Anthropology final study guide
All of the following are reasons that modern arranged marriage practices work to make successful matches in India , EXCEPT that...
boys and girls will readily submit to their parents' wishes even if they do not get along with their potential match
anthropophagy
cannibalism, literally "people eating"
You live in a hunting and gathering band. Your group size should not exceed the number that can be supported by the land during the most difficult time of the year, the time of scarcity during the dry season. The land has a certain ______, or ability to support a certain number of people given their type of technology.
carrying capacity
fetish
charm; object of devotion thought to have magical powers
social mobility is allowed in ______ societies, but not in _____ societies.
class; caste
typology
classification scheme; categorization of types
multipurpose money
commodities that can be used for other practical purposes besides simply as money; also called commodity money
What seems to be the healthiest human diet?
cooked and raw whole foods from the local area that are not processed
Anthropologists seek to understand both the cultural insiders' view of their world, as well as an outside observer's view. These are called the __________ and _________ perspectives.
emic; etic
New research shows that children or grandchildren of trauma survivors show permanent effects of that trauma in their gene expression. this scientific field of study is called ________.
epigenetics
A culture's concepts, beliefs, and practices regarding health and healing is referred to as...
ethnomedicine
The Inuit of Arctic Canada traditionally used song duels to solve problems in the community. Others determined right and wrong, making these duels...
externalized controls
Lifeways refer to the quality of life that people have in a traditional society.
false
Anthropologists believe that the incest taboo is found universally for all of the following reasons EXCEPT that...
family members feel less safe in society if they marry within their own family
kinship
family relations; involves a complex set of expectations and responsibilities
culture core
features of culture that are similar in societies practicing the same food-getting strategies; an aspect of the cultural ecology model
sectarian violence
fighting between groups divided by religion or ethnicity
identity politics
focusing on one's identity and validating one's sense of belonging to a particular group with a particular history
subsistence
food procurement; basic food needs for survival
whole foods
foods that are not processed by chemical or other means; foods in their natural state, either grown or raised
which of the following best represents the relationship between gender identify, sex, and sexual orientation?
gender identity and sexual orientation are independent of one another
Why include sustainability in a textbook about anthropology?
Anthropologists have a long-term understanding of how people survive in their environments and can contribute to solutions
Why do anthropologists look at early burial evidence for the origins of religious belief?
Burials suggest that humans were readying the spirit for a trip to an afterlife
Who is considered the father of American anthropology?
Franz Boaz
Once seen as a "melting pot" of assimilation, the United States is now better understood as a "tossed salad," referring to the mixture of citizens of diverse ancestry. This is an example of what kind of society?
Heterogeneous
How are many Indigenous languages of North America being revitalized today?
Indigenous languages are being used online for communication and searching the Internet
Inuit
Indigenous peoples of the Canadian Arctic, northern Alaska, and Greenland
Through her work in Papua New Guinea, Margaret Mead found that being "masculine" and "feminine"...
Is a cultural artifact; that is, gender roles are different in societies around the world
Why does it make sense for nuclear families in industrial societies to want to live in a neolocal household?
Nuclear families require some independence in order to be able to move to where the jobs are
tribute
a type of recurring payment, usually of goods, that acknowledges submission and ensures protection
others
a view of a person or category of people as different from, and therefore less than, one's self; also used as a verb, "to Other a group of people"
pastoralism
a way of life that revolves around animal domestication and herding animals to pasture
explanatory model
a way of understanding the world; a description of how something functions
bicultural
able to easily operate within the beliefs and practices of two cultures
discrimination
actions taken as a result of prejudice; negative treatment of someone based on a social classification such as race or religion, not based on the individual
Which of the following is NOT a mode of exchange?
advertising
a group of young Maasai men who are all circumcised during the same ceremonial event are all members of a/an...
age set
How do anthropologists understand the concept of race?
Race is a term that anthropologists do not use because it does not describe any real biological differences among people of our species
redistribution
an economic system in which goods and money will flow into a central source, such as a governmental authority or religious institution
prestige economy
an economic system in which people seek power and status rather than monetary gain
market economy
an economic system in which prices for goods and services are set by supply and demand
capitalist system
an economic system in which the means of production are owned by private companies and corporations that seek to gain the most profit
index sign (Pl, indices)
an emotional expression that carries meaning directly related to the response
A cultural anthropologists returns from a three-year stay in India, where she studied arranged marriage. In what form will she publish her findings?
an ethnography
barter
an exchange of foods without the use of money
warfare
an extended violent conflict in which one side attempts to kill as many people or destroy as much property as possible until the other side surrenders
placebo
an inactive medical treatment that may help a patient through psychological, not physiological, effects
Big Man
an informal leader who possesses authority based on prestige and persuasive power, found in Melanesian societies
Which of the following is NOT an accurate definition of ethnicity?
an inherited unit of genetics
emic
an insider's view; the perspective of the subject
commodity money
an item that has intrinsic value, such as gold, salt or cigarettes; also called multipurpose money
talisman
an object thought to bring protection or luck to the owner, especially to ward off illness or evil
Which of the following is an example of a biological adaptation?
Shivering (automatically opening and closing blood cells) in order to keep the human body warm
universal (linear) evolution
an outdated idea that all cultural groups progress through the same stages of modernization, from simple to complex
etic
an outsider's view; an objective explanation
utterance
an uninterrupted sequence of spoken or written language
The Mexican holiday Dias de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) creates conditions for the souls of one's dearly departed to return home temporarily. this is an example of belief in...
ancestral spirits
The textbook argues that anthropologists are in a good place to help influence the dialogue about sustainability today due to all of the following factors EXCEPT ...
anthropologists often are educated in places where climate change occurs, as in low-income nations
In the "Ethnography?" comic by Rubins/Shah (see your textbook) what is the part of the ethnographer's work among the mermaids that best shows praxis?
The ethnographer shares her research, challenging standard viewpoints and potentially engaging others
In particular, anthropology should play an important role in the discussion of how to create sustainable societies in the modern era of climate change and environmental challenges because...
anthropology provides both a close-up view of detailed local knowledge and also an objective global perspective
In the short from the module (20 min.) TED Lecture, "Connected, But Alone"Links to an external site., Turkle describes her perspectives and research findings regarding what she sees as the shortcomings of the reliance of electronic companionship. After watching her lecture, summarize her primary arguments. What does this say about contemporary culture in the United States, and what does it bode for the future?
Turkle's main arguments in her lecture are that we are letting technology take us down a wrong path and they can change who we are, our relationship with electronics is no longer healthy. For example she describes scenarios of people texting/emailing in the presence of others and not giving anyone full attention. She claims that people want to be with each other but also "elsewhere." Turkle expresses that people are only using selective hearing when with others using their devices as a way to control contact with others and how they represent themselves. Turkle's lecture on our concerning electronic companionship demonstrates that our contemporary culture in the US has changed and we no longer rely on physical conversation to communicate. This could mean that media will not only be a staple in younger generations but a necessity to communicate. I think the increase in electronic companionship could mean that in the future everything will be done almost through electronics including politics which has slightly occurred in todays society. For example for the last presidential election I learned everything through my phone and media, not once did I have a physical conversation with people on politics instead I just read online tweets, posts, or articles.
What fraction of the population in the US likely engages in non-Western ethnomedical practices (such as yoga, chiropractic, or probiotics ) in addition to biomedical ones?
Two-thirds of the population
money
anything that is used to measure and pay for the value of goods and services
transgender
a descriptive term for people who internally experience and/or express their gender identity as different from their assigned sex at birth
veganism
a diet composed of plant-based foods that restricts the consumption (and sometimes the use of) products made from animals or produced by animals (such as milk or eggs)
vegetarianism
a diet that emphasizes plant-based foods while restricting the consumption of meat and fish
locavore diet
a diet that emphasizes the consumption of foods grown in one's own community or region
community-supported agriculture (CSA)
a direct-marketing program in which consumers pay up front for boxes of fresh produce that are delivered on a regular basis from the farms where the produce is grown
swidden farming/shifting cultivation
a farming technique in which plant material is burned and crops are planted in the ashes
intensive agriculture
a farming technique that can support a large population using advanced tools and irrigation, and requiring more preparation and maintenance of the soil
terraced
a farming technique utilizing graduated steps on hilly terrain
Applied anthropology
a field of anthropology in which the researcher uses knowledge of anthropologist methods, theory, and perspectives to solve human problems
priest (priestess)
a fill-time religious practitioner
balanced reciprocity
a form of exchange in which the value of goods is specified as well as the time frame of repayment
imitative magic
a form of magic in which a practitioner creates something to represent real life, then manipulates it in a way that imitates the desired effect; the magical idea that like produces like
class
a form of social stratification based on differences in wealth and status
generalized reciprocity
a form of specialized sharing in which the value of a gift is not specified at the time of exchange, nor is the time of repayment
naturopathy
a form of treatment for illness that relies on non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical methods such as nutrition, herbal medicine, body work, and self-care
cultural ecology
a framework of understanding culture by examining the limitations of the environment and food-getting practices
political ecology
a framework of understanding culture that focuses on the complex relationships between the environment, economics, and politics
ecological anthropology
a framework of understanding culture that uses systems theory to understand a population as a closed-loop system
ally
a friend; someone who acts on your behalf
third gender
a gender role accepted in some societies as combining elements of male and female genders
subculture
a group of people within a culture who are connected by similar identity markers; this may include ethnic heritage or interests
speech community
a group that shares language patterns
hijab
a hair and neck covering that is worn by some Muslim women
moxibustion
a healing practice used in Traditional Chinese Medicine in which a burning stick of herbs is placed near acupuncture points on the body
caste
a hierarchical system based on birth; most commonly associated with Hindu India
Fst or fixation index
a measure of population difference in which 0 shows interbreeding and 1.0 shows none
genetic distance
a measure of the mutations between two populations; the less breeding among populations, the greater the genetic distance between them
glycemic index (GI)
a measurement of how different foods affect a person's blood sugar level. Foods that have high numbers on the index (56-100) are those that release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream, resulting in a sharper rise in blood sugar. a diet high in high-GI foods may lead to obesity, diabetes, and other diseases
hominin
a member of the biological family that includes humans, early humans, our upright walking ancestors, chimpanzees, and bonobos
judgment sample
a method of choosing informants based on their knowledge or skills
random sample
a method of choosing informants randomly
snowball sample
a method of finding informants through association with previous informants
horticulture
a method of producing food in which people cultivate the land in small-scale farms or gardens
three pillars of sustainability
a model of sustainable development with three components: sustainability of the environment, society, and the economy
systems theory
a model of understanding an ecosystem that assumes the ecosystem is a closed-loop system with finite resources
two-spirit
a native American or First nations person who indentifies with a third gender, or sometimes a gay native man or woman
shaman
a part-time religious practitioner
transhumance
a pattern of seasonal migration in which pastoralists move back and forth over long distances to productive pastures
cooperative society
a pattern of social life in which resources are shared among the group
linguist
a person who studies language
ethnoecologist
a person who studies the interactions a group of people has with their natural environment, focusing especially on the use of flora and fauna
key informant
a person with whom the ethnographer spends a great amount of time because of the person's knowledge, skills, or insight
sexuality
a person's attraction, whether romantic or physical, to another person
gender identity
a person's internal experience of their identity as male, female, both, or neither
gender
a person's internal experience of their identity as male, female, both, or neither, as well as the expression of that identity in social behavior
biological adaptation
a physical adaptation that allows an organism to survive better in its environment
Franz Boas
a pioneering American anthropologist, called the "father of American anthropology"; a proponent of cultural relativism and doing fieldwork
euphemisms
a polite or socially acceptable word or phrase that is used in place of one that is unpleasant or offensive
cargo system
a political and religious system among the Maya in which members must serve the community in a volunteer position for at least one year; a leveling mechanism
centralized system
a political system with a centralized governing body that has the power and authority to govern
uncentralized system
a political system with no centralized governing body and in which decisions are made by the community; also called a decentralized system
prejudice
a preformed opinion not based on fact, an unfavorable bias toward something or someone
religious revitalization movement
a process by which an oppressed group seeks supernatural aid through the creation of new ritual behaviors
conventional
a process of growing food in industrial societies that uses pesticides and other chemicals
organic
a process of growing food that prohibits the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, irradiation, and genetic modification
organic
a process of growing food that prohibits the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, irradiation, or genetic modification
communication
a process of transmitting a message from a sender to a receiver
eugenics
a pseudo-science of "race improvement"
monotheism
a religious belief system worshipping a single god or goddess
polytheistic
a religious belief system worshipping multiple gods and goddesses
cargo cult
a religious revitalization movement in Melanesia that uses ritual to seek help and material wealth
ghost dance
a religious revitalization movement started among the Northern Paiute that used a five-day circle dance to seek help from the supernatural realm
participant observation
a research method used in anthropology in which an ethnographer lives with a group of people and observes their regular activities
atoll
a ring-shaped reef, island, or series of small islands made of coral
In Carole Counihan's (1999) and Elisa Sobo's (1997) studies on body image, they found that...
a rounded and well-red body was desirable for women, as it represents that the women has strong family and social networks
myth
a sacred story that explains the origins of the world or people in it
religion
a set of beliefs and behaviors that pertain to supernatural forces or beings, which transcend the observable world
pantheon
a set of gods and goddesses in a religious belief system
reciprocity
a set of social rules that govern the specialized sharing of food and other items
city
a settlement supporting a dense population with a centralized government, specialization, and socio-economic hierarchy
logogram
a sign that represents a word or phrase
Fair Trade
a social and economic model aimed at supporting food and craft producers in developing countries by promoting equity and fair pricing
leveling mechanism
a social and economic obligation to distribute wealth so no one member of a group accumulates more than anyone else
Red Power Movement
a social movement in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States in which Indigenous youth organized for political action
achieved status
a social role a person achieves due to work and opportunity
stratified society
a social system in which one's position in the social hierarchy equals their status; results in an unequal distribution of power and resources
ranked system
a social system in which status is based on one's genealogical closeness to the chief; also called ranked society
medical anthropology
a subfield of cultural anthropology that examines ideas about health, illness, and healing
critical medical anthropology
a subfield of medical anthropology that examines health and its relation to power
ritual
a symbolic practice that is ordered and regularly repeated
language
a symbolic system expressing meaning through sounds or gestures
syncretism/syncretic
a synthesis of two or more religious belief systems
kula ring
a system of balanced reciprocity in which gifts circulate among trading partners in the Trobriand Islands
ideology
a system of beliefs that guides and justifies the actions of an individual or group
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
a system of healing used in China that focuses on strengthening the body's systems and improving the flow of qi
ayurveda
a system of healing used in India that focuses on the restoration of balance to the body's systems
caste system
a system of social stratification in India in which a person is born into a hereditary group traditionally linked to certain occupations
monoculture
a technique used in industrial farming in which a single crop is planted on a large number of acres
kathoey
a term used in Thailand to refer to transgender women
ethnicity
a term used to describe the heritage, geographic origin, language, and other features of a person
race
a term used to describe varieties or subspecies of a species; inaccurately used to refer to human differences in a biological sense
hijra
a third-gender role found in India and Pakistan in which people assigned male sex at birth or intersex individuals adopt feminine gender expression
honorific
a title or grammatical form (a form of a word or words) used to indicate respect or superior status of the person addressed over the speaker
muxe
a transgender woman from Juchitán, Mexico, with a recognized social identity
state
a type of political organization in a highly populated, industrial society with a strong, centralized government
tribe
a type of political organization that has decentralized power, often seen among horticulturalists or pastoralists
chiefdom
a type of political organization with centralized power, complex social structure, and large population; often seen among intensive agriculturalists
reserves
areas of land under tribal jurisdiction (Canada); in the United States, known as reservations
haggling
arguing over or bargaining for the terms of a purchase or agreement
Studying the relationship between art and powers tells us that
art can challenge and also reinforce dominant stereotypes.
racialization
assigning racial identities based on biology to an ethnic or cultural group whose members do not do so
polysexual
attracted to people of several sexual or gender variants
The idea of yin and yang in Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to...
body organs and healing remedies that are opposite each other in qualities, but that must be balanced to create a functioning healthy body
indentured
bound under contract to work for another person
symbol
something that stands for something else with little or no natural relationship to its referent; a type of sign
lingo
special vocabulary shared by a group of people
diasporic
spread to different parts of the world, especially used reference to ethnic or cultural groups
homeostasis
stability or equilibrium, especially among bodily processes
cairn
stack or pile of stones placed as a monument
deities
gods and goddesses
age set
group that brings people together via rites of passage through the stage of life they are in; social group of the same age with common concerns and interests
intersex
having a combination of physiological or morphological elements of both sexes
authority
having legitimate power
aromantic
having little or no romantic feelings toward others
cognitive
having to do with thought or perception
binary
having two parts; in gender studies, it refers to a two-gender system of masculine males and feminine females
medicalization
he process by which a normal human condition comes to be seen as a medical condition needing treatment
human ecology
he study of the complex relationships between humans and their environments
magic
he use of powers to contact and control supernatural forces or beings
nobles
high-status members of a society with rank often inherited
economics
how goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed in a society
real behavior
how people actually behave as observed by an ethnographer in the field
ideal behavior
how people believe they behave or would like to behave; the norms of a society
structural violence
how the social, economic, and political structures of society oppress and harm certain members, especially the poor
The idea of "the social lives of things" refers to...
how the value of a commodity changes based on how much a person desires it
melanocytes
human skin cells that produce pigment
internalized control
impulses that guide a person toward right behavior based on a moral system
When was the first use of the term "white" recorded in US history?
in 1691, when the Virginia colony legally prohibited marriage between english settlers and Africans
Métis
in Canada, people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry
sign
in communication, something that stands for something else
The example of the history of Makah whaling in your textbook shows that...
individual users of a natural resource may voluntarily cooperate to limit or to conserve that resource, even though it provides no immediate benefit to them individually
Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
industrial farming enterprises in which large numbers of animals are prepared for human consumption; the basis of conventional meat production
scarification
inscribing scars on the body as a marker of identity
vocalizations
intentional sounds humans make to express themselves, but not actually words
special purpose money
items used only to measure the value of things and lacking a practical purpose
A symbolic system of communication expressing meaning through voice, gestures, and writing is the definition of...
language
maladaptive
leading to harm or death; not productive for a culture's survival in the long run
pulses
legume seeds that are harvested when dry, includes most beans, chickpeas, and lentils
what are the four academic fields of anthropology?
linguistics, cultural, biological, archaeology
peasants
low-status members of a society who farm for a living
In pastoralist societies, the typical sexual division of labor is that...
men herd their animals on horseback, while women remain at the family tent in order to prepare food and take care of domestic tasks
industrialism
methods of producing food and goods using highly mechanized machinery and digital information
hotspot
region in which there is a high concentration of native plant and animal species and a high rate of biodiversity loss
social capital
resources that have value within a particular social group in which exchanges are bound by reciprocity and trust
rites of passage
rituals marking life's important transitions from one social or biological role to another
bisexual
romantic or sexual attraction to both males and females
gynophilia
romantic or sexual attraction to females
androphilia
romantic or sexual attraction to males
externalized control
rules that regulate behavior by encouraging conformity to social norms; may be negative (punishments) or positive (rewards)
privatization
selling ownership of public resources to private companies
dependence training
set of child-rearing practices that supports compliance to the family unit over individual needs
paradigm
set of concepts; a model
domestication
shaping the evolution of a species for human use
heterogeneous
sharing few identity markers
homogeneous
sharing similar identity markers
band
small egalitarian society of food foragers who live and travel together
the three pillars of sustainability are...
social, environmental, and economic
All of the following are theories of supernatural causation of illness, EXCEPT...
stress/emotional causes
informants
study subjects of an anthropologist; also referred to variously as collaborators, field subjects, or associates
female genital mutilation (FGM)
surgical removal and/or sewing together of female genitalia performed for sociocultural, not medical, reasons
chemical inputs
synthetic additives, such as pesticides and fertilizers, that raise the yield of crops in industrial agriculture
An object designed to protect the bearer from harm is called a...
tailsman
social mobility
the ability of members of society to rise in social class
social sustainability
the ability of social systems (such as a family, community, region, or nation) to provide for the needs of their people so that they can attain a stable and healthy standard of living
economic sustainability
the ability of the economy to support indefinite growth while ensuring a minimum quality of life for all members of society
environmental sustainability
the ability of the environment to renew resources and accommodate waste at the same rate at which resources are used and waste is generated
power
the ability to compel another person to do something that he or she would not do otherwise
sustainability
the ability to keep something in existence, to support a practice indefinitely
production
the act of making something from raw materials
humoral theory
the ancient Greek idea that health was achieved by a balance of elements within the body
gender discrimination
the apparent or real dominance of men and subordinate status of women in society
divination
the art of reading the future
class consciousness
the awareness of one's social rank within a system
voice qualities
the background characteristics of a person's voice, including pitch, rhythm, and articulation
animism
the belief that spiritual beings inhabit natural objects
animatism
the belief that spiritual forces inhabit natural objects
sex
the biological and physiological differences of human beings based on sex chromosomes, hormones, reproductive structures, and external genitalia
qi
the body's life force in Traditional Chinese Medicine; pronounced "chee"
agency
the capacity of people to think for themselves and control their life choices
In the graphic panel by sally campbell Galman, she expresses all of the following about her research with young trans kids, EXCEPT...
the clear and systematic way that ethnographers are taught to deal with their own pain during the ethnographic process
traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)
the collective and cumulative knowledge that a group of people has gained over many generations living in their particular ecosystem
pragmatics
the context within which language occurs
kinesics
the cultural use of body movements, including gestures
proxemics
the cultural use of space, including how close people stand to one another
gender roles
the culturally appropriate or expected roles of individuals in society based on sex
Anthropocene
the current geologic era, in which it is widely recognized that human activities have made lasting impacts on our planet
genocide
the death of an entire ethnic group
Which of the following is NOT an example of an internalized social control?
the death sentence
social distance
the degree of separation or exclusion between members of different social groups
ancestral spirits
the essence of one's family ancestors who have remained in contact with the mortal world
illness narrative
the explanation of how a person understands and experiences an illness
gender expression
the expression of one's gender identity in dress, mannerisms, and social behavior
biomedicine
the field of medical care in which the scientific principles of biology, biochemistry, and physiology are applied to patient diagnosis and treatment
blood quantum
the fraction of "Indian Blood" a person has, measured by tribal documents demonstrating the membership of relatives
social density
the frequency and intensity of interactions group members in a society
First Nations
the groups of Indigenous peoples who live south of the Arctic Circle in Canada
gender stratification
the hierarchical division of males and females in society
cultural relativism
the idea that all cultures are equally valid, and that every culture can only be understood in its own context
tragedy of the commons
the idea that individual actors sharing a natural resource will inevitably act in their own best interest, eventually depleting the resource
ethnocentrism
the idea that our own customs are normal while others' customs are strange, wrong, or disgusting
linguistic determinism
the idea that the language one speaks locks a person into seeing the world a certain way
multilinear cultural evolution
the idea that the social structure of a group is directly tied to the demands of its environment
linguistic relativity principle
the idea, studied by Benjamin Whorf, that the language one speaks shapes the way one sees the world
globalization
the integration of economic, social, political, and geographic boundaries in complex chains of interconnected systems and processes
Nahuatl
the language of the Aztecs
the film Arrival uses the idea of linguistic determinism to move the plot forward when...
the linguist suddenly sees the world as the aliens do, once she has learned their language
locus
the location or site of something
foodways
the methods, knowledge, and practices regarding food in a particular society
Marvin Harris (1985) argues that cows are sacred in Hindu society because...
the need for cows to provide dairy nutrition and farm labor created a taboo against killing them for beef.
carrying capacity
the number of people that can be sustained with the existing resources of a given area
phenotype
the outward expression of a person's genes, often their physical features
sexual orientation
the pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to another person
tā moko
the permanent marking (tattooing) of the skin as practiced by the maori people. Tā moko is traditionally created using specially designed chisels, not needles
embodiment
the physical representation of an idea, principle, or process
prestige
the positive reputation or high regard of a person or other entity merited by actions, wealth, authority, or status
Native appropriation
the practice in which members of a powerful group use designs, artifacts, behaviors, or ideas taken directly from a self-identified Indigenous group that has been historically oppressed
entomophagy
the practice of eating insects for food
monocropping
the practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same plot of land
cultural appropriation
the practice when members of a powerful group use designs, artifacts, behaviors, or ideas taken directly from a group that has been historically oppressed
ascribed status
the social role of a person that is fixed at birth
phonemics
the study of how sounds convey meaning
syntax
the study of how units of speech are put together to create sentences
semantics
the study of how words and phrases are put together in meaningful ways
epigenetics
the study of inherited changes in gene expressions without changes to the DNA itself
ethnolinguistics
the study of the relationship between language and culture; a subset of linguistic anthropology
phonetics
the study of the sounds in human speech
haptics
the study of touch
technology
the tools, skills, and knowledge used by people to survive
personality
the unique way an individual thinks, feels, and acts
animal husbandry
the use and breeding of animals for purposes that benefit humans
praxis
the use of a learned skill or application of an idea
consumption
the use of a resource
gender spectrum
the varieties of gender identity that exist on a continuum
biodiversity
the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms; the diversity of living organisms in a given ecosystem, area, or the world
worldview
the way a group understands and interprets the world; includes all aspects of culture
political organization
the way a society maintains order internally and manages affairs externally
paralanguage
the ways we express meaning through sounds beyond words alone; a subset of semantics
ethnography
the written or visual product of ethnographic (field) research
Agriculturalists have poorer nutrition than foragers because...
their vitamin and mineral intakes are reduced due to a lack of diversity in foods
In a food foraging society, such as the ju/'hoansi, how do people ensure the future?
they enter into cooperative relationships with other families with whom they share food
About 1 in every 2,000 people born is intersex, meaning...
they will develop an androgynous gender
ethnomedicine
traditional, non-Western medicine
A political system that relies on social and kinship rights and responsibilities to maintain order, and punishes people using gossip, curses, or social ostracism, is known as a/an...
uncentralized political system
spirits of nature
unobservable beings and forces that inhabit the natural world
Evidence of artistic expression among humans goes back
up to 100,000 years ago.
speech
verbal communication using sounds
raid
violence in which members of one group aim to steal or recover items, animals, or people from another group in the same society
ethnic cleansing
violent and aggressive intergroup conflicts in which one group attempts to commit genocide of the other
lifeways
ways of living; customs and practices
decisions people make that are outside the capitalist model may value all of the following EXCEPT....
wealth
In her research among Fair Trade chocolate farmers in Ghana, Amanda Berlan (2008) discovered that the cacao farmers...
were active participants in making decisions and controlling their own labor
cultural model
widely shared understandings about the world that help us organize our experience in it; determines the metaphors used in communication
An infant born to an Italian mother and Polish father in Ghana
will acquire her culture based on experience; ethnicity and culture do not live in DNA
asexual
without or limited sexual desire
All of the following are reasons that societies are supported by polygynous marriage, EXCEPT that...
women are often treated more fairly in a polygynous marriage than in a monogamous one
ancestor veneration
worship of one's ancestors
discourse
written or spoken communication on a topic, especially one extending over a period of time
which of the following is NOT an example of code switching?
"Let's go get some sushi tonight"
Anthropologists recognize marriage across cultures with the following characteristic (s):
All of the above ( legitimacy of children in society, a division of labor by sex or gender, sexual access between marriage partners)
Which of the following would an anthropologist consider "art"?
All of the above (song, food, clothing)
Why can't most human features be used to mark "racial" groups?
Most human features change gradually in any population; there are no sets of genetic markers unique to a "racial" group
Off the coast of Papua New Guinea, ethnographer Bronislaw Malinowski described a system of balanced reciprocity involving the circulation of gifts among trading partners. What is this system called?
The Kula Ring
cultural adaptation
a belief or behavior that allows an organism with culture (especially humans) to better thrive in their environment
potlatch
a ceremonial gathering in which Northwest Coast peoples mark important events and share food and other valued items
ethnographer
a cultural anthropologist who studies a group of people in a field setting
negative reciprocity
a deceptive practice in which the exchange is unequal; an exchange in which the seller asks more than the value of the item
labret
a decorative ornament inserted into a perforation of the lower lip
The origins of language may include...
all of the above (the need to communicate while making or using tools, sounds used to convey meaning even if the speaker and listener were not in visual contact, the development of verbal language during periods of communal work)
genetically modified (GM)
altered at the level of the gene; refers particularly to food crops that have been modified by introducing genes from another organism to enhance or create desired traits in the species
body modification
altering the body for reasons of identity, attractiveness, or social status
commodity
am item that is consumed by someone who is not its producer
trance
an altered state of consciousness in which a person lacks conscious control of their speech or actions
cultural materialism
an anthropological theory guided by the idea that the external pressures of the environment dictate cultural practices
environmental anthropologist
an anthropologist interested in the relationships between people and the environment
metaphor
an application of a word or phrase to something to which it is not generally applicable; a comparison to things without using the words "like" or "as"
participatory action research (PAR)
an applied anthropological method of field research and implementation of solutions; relies on close collaboration with the target community
identity markers
cultural characteristics of a person, such as ethnicity, socioeconomic class, religious beliefs, age, gender, and interests
white privilege
denotes the unearned power that society and its institutions bestow upon people with fair skin over those with darker skin (also referred to in the text as simply "ethnic privilege")
egalitarian
describes a society in which every member has the same access to resources and status; non-hierarchical
fallow
describes land that has been cultivated and left unseeded for a season
neurodiverse
describes people with neurological differences that arguably do not need to be pathologized, such as Asperger's, autism, ADHD, Tourette's, and dyslexia
cisgender
describing the experience of one's gender as matching their assigned sex at birth
gendered speech
different speech patterns based on the cultural expectations of each sex
language registers
different styles of speaking within a single language
systemic racism
discrimination that exists throughout society and influences people's decisions, expectations, opportunities, and limitations
Medical anthropologists distinguish between _____, or a diagnosis of a clinically identifiable entity, and ______, the set of social and cultural understandings that people have about a set of symptoms.
disease; illness
supernatural forces
disembodied powers that exist beyond the observable world, such as luck
supernaturalism
disembodied powers that exist beyond the observable world, such as luck
gods and goddesses
distant and powerful supernatural beings
Islamophobia
ear of and prejudice toward people perceived to be of the Islamic faith (Muslims)
exo-cannibalism
eating the flesh of people outside of one's society
endo-cannibalism
eating the flesh of people within one's society, especially within one's family
code switching
moving easily between speech styles or languages in a conversation or single utterance
nomadic
moving within a large area frequently in order to access food resources
conflict minerals
natural resources mined in an area where there is conflict (such as civil war) and used to fuel or fund the conflict, commit crimes, or perpetrate human rights abuses
pansexual
not limited in romantic or sexual attraction by sex or gender
feud
ongoing violent relations between two groups in the same society
climate refugees
people who have been forced to leave their country of residence due to the impacts of climate, especially climate change
community
people who live, work, and play together; or people who share cultural values and norms but may not share a physical location
society
people who share a large number of social or cultural connections; in the animal world, a group of animals born with instincts that cause them to occupy a particular place in the group hierarchy
food producers
people who transform the environment with the goal of food production using farming and/or animal husbandry
hunter-gatherer
people who utilize the food resources available in the environment; roughly synonymous with food foragers
food foragers
people who utilize the food resources available in the environment; roughly synonymous with hunter-gatherers
supernatural beings
personified or embodied beings that exist beyond the observable world, such as deities or spirits
Why does Marvin Harris (1985) argue that the Jewish and Muslim religions have a taboo against eating pork?
pigs were too costly for humans to raise in the desert
Margaret Mead
pioneering figure in early cultural anthropology; one of the first female anthropologists to undertake long-term fieldwork
specialization
possessing certain skills that others in the group do not share; characteristic of complex societies
A Melanesian cargo cult has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT that...
practitioners believe they will leave their islands in order to live in luxury in the country of their colonizers
passing
pretending to be a member of another ethnicity, "race," or gender
taboo
prohibition of a practice; forbidding one to engage in that practice
sanction
punishment that results from breaking rules
enculturation
the process by which culture is passed from generation to generation
distribution
the process by which items move into the hands of someone other than the producer; sharing out
ethnographic research
the process of studying culture, undertaken in a field setting
commodification
the process of turning something into an object of exchange to be bought and sold
Social Strarification
the ranking of members of society into a hierarchy
diplomacy
the relations and negotiations between nations
personification
the representation of an inanimate thing as having human qualities
food sovereignty
the right of peoples to define and manage their own healthy and culturally relevant food systems
homosexuality
the romantic or sexual attraction or sexual behavior between partners of the same sex
culture scale
the scope or reach of culture; implied is the idea that smaller-scale societies are more sustainable than larger-scale societies
independence training
the set of child-rearing practices that foster a child's self-reliance
sexual division of labor
the sex-based division of tasks in a community
heterosexuality
the sexual or romantic attraction or behavior between partners of the opposite sex, such as between (cisgender) men and women
nutrition transition
the shift in diet and energy expenditure that results from people managing their own agriculture to relying on processed convenience foods
morpheme
the smallest part of a word that conveys meaning
phoneme
the smallest unit of sound in communication that conveys meaning
