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Chapter 1, Anthropology and
Human Diversity
Key Terms

Anthropology
The comparative study of human societies and
cultures.

Holistic approach
In anthropology, an approach that considers
cultures, history, language and biology
essential to a complete understanding of
human society.

Cultural Anthropology
Study of human behavior that is learned rather
than genetically transmitted, and that is typical
of groups of people.

Society
The set of social relationships among people
within a given geographical area, including
their status and roles.

Culture
The learned behaviors and symbols that allow
people to live in groups. Primary means by
which humans adapt to their environments.
The way of life characteristic of a human
society.

Historical ethnography
Description of the cultural past based on
written records, interviews and archaeology.

Anthropological linguistics
A branch of linguistics concerned with
understanding language and its relation to
culture.

Archaeology
Focuses on the reconstruction of past cultures
based on their material remains.

Prehistoric
Societies for which we have no usable written
records.

Artifact
A material remain of a past culture.

Urban archaeology
Archaeological investigation of current-day
cities.

Cultural resource management
Protection and management of archeological,
archival, and architectural resources.

Biological Anthropology
The study of humankind from a biological
perspective.

Paleoanthropology
Concerned with tracing the evolution of
humankind in the fossil record.

Human Variation
Concerned with mapping and explaining
physical differences among modern human
groups.

Primate
A member of a biological order of mammals
that includes human beings, apes, monkeys
and prosimians.

Applied Anthropology
The application of anthropology to the solution
of human problems.

Forensic Anthropology
Study and identification of skeletized or badly
decomposed human remains.

Ethnocentrism
The notion that one’s own culture is more
beautiful, rational, and nearer to perfection
than any other.

Racism
The belief that some humans are superior
because of inherited characteristics.

Biopsychological Equality
The fact that all human groups have the same
biological and mental capabilities.

Racism
The belief that some human populations are
superior to others because of inherited,
genetically transmitted characteristics.

Racialism
Ideology that claims there are biologically fixed
races with different moral, intellectual, and
physical characteristics that determine
individual aptitudes and that such races can be
ranked on a single hierarchy.

Cultural Relativism
Understanding values and customs in terms of
the culture of which they are a part.

Emic perspective
Examining society using concepts,
categories, and distinctions that are
meaningful to members of that culture.

Etic perspective
Examining society using concepts,
categories, and rules derived from science;
an outsider’s perspective which produces
analyses that members of the society being
studies may not find meaningful.