The Social Sciences: Anthropology

The Social Sciences Anthropology Study human life throughout history Examines biological and cultural diversity Comparative and holistic Sociology Study of the groups and societies humans build and the way social relationships affect behavior Focuses on groups and social institutions Psychology Study of behavior and mental processes in contexts Focuses on individuals

General Anthropology Study of the whole of human existence: Past, present, future Biology, society, language, culture

General Anthropology Study of the whole of human existence: Past, present, future Biology, society, language, culture Organized life in groups

General Anthropology Study of the whole of human existence: Past, present, future Biology, society, language, culture Traditions and customs that govern beliefs and behaviors Transmitted through learning

General Anthropology Study of the whole of human existence: Past, present, future Biology, society, language, culture Grew during the late 19 th century Influenced by: Evolutionary theory Reports from travelers to non-Western societies Discoveries in biology and geology

General Anthropology Subdisciplines: Cultural (sociocultural) Archeological Biological Linguistic Common theme: Humans are biological and cultural beings evolving through time

Cultural Anthropology Study society and culture Explain cultural similarities and differences What aspects of culture are universal? Generalized? Particular? Culture is: Learned (often unconsciously) Based on symbols Shared and integrated Both stable and changing Forms subcultures Is exceedingly complex

Cultural Anthropology Ethnography Based largely on fieldwork Ethnopicture: an in-depth examination of a particular culture or society

Cultural Anthropology Ethnology Based on cross-cultural comparison Uses data gathered by ethnographers and archaeologists to identify and explain cultural differences and similarities

Archaeological Anthropology Reconstructs behavior and cultural patterns by examining material remains Traditional archaeology focused on discovering grand sites Some archaeologists ‘going local’ to look at daily life

Archaeological Anthropology Not always glamorous!

Archaeological Anthropology Not always glamorous!

Archaeological Anthropology Must infer cultural patterns from artifacts and ruins Non-native materials indicate trade Buildings give clues about the living conditions

Mt. Vernon Distillery Dig

Biological Anthropology Seek to understand human adaptation, variation, and change Primatology

Biological Anthropology Seek to understand human adaptation, variation, and change Primatology Forensics

Biological Anthropology Seek to understand human adaptation, variation, and change Primatology Forensics Genetics

Biological Anthropology Seek to understand human adaptation, variation, and change Primatology Forensics Genetics Sociobiology

Linguistic Anthropology Initially documented unwritten, ‘disappearing’ languages Now those languages have been recorded or lost—very few left

Linguistic Anthropology Language is constantly changing Now broadens view to many types of communication

Using anthropological knowledge to solve practical problems Forensic anthropology Linguists Globalization Garbology Applied Anthropology