Anthropology is the scientific study
of the origin, the behavior, and the
physical, social, and cultural
development of humans.
Anthropologycan be defined as the
study of humankind in all times and
places
Broader in scope than other
disciplines
Every part of the world containing
human populations is of interest to
anthropological study.
Includes studying other primates to
look for clues about our ancestral
origins
Anthropology is a unique discipline
because it employs a holistic, or
multifaceted, approach to the study
of human beings.
Anthropologists generally focus on typical
characteristics of a population.
When describing a group of people, anthropologists may
discuss:
the history of the area in which they live,
the physical environment,
the organization of family life,
the general features of their language,
their political and economic systems,
their religion,
their diet, or
their styles of art and dress.
Four
subdisciplines bridge science and
humanities:
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology
Linguistics
Cultural Anthropology
Primarily concerned with humans as a
biological species
Most closely related to natural sciences
Major research areas:
Human evolution
Modern human variation
Subdisciplines:
Palaeoanthropology, primatology, forensics,
genetics
Archaeologists seek out and examine the
artifacts (material products) of past societies.
Archaeology is not treasure-hunting (a la Indiana
Jones).
Subdisciplines of archaeology:
Prehistoric, historic, Classical, Biblical, underwater
Modern “trash”
Subfield of anthropology, philosophy, and
English
Main research areas:
How language is used
Relationship between language and culture
How humans acquire language
Fields of linguistics:
Structural, historical, sociolinguistics
Sometimes known as ethnology, cultural
anthropology examines contemporary societies and
cultures throughout the world.
Participant observation:
Ethnography
Ethnographic data
Training in all four fields required
Links to other social sciences
Sociology, psychology, economics, political science,
history
Applied Anthropology
Sometimes called the 5th field
Offers practical solutions to cultural problems
Great Britain - 1966
Guinea Bissau, Africa
The Americas
The Netherlands
Italy
Tibet, 1997
Mexico - November 1
U.S. - Virginia, 2000
The values of one culture should not be used as
standards to evaluate the behavior of persons from
outside that culture; a society’s custom and beliefs
should by described objectively.
Modern approach: We should strive for objectivity
and not be too quick to judge; however, there are
some moral absolutes that are removed from
culture.
Discussion:
Examples of moral absolutes?
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology defined and explained
Question: What is Sociology?
Answer: The Scientific study of human
societies and social behavior.
A Systematic Approach
Q: Is it a science?
A: Yes, sociologists begin their work by proposing questions of
importance to them and then designing a research project that
will enable them to ascertain the answers to their major research
questions.
Q: Is it organized?
A: Yes, sociological investigations proceed systematically. As a
social science , sociology is a discipline that is organized and
methodical and it’s endeavors are undertaken for the purpose of
enhancing knowledge.
Defining the Sociological
Perspective
“Sociology is the scientific study of
human society and social interactions.”
What makes sociology “scientific?”
Levels of Understanding Drug Use
Personal experience Awareness of friends Systematic study
with drug use and associates’ patterns of a random
of drug use sample of drug
users
Sociology and Common Sense
Common sense assumptions are usually based on very limited
observation.
Moreover, the premises on which common sense assumptions are seldom
examined.
Sociology seeks to:
• use a broad range of carefully selected observations; and
• theoretically understand and explain those observations.
While sociological research might confirm common sense observation, its
broader base and theoretical rational provide a stronger basis for
conclusions.
I am not an Animal!!!
Sociologists examine groups of humans in
an effort to understand the nature,
meaning and significance of human group
relationships.
NOTE: Sociologists are not interested in
animal species.
Social behavior
Sociologists examine the following:
1. What people do that affect others
around them.
2. “things” that people do after they have
given thought to how others might
respond to their acts, especially when
the people are aggregated into groups.
The least we need to know…
Sociology seeks to understand how groups
work, how groups influence one another,
and how groups influence the things that
individuals do.
Sociology vs. Anthropology
One branch of anthropology (cultural)
shares an interest with sociology in its
focus on cultural issues. The other
branches, archaeology and physical
anthropology are different in their study
of relics and skeletal remains to
understand peoples of the past.
Sociology vs. Psychology
Psychology attempts to explain why
individuals act, or how individuals
influence other’s behavior.
Remember, sociology attempts to explain
how and why groups act or how groups
influence individual’s behaviors.
Introduction to Anthropology
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Introduction to Anthropology
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Introduction to Anthropology
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Introduction to Sociology
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Introduction to Sociology
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