Anthropology

All fields of study started as definite attempts to answer questions about ones environment, ones relation to it, and ones nature.

Science may be categorized into two areas:Natural Sciences (ex. biological sciences biology, botany, zoology, and bacteriology; physical sciences astronomy, geology, chemistry, and physics).

Social Sciences deals with human relationships, social systems, and societies.

The Social SciencesEconomics concerned with the human activities related to the production, consumption, and distribution of goods, services, and wealth within societies.Human behavior may also be economically driven (Ex. Large Family, Small Family, Migration, Clothing).

Political Science concerned with political processes, power struggle and governments. Anthropologists are interested in looking at social backgrounds of political activists, the distribution of power, the source of political beliefs of the electorate, and the role of women and ethnic minorities in the electorate.

The Social Sciences

Psychology mainly interested in psychological and behavioral processes.

History primarily a descriptive chronology of significant past events.

Sociology - the science of society and the social interaction taking place.

What is Anthropology?

AnthroposLogos

Holistic scienceStudies the whole human conditionLooks at the Past, Present and FutureExamines all societies whether it is simple or complex, ancient or modernCuts across various disciplinesMethods include the researched not only the researcher (Emic and etic perspective)Looks at things in a broader perspective and analyzes a broader range of dataMost social science disciplines focus on a single society while Anthropology offers a unique cross-cultural perspective.

Sub-disciplines of Anthropology

Physical AnthropologyArchaeologyCultural AnthropologyLinguistics

Physical Anthropology

Origins of manHominid lineHuman variationConcept of racePrimatologyForensics

Archaeologyreconstructs, describes, and interprets human behavior and cultural patterns through material remains Hominid lineRecreating past culturePresent cultureGarbology

Cultural Anthropologystudies social life and customsdescribe, analyze and explain social and cultural similarities and differences.

Ethnography and EthnologyParticipant ObservationEmic and Etic PerspectivesNature vs. NurtureUniversal, Particular and GeneralizedRelativism

LinguisticsSociolinguistics

How language is used in cultureHow speech affects social differencesHow meanings are understoodParalanguage

Nature vs. NurtureWhat is Culture?Agency vs. Structure