Anthropology

All fields of study started as definite attempts to answer

questions about ones environment, ones relation to it,
and ones nature.

Science may be categorized into two areas:

Natural Sciences (ex. biological sciences biology, botany,

zoology, and bacteriology; physical sciences astronomy,
geology, chemistry, and physics).

Social Sciences deals with human relationships, social

systems, and societies.

The Social Sciences

Economics concerned with the human activities related to the production,

consumption, and distribution of goods, services, and wealth within societies.
Human behavior may also be economically driven (Ex. Large Family, Small
Family, Migration, Clothing).

Political Science concerned with political processes, power struggle and

governments.
Anthropologists are interested in looking at social backgrounds of political
activists, the distribution of power, the source of political beliefs of the
electorate, and the role of women and ethnic minorities in the electorate.

The Social Sciences

Psychology

History

mainly interested in psychological and behavioral processes.

primarily a descriptive chronology of significant past events.

Sociology

- the science of society and the social interaction taking place.

What is Anthropology?

Anthropos
Logos

Holistic science

Studies the whole human condition

Looks at the Past, Present and Future

Examines all societies whether it is simple
or complex, ancient or modern
Cuts across various disciplines
Methods include the researched not only
the researcher (Emic and etic perspective)
Looks at things in a broader perspective
and analyzes a broader range of data
Most social science disciplines focus on a
single society while Anthropology offers a
unique cross-cultural perspective.

Sub-disciplines of Anthropology
1.
2.
3.
4.

Physical Anthropology
Archaeology
Cultural Anthropology
Linguistics

Physical Anthropology

Origins of man

Hominid line
Human variation
Concept of race
Primatology
Forensics

Archaeology

reconstructs, describes, and interprets human

behavior and cultural patterns through
material remains
Hominid line
Recreating past culture
Present culture

Garbology

Cultural Anthropology

studies social life and customs

describe, analyze and explain social and cultural
similarities and differences.

Ethnography and Ethnology

Participant Observation
Emic and Etic Perspectives
Nature vs. Nurture
Universal, Particular and
Generalized
Relativism

Linguistics

Sociolinguistics

How language is used in culture

How speech affects social differences
How meanings are understood
Paralanguage

Nature vs. Nurture

What is Culture?
Agency vs. Structure