Anthropology Final
creole
A language that develops from a pidgin when the pidgin becomes so widely used that children acquire it as one of their first languages (more complex than pidgins)
anthropology of mediation
Boyer's term; way images, speech people, and things become socially significant or meaningful as they are communicated
Old English
English language from its beginnings to about 1066 AD
gender identity
How you, in your head, think about yourself in relation to gender
hegemonic discourses
Situations in which thoughts and actions are dictated by those in authority
productivity/creativity
The ability to produce and understand messages that have never been expressed before.
presentation of self
The management of the impressions others have of us.
materialism
a Marxist theory emphasizing the ways in which human social and cultural practices are influenced by basic subsistence (economic) needs
rite of passage
a ceremony designed to transition individuals between life stages
world system
a complex economic system through which goods circulate around the globe. For food, it is characterized by a separation of the producers of goods from the consumers.
Gender ideology
a complex set of beliefs about gender and gendered capacities, propensities, preferences, identities and socially expected behaviors and interactions that apply to males, females, and other gender categories. Can differ among cultures and is acquired through enculturation. Also known as a cultural model of gender.
socially constructed
a concept developed by society that is maintained over time through social interactions that make the idea seem "real"
Etic
a description of the studied culture from the perspective of an observer or outsider
broad spectrum diet
a diet based on a wide range of food resources
contested identity
a dispute within a group about the collective identity or identities of the group
medical anthropology
a distinct sub-specialty within the discipline of anthropology that investigates human health and health care systems in comparative perspective.
extended family
a family of at least 3-generations sharing a household
discreteness
a feature of human speech that can be isolated from others
open system
a form of communication that can create an infinite number of new messages; a feature of human language only
closed system
a form of communication that cannot create new meanings or messages; it can only convey pre-programmed (innate) messages
big man
a form of temporary or situational leadership; influence results from acquiring followers
structural violence
a form of violence in which a social structure or institution harms people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs.
third gender
a gender identity that exists in non-binary gender systems offering one or more gender roles separate from male or female
community of practice
a group of people who engaged in a shared activity or vocation, such as dance or medicine.
clan
a group of people who have a general notion of common descent that is not attached to a specific biological ancestor
segmentary lineage
a hierarchy of lineages that contains both close and relatively distant family members
matrilineal descent
a kinship group created through the maternal line (mothers and their children).
patrilineal descent
a kinship group created through the paternal line (fathers and their children).
patrilocal
a male-centered kinship group where living arrangements after marriage often center around households containing related men
bilateral cross-cousin marriage
a man marries a woman who is both his mother's brother's daughter and his father's sister's daughter
matrilateral cross-cousin marriage
a man marries a woman who is his mother's brother's daughter
restricted exchange
a marriage system in which only two extended families can engage in this exchange
carrying capacity
a measurement of the number of calories that can be extracted from a particular unit of land in order to support a human population
general purpose money
a medium of exchange that can be used in all economic transactions
eco-justice
a movement to recognize and remedy the adverse relationship between social inequality and the harms and risks that come from environmental destruction and pollutants.
family of procreation
a new household formed for the purpose of conceiving and raising children
nuclear family
a parent or parents who are in a culturally-recognized relationship, such as marriage, along with minor or dependent children
Shaman
a part time religious practitioner who carries out religious rituals when needed, but also participates in the normal work of the community
neolithic revolution
a period of rapid innovation in subsistence technologies that began 10,000 years ago and led to the emergence of agriculture.
prophet
a person who claims to have direct communication with the supernatural realm who can communicate divine messages to others
proletarianization
a process through which farmers are removed from the land and forced to take wage labor employment
hypodescent
a racial classification system that assigns a person with mixed racial heritage to the racial category that is considered least privileged
animatism
a religious system organized around a belief in an impersonal supernatural force
animism
a religious system organized around a belief that plants, animals, inanimate objects, or natural phenomena have a spiritual or supernatural element
photovice
a research method that puts cameras into people's hands so they can make their own representations of their lives and the activities.
placebo effect
a response to treatment that occurs because the person receiving the treatment believes it will work, not because the treatment itself is effective
legitimizing ideologies
a set of complex belief systems, often developed by those in power, to rationalize, explain, and perpetuate systems of inequality.
Processual Archaeology
a shift in archaeological studies toward scientific methods, testing of hypotheses, quantitative analysis, and theory-driven approaches and away from an earlier emphasis on typologies and descriptive analysis.
pidgin
a simplified language that springs up out of a situation in which people who do not share a language must spend extended amounts of time together
matriarchal
a society in which women have authority to make decisions
register
a style of speech that varies depending on who is speaking to whom and in what context
cultural ecology
a subfield of cultural anthropology that explores the relationship between human cultural beliefs and practice and the ecosystems in which those beliefs and practices occur
horticulture
a subsistence system based on the small-scale cultivation of crops intended primarily for the direct consumption of the household or immediate community.
pastoralism
a subsistence system in which people raise herds of domesticated livestock.
foraging
a subsistence system that relies on wild plant and animal food resources. This system is sometimes called "hunting and gathering."
taxonomies
a system of classification
taxonomy
a system of classification
Gesture-call system
a system of non-verbal communication using varying combinations of sound, body language, scent, facial expression, and touch, typical of great apes and other primates, as well as humans
sodality
a system used to encourage solidarity or feelings of connectedness between people who are not related by family ties.
fabrication
a technique for reporting on research data that involves mixing information provided by various people into a narrative account that demonstrates the point of focus for researchers
cargo cult
a term sometimes used to describe rituals that seek to attract material prosperity. The term is generally not preferred by anthropologists
exurban
a term that describes the migration of generally affluent people from urban areas to rural areas for the amenities of nature, recreation, and scenic beauty associated with rural areas.
the other
a term that has been used to describe people whose customs, beliefs, or behaviors are "different" from one's own
homo economicus
a term used to describe a person who would make rational decisions in ways predicted by economic theories
Jim Crow
a term used to describe laws passed by state and local governments in the US during the early 20th century to enforce racial segregation of public and private places
Cisgender
a term used to describe those who identify with the sex and gender they were assigned at birth
ordeal
a test used to determine guilt or innocence by submitting the accused to dangerous, painful, or risky tests believed to be controlled by supernatural forces
universal grammar (UG)
a theory developed by linguist Noam Chomsky suggesting that a basic template for all human languages is embedded in our genes
cultural evolutionism
a theory popular in nineteenth and early twentieth century anthropology suggesting that societies evolved through stages from simple to advanced. This theory was later shown to be incorrect.
Biological determinism
a theory that biological differences between males and females leads to fundamentally different capacities, preferences, and gendered behaviors. This scientifically unsupported view suggests that gender roles are rooted in biology, not culture.
participant observation
a type of observation in which the anthropologist observes while participating in the same activities in which her informants are engaged.
inductive
a type of reasoning that uses specific information to draw general conclusions. In an inductive approach, the researcher seeks to collect evidence without trying to definitively prove or disprove a hypothesis. The researcher usually first spends time in the field to become familiar with the people before identifying a hypothesis or research question. Inductive research usually is not generalizable to other settings.
stem family
a version of an extended family that includes an older couple and one of their adult children with a spouse (or spouses) and children
joint family
a very large extended family that includes multiple generations
area studies
a way of organizing research and academic programs around world regions such as Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, China, Latin America, and Europe.
matrilocal
a woman-centered kinship group where living arrangements after marriage often center around households containing related women.
media
a word that's used to describe to describe a set of technologies that connect multiple people at one time to shared content
rite of intensification
actions designed to bring a community together, often following a period of crisis.
salvage anthropology
activities such as gathering artifacts, or recording cultural rituals with the belief that a culture is about to disappear
swidden
an agricultural practice, also called shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn, in which fields are cleared, burned, and planted for several seasons before being returned to fallow for an extended period
functionalist
an approach developed in British anthropology that emphasized the ways that the parts of a society work together to support the functioning of the whole.
political economy
an approach in anthropology that investigates the historical evolution of economic relationships as well as the contemporary political processes and social structures that contribute to differences in income and wealth.
Functionalism
an approach to anthropology developed in British anthropology that emphasized the way that parts of a society work together to support the functioning of the whole
Structuralism (Structural functionism)
an approach to anthropology that focuses on the ways in which the customs or social institutions in a culture contribute to the organization of society and the maintenance of social order
Coercive harmony
an approach to dispute resolution that emphasizes compromise and consensus rather than confrontation and results in the marginalization of dissent (harmony ideology) and the repression of demands for justice.
communal healing
an approach to healing that directs the combined efforts of the community toward treating illness
humoral healing
an approach to healing that seeks to treat medical ailments by achieving a balance between the forces, or elements, of the body
biomedical
an approach to medicine that is based on the application of insights from science, particularly biology and chemistry
World Systems Theory
an approach to social science and history that involves examination of the development and functioning of the world economic system
oralist approach
an approach to the education of deaf children that emphasizes lip reading and speaking orally while discouraging use of signed language
race
an attempt to categorize humans based on observed physical differences
negative reciprocity
an attempt to get something for nothing; exchange in which both parties try to take advantage of the other.
Armchair Anthropology
an early and discredited method of anthropological research that did not involve direct contact with the people studied
nation
an ethnic population
multispecies ethnographies
an ethnographic approach in which anthropologists include non-human species as active participants in a society or culture and study their influence and actions.
cosmology
an explanation for the origin or history of the world
language
an idealized form of speech, usually referred to as the standard variety
culture-bound syndrome
an illness recognized only within a specific culture
noble savage
an inaccurate way of portraying indigenous groups or minority cultures as innocent, childlike, or uncorrupted by the negative characteristics of "civilization."
Sorcerer
an individual who seeks to use magic for his or her own purposes
agency
an individual's ability to make independent choices and act upon his/her will
political ecology
an interdisciplinary field of research that emphasizes the political and economic dimensions of environmental concerns.
anthropomorphic
an object or being that has human characteristics
transgender
an umbrella term covering a range of identities that transgress socially define gender norms
Qualitative
anthropological research designed to gain an in-depth, contextualized understanding of human behavior.
quantitative
anthropological research that uses statistical, mathematical, and/or numerical data to study human behavior
status
any culturally-designated position a person occupies in a particular setting
duality of patterning
at the first level of patterning, meaningless discrete sounds of speech are combined to form words and parts of words that carry meaning. In the second level of patterning, those units of meaning are recombined to form an infinite possible number of longer messages such as phrases and sentences.
revitalization rituals
attempts to resolve serious problems, such as war, famine or poverty through a spiritual or supernatural intervention
reflexivity
awareness of how one's own position and perspective impact what is observed and how it is evaluated
going native
becoming fully integrated into a cultural group through acts such as taking a leadership position, assuming key roles in society, entering into marriage, or other behaviors that incorporate an anthropologist into the society he or she is studying.
Chagnon
cannot manipulate a culture to understand it better; anthropologists can interpret same situations differently
kinship diagrams
charts used by anthropologists to visually represent relationships between members of a kinship group
extractive reserves
community-managed protected areas designed to allow for sustainable extraction of certain natural resources (such as fish, rubber, Brazil nuts, and rattan) while maintaining key ecosystems in place.
Binary model of gender
cultural definitions of gender that include only two identities--male and female
Androgyny
cultural definitions of gender that recognize some gender differentiation, but also accept "gender bending" and role-crossing according to individual capacities and preferences
Ethno-etiology
cultural explanations about the underlying causes of health problems
unilineal
descent is recognized through only one line or side of the family
patriarchy
describes a society with a male-dominated political and authority structure and an ideology that privileges males over females in domestic & public spheres
supernatural
describes entities or forces not governed by natural laws
biocultural evolution
describes the interactions between biology and culture that have influenced human evolution
design features
descriptive characteristics of the communication systems of all species, including that of humans, proposed by linguist Charles Hockett to serve as a definition of human language
ethnocide
destruction of a culture, often intentionally, through destruction of or removal from their territory, forced assimilation, or acculturation.
ecocide
destruction of an environment, especially when done intentionally by humans
sustainable development
development that can meet present needs without damaging the environment or limiting the potential for future generations
cline
differences in the traits that occur in populations across a geographical area. A trait may be more common in one geographical area than another, but the variation is gradual and continuous, with no sharp breaks
zoonotic
diseases that have origins in animals and are transmitted to humans
feuds
disputes of long duration characterized by a state of recurring hostilities between families, lineages, or other kin groups.
anthropogenic
environments and pollutants produced by human activities
polygamous
families based on plural marriages in which there are multiple wives or, in rarer cases, multiple husbands
household
family members who reside together
affinal
family relationships created through marriage
staple crops
foods that form the backbone of the subsistence system by providing the majority of the calories a society consumes.
field notes
form primary record of one's observations; detailed description of everything the ethnographer observes and experiences
nonconcordant
genetic traits that are inherited independently rather than as a package
generalized reciprocity
giving without expecting a specific thing in return
ethnogenesis
gradual emergence of new ethnicities in response to changing social circumstances
age grades
groups of men who are close to one another in age and share similar duties or responsibilities
matrifocal
groups of related females (e.g. mother-her sisters-their offspring) form the core of the family and constitute the family's most central and enduring social and emotional ties.
patrifocal
groups of related males (e.g. a father-his brothers) and their male offspring form the core of the family and constitute the family's most central and enduring social and emotional ties
semantics
how meaning is conveyed at the word and phrase level
land tenure
how property rights to land are allocated within societies, including how permissions are granted to access, use, control, and transfer land.
pragmatics
how social context contributes to meaning in an interaction
hominin
humans and their close relatives and immediate ancestors
ideologies
ideas designed to reinforce the right of powerholders to rule
key informants
individuals who are more knowledgeable about their culture than others and who are particularly helpful to the anthropologist.
lineage
individuals who can trace or demonstrate their descent through a line of males or females back to a founding ancestor
amalgamation
interactions between members of distinct ethnic and cultural groups that reduce barriers between the groups over time
Mechanical infrastructure
is the apparatuses that bring networks of technology into existence
Malinowski
kept diary with work & personal beliefs- even when anthropologists try to act with boundaries, it's still hard to set aside their own beliefs
bilateral descent
kinship (family) systems that recognize both the mother's and the father's "sides" of the family.
unilineal descent
kinship (family) systems that recognize only one sex-based "side" of the family.
matrilineal
kinship (family) systems that recognize only relatives through a line of female ancestors.
patrilineal
kinship (family) systems that recognize only relatives through a line of male ancestors
protected areas
lands set aside for conservation of the environment for their scenic beauty, biodiversity, recreational value, and other reasons.
chiefdom
large political units in which the chief, who usually is determined by heredity, holds a formal position of power
symbolic ethnicity
limited or occasional displays of ethnic pride and identity that are primarily for public display.
acculturation
loss of a minority group's cultural distinctiveness in relation to the dominant culture
serial monogramy
marriage to a succession of spouses one after the other
polygyny
marriages in which there is one husband and multiple wives
polyandry
marriages with one wife and multiple husbands
Avunculocal
married individuals live with or near an uncle
patrilocal residence
married individuals live with or near the husband's father's family
matrilocal residence
married individuals live with or near the wife's mother's family
indigenous media
media produced by and for indigenous communities often outside of the commercial mainstream
Remittances
money that migrants laboring outside of the region or country send back to their hometowns and families
age sets
named categories to which men of a certain age are assigned at birth
profane
objects or ideas are ordinary and can be treated with disregard or contempt
sacred
objects or ideas are set apart from the ordinary and treated with great respect or care
mass communication
one-to-many communication that privileges the sender and/or owner of the technology that transmits the media
domestic (kin-ordered) production
organizes work on the basis of family relations & does not necessarily involve formal social dominance (control/power over others)
bridewealth
payments made to the bride's family by the groom's family before marriage
dowry
payments made to the groom's family by the bride's family before marriage
ethnic group
people in a society who claim a distinct identity for themselves based on shared cultural characteristics and ancestry
millenarians
people who believe that major transformations of the world are imminent
indigenous
people who have continually lived in a particular location for a long period of time or who have historical ties to a location and who are culturally distinct from the dominant population surrounding them
subsistence farmers
people who raise plants and animals for their own consumption, but not for sale to others.
hegemony
power so pervasive that it is rarely acknowledged or even recognized, yet informs every-day actions
magic
practices intended to bring supernatural forces under one's personal control
tributary production
primary producer pays tribute in the form of material good/ labor to another individual who controls production through political, religious, or military force
capitalist production
private property owned by members of the capitalist class; workers sell their labor power to capitalists in order to survive; surpluses of wealth are produced & these surpluses are either kept as profit or reinvested in production to make more surplus
negative reinforcements
punishments for noncompliance through fines, imprisonment, and death sentences
Biological sex
refers to male and female identity based on internal and external sex organs and chromosomes. While male and female are the most common biologic sexes, a percentage of the human population is intersex with ambiguous or mixed biological sex characteristics.
plasticity
refers to the human capacity to learn any language or culture
Global South
refers to the poorest countries of the world ("Third World" or "Least Developed Economies"
Global North
refers to the wealthier countries of the world ("First World" or "Highly Developed Economies"
descent groups
relationships that provide members with a sense of identity and social support based on ties of shared ancestry
polytheistic
religious systems that recognize several gods
Critical age range hypothesis
research suggesting that a child will gradually lose the ability to acquire language naturally and without effort if he or she is not exposed to other people speaking a language until past the age of puberty. This applies to the acquisition of a second language as well.
peasants
residents of a state who earn a living through farming
positive reinforcements
rewards for compliance; examples include medals, financial incentives, and other forms of public recognition
Gender
social construction based on culturally and historically invented beliefs and expectations about gender that one learns and performs. An "identity" one can choose in some societies, but there is pressure in all societies to conform to expected gender roles and identities.
reverse dominance
societies in which people reject attempts by any individual to exercise power
stratified
societies in which there are large differences in the wealth, status, and power of individuals based on unequal access to resources and positions of power
ranked
societies in which there are substantial differences in the wealth and social status of individuals; there are a limited number of positions of power or status, and only a few can occupy them
egalitarian
societies in which there is no great difference in status or power between individuals and there are as many valued status positions in the societies as there are persons able to fill them
patrilineal
societies where descent/kinship group membership is transmitted through men, from men to their children, and then through their sons, to their children, and so forth
matrilineal
societies where descent/kinship group membership is transmitted through women, from mothers to their children, and then through their daughters, to their children, & so forth
intersex
someone whose combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and genitals differs from the 2 expected patterns of male or female
built environment
spaces that are human-made, including cultivated land as well as buildings
emotionalistic explanation
suggests that illnesses are caused by strong emotions such as fright, anger, or grief; this is an example of a naturalistic ethno-etiology.
somatic
symptoms that are physical manifestations of emotional pain
holism
taking a broad view of the historical, environmental, and cultural foundations of behavior
delayed return system
techniques for obtaining food that require an investment of work over a period of time before the food becomes available for consumption. Farming is a delayed return system due to the passage of time between planting and harvest.
Ethnocentrism
tendency to view one's own culture as most important and correct and as the stick by which to measure all other cultures
agriculture
the cultivation of domesticated plants and animals using technologies that allow for intensive use of the land
foodways
the cultural norms and attitudes surrounding food and eating
ethnicity
the degree to which a person identifies with and feels an attachment to a particular ethnic group
habitus
the dispositions, attitudes, or preferences that are the learned basis for personal "taste" and lifestyles
social classes
the division of society into groups based on wealth and status
caste system
the division of society into hierarchical levels; one's position is determined by birth and remains fixed for life
circumscription
the enclosure of an area by a geographic feature such as mountain ranges or desert or by the boundaries of a state
balanced reciprocity
the exchange of something with the expectation that something of equal value will be returned within a specific time period
religion
the extension of human society and culture to include the supernatural
family of orientation
the family in which an individual is raised
mediascape
the flow of media across borders
financescape
the flow of money across political borders
ethnoscape
the flow of people across boundaries
immediate return system
the food acquired can be immediately consumed. (Foraging)
Middle English
the form of the English language spoken from 1066 AD until about 1500 AD
modern English
the form of the English language spoken from about 1500 AD to the present
ideoscape
the global flow of ideas
technoscape
the global flows of technology.
media practices
the habits or behaviors of the people who produce media, the audiences who interact with media, and everyone in between.
reincarcination
the idea that a living being can begin another life in a new body after death
cultural determinism
the idea that behavioral differences are a result of cultural, not racial or genetic causes
linguistic relativity (Whorf Hypothesis)
the idea that the structures and words of a language influence how its speakers think, how they behave, and ultimately the culture itself
cultural relativism
the idea that we should seek to understand another person's beliefs and behaviors from the perspective of their own culture and not our own
neoliberalism
the ideology of free-market capitalism emphasizing privatization and unregulated markets
Ethnography
the in-depth study of the everyday practices and lives of a people.
speech act
the intention or goal of an utterance; the intention may be different from the dictionary definitions of the words involved
semanticity
the meaning of signs in a communication system; a feature of all species' communication systems.
homeostasis
the movement of a particular system (human body, ecosystem) towards equilibrium
collective effervescence
the passion or energy that arises when groups of people share the same thoughts and emotions
kinship system
the pattern of culturally recognized relationships between family members
legitimacy
the perception that an individual has a valid right to leadership
sororate marriage
the practice of a man marrying the sister of his deceased wife
levirate
the practice of a woman marrying one of her deceased husband's brothers
oaths
the practice of calling on a deity to bear witness to the truth of what one says.
one-drop rule
the practice of excluding a person with any non-white ancestry from the white racial category
Patrilateral cousin marriage
the practice of marrying a male or female cousin on the father's side of the family
undocumented
the preferred term for immigrants who live in a country without formal authorization from the state. Undocumented refers to the fact that these people lack the official documents that would legally permit them to reside in the country. The word undocumented acknowledges the human dignity and cultural and political ties immigrants have developed in their country of residence despite their inability to establish formal residence permissions.
reified
the process by which an inaccurate concept or idea is accepted as "truth."
cultural transmission
the process by which aspects of culture are passed from person to person, often generation to generation; a feature of some species' communication systems
consumption
the process of buying, eating, or using a resource, food, commodity, or service
racial formation
the process of defining and redefining racial categories in a society
enculturation
the process of learning the characteristics and expectations of a culture or group
arbitrariness
the relationship between a symbol and its referent (meaning), in which there is no obvious connection between them
ethnoecology
the relationships between cultural beliefs and practices and the local environment. Components include ethnobiology, ethnobotany, and ethnozoology.
mono-cropping
the reliance on a single plant species as a food source; leads to decreased dietary diversity and carries the risk of malnutrition compared to a more diverse diet.
means of production
the resources used to produce goods in a society such as land for farming or factories.
Diaspora
the scattering of a group of people who have left their original homeland and now live in various locations
commodity chain
the series of steps a food takes from location where it is produced to the store where it is sold to consumers
commodity chain
the series of steps a food takes from location where it is produced to the store where it is sold to consumers.
role
the set of behaviors expected of an individual who occupies a particular status
subsistence system
the set of skills, practices, and technologies used by members of a society to acquire and distribute food.
epidemiological transition
the sharp drop in mortality rates, particularly among children, that occurs in a society as a result of improved sanitation and access to healthcare
family
the smallest group of individuals who see themselves as connected to one another
mode of production
the social relations through which human labor is used to transform energy from nature using tools, skills, organization, and knowledge.
kinesics
the study of all forms of human body language
historical ecology
the study of how human cultures have developed over time as a result of interactions with the environment.
historical linguistics
the study of how languages change
morphology
the study of the morphemes of language
proxemics
the study of the social use of space, including the amount of space an individual tries to maintain around himself in interactions with others
phonology
the study of the sounds of language
modes of subsistence
the techniques used by the members of a society to obtain food. Anthropologists classify subsistence into four broad categories: foraging, pastoralism, horticulture, and agriculture.
kinship terminology
the terms used in a language to describe relatives
Historical Particularism
the theory that every culture develops in a unique way due to its history, including the interaction of people with the natural environment
language death
the total extinction of a language
pragmatic function
the useful purpose of a communication. Usefulness is a feature of all species' communication systems.
Cultural infrastructure
the values and beliefs of communities, states, and/or societies that make the imagining of a particular type of network possible
standard
the variant of any language that has been given special prestige in the community
lexicon
the vocabulary of a language
minimal response
the vocal indications that one is listening to a speaker
domestic economy
the work associated with obtaining food for a family or household
paralanguage
those characteristics of speech beyond the actual words spoken, such as pitch, loudness, tempo
maladaptive
traits that decrease the capacity of individuals to survive and reproduce
adaptive
traits that increase the capacity of individuals to survive and reproduce
The Genealogical Method
used to collect data on important relationships that form the foundation of the society & to trace social relationships more broadly in communities (symbols/diagrams)
code- switching
using 2 or more language varieties in a particular interaction
naturalistic ethno-etiology
views disease as the result of natural forces such as cold, heat, winds, or an upset in the balance of the basic body elements.
personalistic ethno-etiology
views disease as the result of the actions of human or supernatural beings
cultural performance
A performance such as a concert or a play
American Exceptionalism
American's think they are better than everyone else (Ethnocentrism in America)
performing culture
Everyday words and actions that reflect cultural ideas and can be studied by anthropologists as a means of understanding a culture
performativity
Words or actions that cause something to happen
emic
a description of the studied culture from the perspective of a member of the culture or insider
pigmentocracy
a society characterized by strong correlation between a person's skin color and his or her social class
domestic group
a term that can be used to describe a group of people who live together even if members do not consider themselves to be family
zoomorphic
an object or being that has animal characteristics
multi-sited ethnography
anthropologists must study people in motion and therefore do research in different locations
symbol
anything that serves to refer to something else
succession
changes in types of species in an area over time
deductive
reasoning from general to specific
raids
short-term uses of physical force organized and planned to achieve a limited objective.
glocalization
the adaption of global ideas into locally palatable forms
syncretism
the combination of different beliefs, even those that are seemingly contradictory, into a new, harmonious whole
Dyads
2 people in a socially approved pairing (ex.- married couple)
personal front
Aspects of one's clothing, physical characteristics, comportment, and facial expressions that communicate an impression to others.
state
The most complex form of political organization, associated with societies that have monopoly over legitimate uses of physical force, a sizeable bureaucracy, a system of formal laws, and a standing military force
heteronormativity
a term coined by French philosopher Michel Foucault to refer to the often-unnoticed system of rights and privileges that accompany normative sexual choices and family formation.
thick description
a term coined by anthropologist Clifford Geertz in his 1973 book The Interpretation of Cultures to describe a detailed description of the studied group that not only explains the behavior or cultural event in question but also the context in which it occurs and anthropological interpretations of it.
exogamy
a term describing expectations that individuals must marry outside a particular group
endogamy
a term describing expectations that individuals must marry within a particular group
Anthropocene
a term proposed to describe the current moment in geological time in which the effects of human activities have altered the fundamental geochemical cycles of the earth (began with industrialization)
cultural evolutionism
a theory popular in nineteenth century anthropology suggesting that societies evolved through stages from simple to advanced. This theory was later shown to be incorrect.
Filial Piety
a tradition requiring that the young provide care for the elderly and in some case ancestral spirits
dialect
a variety of speech
kinship
blood ties, common ancestry, and social relationships that form families within human groups
language universals
characteristics shared by all linguists
codified law
formal legal systems in which damages, crimes, remedies, and punishments are specified
priests
full-time religious practitioners
multiculturalism
maintenance of multiple cultural traditions in a single society
wilderness
natural area that is untouched or unchanged by human activities and often seems as a cultural construct of the American West
neolocal residence
newly married individuals establish a household separate from other family members
vernaculars
non-standard varieties of a language, which are usually distinguished from the standard by their inclusion of stigmatized forms.
sumptuary rules
norms that permit persons of higher rank to enjoy greater social status by wearing distinctive clothing, jewelry, and/or decorations denied those of lower rank
tribe
political units organized around family ties that have fluid or shifting systems of temporary leadership
assimilation
pressure places on minority groups to adopt the customs and traditions of the dominant culture
monotheistic
religious systems that recognize a single supreme God
poro and sande
secret societies for men and women, respectively, found in the Mande-speaking peoples of West Africa, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, and Guinea.
polysemy
settings, situations, and symbols that convey multiple meanings
interchangeability
the ability of all individuals of the species to both send and receive messages; a feature of some species' communication systems.
Displacement
the ability to communicate about things that are outside of the here and now
redistribution
the accumulation of goods (or labor) by a particular person or institution for the purpose of dispersal at a later date
cultural appropriation
the act of copying an idea from another culture and in the process distorting its meaning
ethnomedicine
the comparative study of cultural ideas about wellness, illness, and healing
band
the smallest unit of political organization, consisting of only a few families and no formal leadership positions
language shift
when a community stops using their old language and adopts a new one
discourse
widely circulated knowledge within a community