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Anthropology Midterm
Vocab for the Midterm
221
Anthropology
Undergraduate 1
02/22/2011

Additional Anthropology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Anthropology
Definition
The study of the human species and its immediate ancestors
Term
hollistic
Definition
Encompassing past, present, and future; biology, society, language, and culture
Term
culture
Definition
Traditions and customs transmitted through learning
Term
food production
Definition
An economy based on plant cultivation and/or animal domestication
Term
general anthropology
Definition
Anthropology as a whole: cultural, archaeological, biological, and linguistic anthropology
Term
biocultural
Definition
Combining biological and cultural approaches to a given problem
Term
cultural anthropology
Definition
The comparative, cross-cultural, study of human society and culture
Term
ethnography
Definition
Fieldwork in a particular cultural setting
Term
archaeological anthropology
Definition
The study of human behavior through material remains
Term
ethnology
Definition
The study of socio-cultural differences and similarities
Term
biological anthropology
Definition
The study of human biological variation in time and space
Term
physical anthropology
Definition
Same as biological anthropology
Term
linguistic anthropology
Definition
The study of language in time, space, and society
Term
sociolinguistics
Definition
The study of language in society
Term
science
Definition
Field of study that seeks reliable explanations, with reference to the material and physical world
Term
applied anthropology
Definition
Using anthropology to solve contemporary problems
Term
theory
Definition
A set of ideas formulated to explain something
Term
association
Definition
An observed relationship between two or more variables
Term
cultural resource management
Definition
Deciding what needs saving when entire archaeological sites cannot be saved
Term
hypothesis
Definition
A suggested but as yet unverified explanation
Term
enculturation
Definition
The process by which culture is learned and transmitted across the generations
Term
symbol
Definition
Something, verbal or nonverbal, that stands for something else
Term
core values
Definition
Key, basic, or central values that integrate a culture
Term
hominid
Definition
Member of hominid family, any fossil or living human, chimp, or gorilla
Term
hominins
Definition
Hominids excluding the African apes, all the human species that ever have existed
Term
universal
Definition
Something that exists in every culture
Term
generality
Definition
Culture pattern or trait that exists in some but not all societies
Term
particularity
Definition
Distinctive or unique culture trait, pattern, or integration
Term
national culture
Definition
Cultural features shared by citizens of the same nation
Term
international culture
Definition
Cultural traditions that extend beyond national boundaries
Term
ethnocentrism
Definition
Judging other cultures using one’s own cultural standards
Term
human rights
Definition
Rights based on justice and morality beyond and superior to particular countries, cultures, and religions
Term
cultural rights
Definition
Rights vested in religious and ethnic minorities and indigenous societies
Term
cultural relativism
Definition
Idea that to know another culture requires full understanding of its members’ beliefs and motivations
Term
IPR
Definition
Intellectual property rights; an indigenous group’s collective knowledge and its applications
Term
diffusion
Definition
Borrowing of cultural traits between societies
Term
acculturation
Definition
An exchange of cultural features between groups in firsthand contact
Term
independent invention
Definition
The independent development of a cultural feature in different societies
Term
globalization
Definition
The accelerating interdependence of nations in the world system today
Term
development anthropology
Definition
Field that examines the socio-cultural dimensions of economic development
Term
increased equity
Definition
Reduction in absolute poverty, with a more even distribution of wealth
Term
overinnovation
Definition
Trying to achieve too much change
Term
underdifferentiation
Definition
Seeing less-developed countries as all the same; ignoring cultural diversity
Term
anthropology and education
Definition
Study of students in the context of their family, peers, and enculturation
Term
urban anthropology
Definition
Anthropological study of cities and urban life
Term
medical anthropology
Definition
The comparative, bio-cultural study of disease, health problems, and health-care systems
Term
disease
Definition
A scientifically identified health threat caused by a known pathogen
Term
illness
Definition
A condition of poor health perceived or felt by an individual
Term
health-care systems
Definition
Beliefs, customs, and specialists concerned with preventing and curing illness
Term
curer
Definition
One who diagnoses and treats illness
Term
scientific medicine
Definition
A health-care system based on scientific knowledge and procedures
Term
paleonanthropology
Definition
study of hominid, hominin, and human life through the fossil record
Term
informed consent
Definition
agreement to take part in research, after being fully informed about it
Term
paleontology
Definition
study of ancient life through the fossil record
Term
palynology
Definition
study of ancient plants and environments through pollen samples
Term
remote sensing
Definition
use of aerial photos and satellite images to locate sites on the ground
Term
anthropometry
Definition
measurement of human body parts and dimensions
Term
bone biology
Definition
study of bone as a biological tissue
Term
paleopathology
Definition
study of disease and injury in skeletons from archaeological sites
Term
molecular anthropology
Definition
DNA comparisons used to determine evolutionary links and distances
Term
fossils
Definition
remains of ancient life
Term
systematic survey
Definition
study of settlement patterns over a large area
Term
excavation
Definition
digging through layers at a site
Term
taphonomy
Definition
study of processes affecting remains of dead animals
Term
absolute dating
Definition
establishing dates in numbers or ranges of numbers
Term
relative dating
Definition
establishing a time frame in relation to other strata or materials
Term
stratigraphy
Definition
study of earth sediments deposited in demarcated layers (strata)
Term
dendrochronology
Definition
tree-ring dating, a form of absolute dating
Term
evolution
Definition
transformation of species; descent with modification
Term
natural selection
Definition
selection of favored forms through differential reproductive success
Term
uniformitarianism
Definition
natural forces at work today also explain past events
Term
population genetics
Definition
field that studies genetics of breeding populations
Term
dominant
Definition
allele that makes another allele in a heterozygote
Term
recessive
Definition
genetic trait masked by a dominant trait
Term
chromosomes
Definition
paired lengths of DNA, composed of multiple genes
Term
gene
Definition
place on a chromosome that determines a particular a trait
Term
allele
Definition
a variant of a particular gene
Term
independent assortment
Definition
chromosomes inherited independently of one another
Term
mutation
Definition
change in DNA molecules
Term
mitosis
Definition
ordinary cell division
Term
meiosis
Definition
process by which sex cells are produced
Term
crossing over
Definition
homologous chromosomes intertwine and exchange DNA
Term
gene pool
Definition
all the genetic material in a breeding population
Term
genetic evolution
Definition
change in gene frequency in a breeding population
Term
adaptive
Definition
favored by natural selection
Term
sexual selection
Definition
selection of traits that enhance mating success
Term
balanced polymorphism
Definition
alleles maintain a constant frequency in a population over time
Term
random genetic drift
Definition
genetic change due to chance
Term
gene flow
Definition
exchange of genetic material through interbreeding
Term
species
Definition
members can interbreed to produce offspring that live and reproduce
Term
speciation
Definition
formation of new species
Term
racial classification
Definition
assigning organisms to categories based on common ancestry
Term
cline
Definition
gradual shift in gene frequencies between neighboring populations
Term
haplogroup
Definition
lineage or branch of a genetic tree marked by one or more specific genetic mutations
Term
melanin
Definition
"natural sunscreen" produced by skin cells responsible for pigmentation
Term
rickets
Definition
vitamin D deficiency marked by bone deformation
Term
Thomson's nose rule
Definition
average nose length increases in cold areas
Term
Bergmann's rule
Definition
Larger bodies found in colder areas and smaller bodies in warmer ones
Term
Allen's rule
Definition
protruding body parts are bigger in warmer areas
Term
phenotypical adaption
Definition
adaptive biological changes during an individual's lifetime
Term
primatology
Definition
the study of apes, monkeys, and prosimians
Term
terrestrial
Definition
ground-dwelling
Term
taxonomy
Definition
classification scheme; assignment to categories (taxa, singular, taxon)
Term
homologies
Definition
traits inherited from a common ancestor
Term
analogies
Definition
adaptive traits due to convergent evolution
Term
convergent evolution
Definition
similar selective forces produce similar adaptive traits
Term
prosimians
Definition
the primate suborder that includes lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers
Term
opposable thumb
Definition
a thumb that can touch all the other fingers
Term
bipedal
Definition
two-footed, upright locomotion
Term
arboreal
Definition
living in the trees
Term
anthropoids
Definition
monkeys, apes, and humans
Term
sexual dimorphism
Definition
marked differences in male and female anatomy and temperament
Term
gibbons
Definition
small, arboreal, Asiatic apes
Term
brachiation
Definition
under-the-branch swinging
Term
behavioral ecology
Definition
study of the evolutionary basis of social behavior
Term
hominoid
Definition
superfamily that includes humans and all the apes
Term
ardipithecus
Definition
earliest recognized hominin genus, Ethiopia
Term
australopithecines
Definition
common term for all members of the genus Austrolopithecus
Term
A. anamensis
Definition
earliest known Australopithecus species, Kenya
Term
Australopithecus afarensis
Definition
early Australopithecus species, Tanzania
Term
A. africanus
Definition
Gracile Australopithecus species, South Africa
Term
gracile
Definition
less robust, smaller and slighter
Term
robust
Definition
large, strong, sturdy bones, muscles, and teeth
Term
A. robustus
Definition
aka Paranthropus; robust Australopithecus species, South Africa
Term
A. boisei
Definition
late, hyperrobust Australopithecus species, East Africa
Term
Homo habilis
Definition
earliest member of genus Homo
Term
A. garhi
Definition
tool-making Australopithecus species, Ethiopia
Term
Oldowan
Definition
earliest stone tools, sharp flakes struck from cores
Term
acheulian
Definition
lower paleolithic tool tradition associated with H. erectus
Term
paleolithic
Definition
old stone age, including lower, middle, and upper
Term
archaic H. sapiens
Definition
early H. sapiens, includes Neandertals
Term
neandertals
Definition
Archaic H. sapiens group inhabiting Europe and the Middle East from 130,000 to 28000 BP
Term
Pleistocene
Definition
main epoch of evolution of Homo
Term
glacials
Definition
major advances of continental ice sheets in Europe and North America
Term
interglacials
Definition
extended warm periods between glacials
Term
mousterian
Definition
middle paleolithic tool tradition associated with neandertals
Term
AMHs
Definition
anatomically modern humans
Term
herto
Definition
very early AMHs found in Ethiopia
Term
Cro Magnon
Definition
The first fossil find of an AMH, from France's Dordogne Valley
Term
behavioral modernity
Definition
fully human behavior based on symbolic thought and cultural creativity
Term
Upper Paleolithic
Definition
blade-tool-making traditions of early AMHs
Term
blade tool
Definition
basic upper paleolithic tool, hammered off a prepared core
Term
Clovis tradition
Definition
early american tool tradition; projectile point attached to hunting spear
Term
haplogroup
Definition
a lineage marked by one or more specific genetic mutations
Term
interview schedule
Definition
form used to structure a formal, but personal, interview
Term
questionnaire
Definition
form used by sociologists to obtain comparable information from respondents
Term
nealogical method
Definition
using diagrams and symbols to record kin connections
Term
key cultural consultant
Definition
expert on a particular aspect of local life
Term
emic
Definition
research strategy focusing on local explanations and meanings
Term
life history
Definition
of a key consultant, a personal portrait of someone's life in a culture
Term
cultural consultants
Definition
people who teach an ethnographer about their culture
Term
etic
Definition
research strategy emphasizing the ethnographer's explanations and categories
Term
longitudinal research
Definition
long-term study, usually based on repeated visits
Term
survey research
Definition
the study of society through sampling, statistical analysis, and impersonal data collection
Term
sample
Definition
a smaller study group chosen to represent a larger population
Term
random sample
Definition
a sample in which all population members have an equal chance of inclusion
Term
variables
Definition
attributes that differ from one person or case to the next
Term
complex societies
Definition
large, populous societies with stratification and a government
Term
unlinear evolutionism
Definition
idea of a single line or path of cultural development
Term
historical particularism
Definition
idea that histories are not comparable; diverse paths can lead to the same cultural result
Term
functionalism
Definition
approach focusing on the role of sociocultural practices in social systems
Term
synchronic
Definition
studying societies at one time
Term
diachronic
Definition
studying societies across time
Term
configurationalism
Definition
view of culture as integrated and patterned
Term
cultural materialism
Definition
idea that cultural infrastructure determines structure and superstructure
Term
superorganic
Definition
the special domain of culture, beyond the organic and inorganic realms
Term
symbolic anthropology
Definition
the study of symbols in their social and cultural context
Term
interpretive anthropology
Definition
the study of a culture as a system of meaning
Term
agency
Definition
the actions of individuals, alone and in groups that create and transform culture
Term
political economy
Definition
the web of interrelated economic and power relations in society
Term
language
Definition
primary means of human communication, spoken and written
Term
call systems
Definition
communication systems of nonhuman primates
Term
cultural transmission
Definition
transmission through learning, basic to language
Term
productivity
Definition
creating new expressions that are comprehensible to other speakers
Term
displacement
Definition
describing things and events that are not present, basic to language
Term
kinesics
Definition
study of communication through body movements and facial expressions
Term
phonology
Definition
study of a language's phonemics and phonetics
Term
morphology
Definition
study of morphemes and word construction
Term
lexicon
Definition
vocabulary; all the morphemes in a language and their meanings
Term
syntax
Definition
arrangement of words in phrases and sentences
Term
phoneme
Definition
smallest sound contrast that distinguishes meaning
Term
phonetics
Definition
study of speech sounds- what people actually say
Term
phonemics
Definition
study of sound contrasts in a language
Term
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Definition
idea that different languages produce different patterns of thought
Term
focal vocabulary
Definition
set of words describing particular domains of experience
Term
ethnosemantics
Definition
study of lexical categories and contrasts
Term
semantics
Definition
a language's meaning system
Term
style shifts
Definition
varying one's speech in different social contexts
Term
diglossia
Definition
language with "high" (formal) and "low" (informal) dialects
Term
honorifics
Definition
terms of respect, used to honor people
Term
Black English Vernacular
Definition
Rule-governed dialect spoken by some African Americans
Term
subgroups
Definition
closely related languages
Term
historical linguistics
Definition
study of language over time
Term
daughter languages
Definition
languages sharing a common parents language
Term
protolanguage
Definition
language ancestral to several daughter languages
Term
ethnic group
Definition
one among several culturally distinct groups in a society or region
Term
ethnicity
Definition
identification with an ethnic group
Term
status
Definition
any position that determines where someone fits in society
Term
ascribed status
Definition
social status based on little or no choice
Term
achieved status
Definition
social status based on choices or accomplishments
Term
race
Definition
ethnic group assumed to have a biological basis
Term
racism
Definition
discrimination against an ethnic group assumed to have a biological basis
Term
descent
Definition
social identity based on ancestry
Term
hypodescent
Definition
children assigned to the same group as minority parent
Term
stratified
Definition
class-structured, with differences in wealth, prestige, and power
Term
phenotype
Definition
expressed physical characteristics of an organism
Term
nation
Definition
society sharing a language, religion, history, territory, ancestry, and kinship
Term
state
Definition
stratified society with formal, central government
Term
nation-state
Definition
an autonomous political entity; a country
Term
colonialism
Definition
long-term foreign domination of a territory and its people
Term
assimilation
Definition
absorption of minorities within a dominant culture
Term
nationalities
Definition
ethnic groups that have, once had, or want their own country
Term
plural society
Definition
society with economically interdependent ethnic groups
Term
multiculturalism
Definition
view of cultural diversity as valuable and worth maintaining
Term
prejudice
Definition
devaluing a group because of its assumed attributes
Term
stereotypes
Definition
fixed ideas- often unfavorable- a bout what members of a group are like
Term
discrimination
Definition
policies and practices that harm a group and its members
Term
refugess
Definition
people who flee a country to escape persecution or war
Term
genocide
Definition
deliberate elimination of a group through mass murder
Term
ethnocide
Definition
destruction of cultures of certain ethnic groups
Term
cultural colonialism
Definition
internal domination by one group and its culture or ideology over others
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