FatimaJinnahWomenUniversityRawalpindi

Department of Behavioral Sciences

Class: Bachelors
Course: Introduction to Anthropology
Credit Hours: 3
Course Code: B.Beh-Sc-122

Overview
This course is an introduction to the field of Anthropology. As a broad and diverse discipline,
anthropology aims to construct a holistic understanding of the human species by integrating
research on the cultural, biological, evolutionary, linguistic and historical aspects. Through the
comparative study of different cultures, anthropology explores fundamental questions about
what it means to be human. It seeks to understand how culture both shapes societies, from the
smallest island in the South Pacific to the largest Asian metropolis, and affects the way
institutions work. This course will provide a framework for analyzing diverse facets of human
experience such as gender, ethnicity, language, politics, economics, and art. By focusing on
diversity, this works lays a foundation for understanding the universal underpinning of our
societies, cultures, and languages.

Prerequisites: None

Objectives

 To define anthropology and discuss how it differs from other social sciences
 To identify the major specializations within anthropology and explain their goals
 To explain the key concepts and issues of concern to anthropologists
 To identify the major approaches/perspectives used in anthropology and discuss their
influence on ethnographic research.
 To assess the value of cultural relativism in anthropology and everyday life.
 To discuss the value and relevance of anthropology.

Outcomes

After successfully completing this course students will:

 Demonstrate understanding of the scope of anthropology based on the four subfields

and theoretical orientations.
  Trace the evolution of humans as a species and our relationship to living primates.
 Discuss the concept of culture and give examples of cultural development and
adaptation.
 Compare across cultures similarities and differences in basic social systems to include
family organization, subsistence, political systems, belief systems and expressive
culture.
 Identify agents of culture change and their effect and critique the practice of applied
anthropology.

Introduction

Significance of the course Organization of the course and the subject matter.

Module I

Defining Anthropology

Brief history of AnthropologySubfields of Anthropology - Physical Anthropology,

Cultural/Social Anthropology, Linguistic, Archaeology, Applied AnthropologyRelation of
Anthropology with other disciplines Scope of AnthropologyUniqueness of Anthropology
- Holistic approach – understanding human differences, Interdisciplinary research and global
perspective, Ethnography and fieldwork, participant observation, Cultural Relativism, Cross-
cultural comparison, Interpret, Humanistic approach. Why study anthropology?

Module II

Human and Social Evolution

Human evolution Perspectives on evolutionism  Social Evolutionism

Module III

Society and Culture

Defining culture and society Types of society - Hunter and gatherers, Horticulture,
Agriculture, IndustrialismCharacteristic and component of culture - Culture region, culture
trait, culture complex, culture system, values, beliefs, norms, folkways, mores Aspects of
Culture - material and non-material culture, Ideal Vs. real culture, Culture is learned –
enculturation – situational learning & social learning, Symbolic learning and culture –
language, Culture is shared, Cultural diversityAnthropological approaches to culture –
Ethnocentrism, Cultural relativism, Emic & Etic approach, Cultural universalism,
Enculturation, Sub-culture, Culture Change – cultural diffusion, Cultural
AdaptationInfluence of Culture on Human behaviour

Module IV
Gender, Race & Ethnicity
Defining gender, race and ethnicityGender roles gender
stereotypesstratificationethnic group

Module V
Kinship, Family and Marriage

Defining kinshipTypes of kinshipConsanguinal kinshipAffinal KinshipFictitious

KinshipDefining decent Lineage Types of decent - Unilineal decent group - Patrilineal
decent group – Matrilineal, Ambilineal, Bilateral, Kindreds Types of Marriage –
Monogamy, polygamy – polygyny & polyandry, Exchange marriageRules of marriage -
endogamy & exogamy – (parallel cousin marriage), Marriage payments - dowry & bride
wealthFamilyDefining family – joint & nuclear familySocial functions of family -
socialization

Module VII
Religion, Myth & Magic
Anthropology of religionDefining religionTypes and functions of religion –
monotheism, polytheism, animism, Totemism, Shamanism, CultsDefining mythFunctions
of MythDefining Magic

Module VIII
Political Anthropology
Defining Political AnthropologyTypes of political system – band, Tribes, Clan, Sodalities,
Chiefdom, States Political Organization - Political power, Authority, Feudalism

Module IX
Arts and Aesthetics
Secular and Religious ArtsArt and GenderForms of Artistic Expression - Body Arts,
Visual Arts, Performance ArtsSocial Functions of Art

Module X
Applied Anthropology and its Sub-Fields

Media Anthropology Medical Anthropology Sports Anthropology

Required Readings

Talal, A,. (ed.). (1973). Anthropology and the Colonial Encounter. Ithaca.

Coote, J. and Shelton, A. (eds). (1992). Anthropology, Art and esthetics. Oxford.

Hendry, J. (1999). An Introduction to Social Anthropology: other People's Worlds.

Macmillan.

Keesing, R. (1984). Cultural Anthropology: a Contemporary Perspective. Holt,Rinehart and

Winston.

Lienhardt, G. (1964). Social Anthropology. Oxford.

MacClancy, J. (ed.) (2002). Exotic No More: Anthropology on the Front Lines. Chicago.

Parkin, R. (1997). Kinship: an Introduction to Basic Concepts. Blackwell.

Pocock, D. (1975). Understanding Social Anthropology. Hodder and Stoughton.