anthropology is the systematic study of humankind.

- man - word/study

Emergence of the disciplineTwo major goals:

Understand uniqueness and diversityDiscover fundamental similarities

Four-field Approach

Four subdisciplines bridge science and humanities:

Physical AnthropologyArchaeologyLinguisticsCultural Anthropology

Physical Anthropology

Primarily concerned with humans as a biological speciesMost closely related to natural sciencesMajor research areas:

Human evolutionModern human variation

Subdisciplines:Palaeoanthropology, primatology, forensics, genetics

Archaeology

Archaeologists seek out and examine the artifacts (material products) of past societies.Archaeology is not treasure-hunting (a la Indiana Jones).Subdisciplines of archaeology:

Prehistoric, historic, Classical, Biblical, underwaterModern “trash”

Linguistic Anthropology

Subfield of anthropology, philosophy, and EnglishMain research areas:

How language is usedRelationship between language and cultureHow humans acquire language

Fields of linguistics:Structural, historical, sociolinguistics

Cultural Anthropology

Sometimes known as ethnology, cultural anthropology examines contemporary societies and cultures throughout the world.Participant observation:

EthnographyEthnographic data

Holism and Applied Anthropology

Training in all four fields requiredLinks to other social sciences

Sociology, psychology, economics, political science, history

Applied AnthropologySometimes called the 5th fieldOffers practical solutions to cultural problems

Great Britain - 1966

Guinea Bissau, Africa

The Americas

The Netherlands

Italy

Tibet, 1997

Mexico - November 1

U.S. - Virginia, 2000

Cultural RelativismThe values of one culture should not be used as standards to evaluate the behavior of persons from outside that culture; a society’s custom and beliefs should by described objectively.Modern approach: We should strive for objectivity and not be too quick to judge; however, there are some moral absolutes that are removed from culture.Discussion:

Examples of moral absolutes?

Introduction to Sociology

Sociology defined and explained

Question: What is Sociology?

Answer: The Scientific study of

human societies and social behavior.

A Systematic Approach

Q: Is it a science?

A: Yes, sociologists begin their work by proposing questions of importance to them and then designing a research project that will enable them to ascertain the answers to their major research questions.

Q: Is it organized?

A: Yes, sociological investigations proceed systematically. As a social science , sociology is a discipline that is organized and methodical and it’s endeavors are undertaken for the purpose of enhancing knowledge.

Defining the Sociological Perspective

“Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interactions.”

What makes sociology “scientific?”

Personal experience Awareness of friends Systematic studywith drug use and associates’ patterns of a random of drug use sample of drug users

Levels of Understanding Drug Use

Sociology and Common Sense

Common sense assumptions are usually based on very

limited observation.

Moreover, the premises on which common sense

assumptions are seldom examined.

Sociology seeks to:• use a broad range of carefully selected observations; and

• theoretically understand and explain those observations.

While sociological research might confirm common

sense observation, its broader base and theoretical

rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.

I am not an Animal!!!

Sociologists examine groups of humans in an effort to understand the nature, meaning and significance of human group relationships.

NOTE: Sociologists are not interested

in animal species.

Social behavior

Sociologists examine the following:1. What people do that affect others

around them.2. “things” that people do after they

have given thought to how others might respond to their acts, especially when the people are aggregated into groups.

The least we need to know…

Sociology seeks to understand how groups work, how groups influence one another, and how groups influence the things that individuals do.

Sociology vs. Anthropology

One branch of anthropology (cultural) shares an interest with sociology in its focus on cultural issues. The other branches, archaeology and physical anthropology are different in their study of relics and skeletal remains to understand peoples of the past.

Sociology vs. Psychology

Psychology attempts to explain why individuals act, or how individuals influence other’s behavior.

Remember, sociology attempts to explain how and why groups act or how groups influence individual’s behaviors.

Sources

Introduction to Anthropologyhttp://www.killgrove.org/ANT220/jan15.ppt

Introduction to Anthropologyhttp://www.socanth.uncc.edu/crobb/1introlect1.ppt

Introduction to Anthropologyhttp://www.wmrfh.org/rbaker/The%20Four%20Fields.ppt

Introduction to Sociologyhttp://www.imperial.edu/Media/19-SOC1CH1.ppt

Introduction to Sociology http://www.aui.ma/personal/~B.Cox/material/ISCh01r.ppt