AnthropologyThe study of the human species and its immediate ancestorsThe study of human nature, human society, and the human pastHolisticComparativeAnthropology Concepts1.) Cultureshared human behaviora society’s socially transmitted ideas, values, and perceptionsmakes sense of experiencereflected in behaviorgenerates behaviorPresent and pastCurrentHistorical2.) Evolutionhuman biological changebelief that species arise from others through a long, gradual process of transformationgenetic change over successive generationspresent and pastadaptionhuman biological changeWhat is Anthropology?Other disciplines?Not the only academic field that studies humankindHolistic perspectiveAll facets of shared human behaviorTrying to understandWithout being culture-boundFor comparative purposesAnthropology and ScienceScientific MethodHypothesis testingAnthropology and HumanismCultural ProcessLogic of RationalityFour Fields of AnthropologyBiological AnthropologyTrying to understand the biological aspect of humankindHuman variation, adaptionStudy of humans based on their biological traitsArchaeologyStudy of the cultural pastLinguistic AnthropologyThe focus on one cultural behavior: LANGUAGECultural AnthropologyStudy of modern cultures in society—shared learned behavior that exists within groups.Unity of General AnthropologyHistorical reasons in the U.S.1900s or beforeFran BoasNorth American native peoplesCulture and BiologyHistory of racial categoriesStarted first department of AnthropologyTopical reasonsHuman variation in time and spaceCulture and evolutionFieldworkWhere data is collectedimportant to every field of anthropologywhat defines anthropologistsApplying AnthropologyAmerican Anthropological Association (AAA) recognizes two dimensionsAcademic anthropologyGrant and university researchApplied anthropologyPractical application of anthropological researchWhat is Applied Anthropology?Practicing anthropologists practice their profession outside of academiaAimed at influencing human behavior and social conditionsAcademic vs Applied AnthropologyHistorically always mixedPre-World War II most anthropology was AppliedAcademic anthropology grew afterThe four subfields and applied anthropologyCrosscuts all four subfieldsCultural anthropologist  MicrosoftArchaeologist  Cultural Resource ManagementLinguistic anthropologist  state board of educationPhysical anthropologist  forensicsApplied and Academic: Theory and PracticeAnthropologists study societies firsthandTheory aids practice and application fuels theoryThus, the application of anthropology has created new fields of studyAnthropology and PracticeApplied anthropologists work in:EducationUrban and rural areasMedical fieldsBusiness and politicsDevelopmental fieldsFieldwork and AnthropologyOn location researchAn extended periodClose involvementSource of informationData collectionPersonal involvementProblem orientedSpecific research questionLongitudinalLong-term study based on repeated visitsTerm researchCoordinated research by multiple researchersArchaeological FieldworkSystematic survey and ExcavationSystematic surveyProvides a regional perspective by gathering information on settlement patterns over a large areaExcavationSystematic removal of soil and other materialSystematic Survey: Site IdentificationSurvey large areasFinding and locating sitesAnswers certain research questionsArchaeological ExcavationExcavation compliments the regional surveys1) site mapped and surface collected2) site subdivided3) excavate and siftrecovering and recordingartifactsfeatures4) Use this information toanswer research questionprotect or describe cultural resourcesEthnographic FieldworkEthnographyFieldwork in and about a particular living cultureParticipant-observationLearning a culture through social participation and personal observation over a long period of timeInterviewsConversations that maintain rapport and provide knowledgeGenealogical methodsProcedures to understand kinship, descent, and marriageKey consultantsExperts on particular aspects of local lifeLife historiesEmic vs eticComparison of local beliefs and perceptions to the ethnographer’sEthnographic TechniquesEmic vs eticComparison of local beliefs and perceptions to the ethnographer’sSurvey ResearchSurvey research design- sampling, impersonal data collection, and statistical analysisSampleRandom selectionVariablesAnthropology’s ResponsibilityRelevance and impactAnthropology, ethics, and responsibilitiesAmerican Anthropological Association Code of Ethics (2012)1) Do no harm2) Be open and honest3) Obtain informed consent and necessary permissions4) Weigh competing ethical obligations5) Make results accessible6) Protect your records7) Maintain professional relationshipsFieldwork and Ethicsa set or system of moral principlesproblems involving contrasting systemsissues with applying anthropologyEthics and Ethical QuandariesAnthropologists’ primary ethical obligations is to the people, species, and materials they studyInformed consentPeoples agreement to participatePurposeNatureProceduresPotential impactCulture ConceptAnthropological DefinitionA set of learned behavior and ideas that humans acquire as members of societiesCulture consists of the abstract values, beliefs, and perceptions of the worldKnowledge, belief, arts, morals, laws, customs, traditions, etc.As humans we use culture to adapt to and transform the world in which we liveCulture vs Cultures vs CulturedCultureThe set of learned behavior and ideas that humans acquire as members of societyCulturesThe different sets of learned behavior between societiesEnculturationThe process by which culture is learned and transmitted across generationsCulturedNOT an anthropological termTraits of CultureLearnedPassed between generationsSharedLocated and transmitted in groupsSymbolicSomething that comes to stand for something elseCulture and NatureConverts natural urges and acts into cultural customsAll-EncompassingCulture is a model that includes all aspects of human group behaviorIntegratedPatterned systems of customs that are relatedAdaptive/MaladaptiveCultures is an adaptive strategy, but can be maladaptiveIndividual PracticeHumans have the ability to avoid, manipulate, subvert and changeLevelsDifferent levels of culture existInternationalNationalSubculturesComplexities of Cultures1) Boundaries between cultures are usually unclear2) Beliefs can be contradictory3) We still understand specific cultures ascoherent wholes to explain the