Anthropological Questions

Social Change & Anthropology Anthropologists regard cultures -the focus of their studies- as constantly changing organisms.

The change process is normally gradual, and cultures normally do not change suddenly and completely unless they are destroyed or swallowed by another culture. The change process is normally gradual, and cultures normally do not change suddenly and completely unless they are destroyed or swallowed by another culture.

The Anthropological Questions What are the known basic mechanisms of social change? What are the known basic mechanisms of social change?

The Anthropological Questions In their study about social change, anthropologists identify which factors are most significant at any particular time. In their study about social change, anthropologists identify which factors are most significant at any particular time.

The Anthropological Questions Was a cultural change caused by a change in the society ’ s leadership? Was a cultural change caused by a change in the society ’ s leadership?

The Anthropological Questions Was it caused by a shift in the values and norms of the culture ’ s members? Was it caused by a shift in the values and norms of the culture ’ s members?

The Anthropological Questions Have changes to the environment resulted in changes to the culture? Have changes to the environment resulted in changes to the culture?

The Anthropological Questions In the past, anthropologists focused on the isolated cultures with little or no influence from the outside world. In the past, anthropologists focused on the isolated cultures with little or no influence from the outside world.

The Anthropological Questions In present time anthropologists have broadened their scope to study cultural groups in mainstream societies in both rich and poor nations. In present time anthropologists have broadened their scope to study cultural groups in mainstream societies in both rich and poor nations.

The Anthropological Questions Anthropologists consider the roughly 30 industrialized nations of the world to be developed countries Anthropologists consider the roughly 30 industrialized nations of the world to be developed countries  Japan, United States, Canada, England, ect.

The Anthropological Questions Anthropologists consider 180 nations developing countries Anthropologists consider 180 nations developing countries  Sudan, India, Afghanistan, Ghana, Rwanda, Peru, ect.

The Anthropological Questions In the most of developing countries, there is no industry and the population survives by farming the land. In the most of developing countries, there is no industry and the population survives by farming the land.

The Anthropological Questions The gap in incomes, educational levels infrastructure such as hospitals and transportation prompted anthropologists to ask the question: The gap in incomes, educational levels infrastructure such as hospitals and transportation prompted anthropologists to ask the question:

The Anthropological Questions How is international aid from developed to developing countries is affecting the situation ? How is international aid from developed to developing countries is affecting the situation ?

The Anthropological Questions What factors make international aid programs effective? What factors make international aid programs effective?

The Anthropological Questions What can developed and developing countries learn from each other? What can developed and developing countries learn from each other?

The Anthropological Questions Anthropologists have concluded that there are three major sources of cultural change. Anthropologists have concluded that there are three major sources of cultural change.

The Anthropological Questions Inventions – new products, ideas, and social patterns that affect the way people live. Inventions – new products, ideas, and social patterns that affect the way people live. Discovery-finding something that was previously unknown to the culture Discovery-finding something that was previously unknown to the culture

The Anthropological Questions Discovery-finding something that was previously unknown to the culture. Discovery-finding something that was previously unknown to the culture.

The Anthropological Questions Diffusion- the spreading of ideas, methods, and tools from one culture to another. Diffusion- the spreading of ideas, methods, and tools from one culture to another.

The Anthropological Questions Anthropologists focus on the process of enculturation, by which members of a culture learn and internalize shared ideas, values, and beliefs. Anthropologists focus on the process of enculturation, by which members of a culture learn and internalize shared ideas, values, and beliefs.

The Anthropological Questions To understand the nature of cultural change, they classify the various aspects of culture: To understand the nature of cultural change, they classify the various aspects of culture: Physical environment Physical environment Level of technology Level of technology Social organization Social organization System of symbols System of symbols By examining the four parts of culture, anthropologists seek answers to the fundamental questions of social change. By examining the four parts of culture, anthropologists seek answers to the fundamental questions of social change.

The Anthropological Questions Physical environment Physical environment

The Anthropological Questions Level of technology (e.g. multi-line highways can improve light-rail transit systems in the cities). Level of technology (e.g. multi-line highways can improve light-rail transit systems in the cities).

The Anthropological Questions Social organization: Social organization: What is the kinship system? What is the kinship system? How is labour divided and allocated? How is labour divided and allocated? Are social rules flexible or tightly regulated? Are social rules flexible or tightly regulated?

The Anthropological Questions Systems of symbols Systems of symbols To an anthropologist symbols include not only physical objects but also gestures (e.g. V-symbol for peace), dance trends, hairstyles, etc. To an anthropologist symbols include not only physical objects but also gestures (e.g. V-symbol for peace), dance trends, hairstyles, etc.