Download The Development of Anthropology

The Development of
Anthropology
2.3
Fields of Study in Anthropology
Cultural
Anthropology
Social
Anthropology
Physical
Anthropology
•Analyzes
cultures
of living
peoples
• Analyzes
social
organization
of living
peoples
• Analyzes
human
evolutionary
& genetic
development
Culture
Perhaps the most important
concept to an anthropologist
Culture: any information
about behaviour transmitted
from one to another that
enables people to live
together
Elements of Culture
Material objects people own
Attitudes deemed
acceptable
Behaviours deemed proper
Ethnographic Studies
Studies of culture & traditions of
distinct peoples
Implies: culture is static & clearly
defined
Myth
Also important to anthroplogists
Stories explaining origins of the
world & humans
Recount lives of heroes
Intended to reassure people
Told “why” attitudes &
behaviours to be followed
Kinship
Members of a social
group define themselves
as descending from
common ancestors
Family most obvious
kinship system
Differences in studying culture:
Sociology
Analysis of
statistics to
explain trends
Focus:
industrialized
peoples
Anthropology
Participant
observation
Living with the
people being
studied
Focus: nonindustrialized
peoples