Anthropology Midterm Review

Anthropology: the study of human life throughout history, aims to

describe what it means to be human.
Physical Anthropology:
Biological: looks at how diseases and illnesses are transmitted and
how they are caused.
Primatology and Evolution: traces the origins of the human species,
studies how humans differ from other species.
Forensic: look for clues in physical injuries, examines bones, teeth,
etc. analyze DNA to solve crimes
Cultural Anthropology:
Linguistics: studies language
Archaeology: excavate and study human constructions and artefacts
to see how humans lived in their cultures
Ethnology: study and compare past and contemporary cultures,
beliefs, practices and patterns of thought and behaviour
Ethnography: in-depth study of a particular culture
Applied Anthropology: use what they have learned to solve practical
problems
Research Methods
- Survey
- Case study
- Experiment
- Interviews
- Observations (Structured/Unstructured)
- Participant observations
Australopithecus:
First human ancestor to live on the ground and walk on 2 legs
Genus Homo:
More modern hominids that exhibited major evolutionary steps
Homo Habilis: The tool man
Homo Erectus: The upright man
Homo Sapiens: The wise man

Neanderthal: A group in the Homo sapiens (earlier)

Cultural Relativism: the attitude that all cultures should be
respected for developing ways to survive and for meeting the
challenges of their environment
Ethnocentrism: the tendency to judge other cultures by ones culture
(feeling superior)
Components of Culture
Symbols: something that represents something else (doves often
represents peace)
Signals: a movement or event that passes on information and/or ideas
Norms: a standard shared by members of a group to which members
are expected to conform
Mores: very important norms may be associated with morals
Sanctions: a punishment or reward given to make one conform to the
groups standard of behaviour
Conformity: the act of matching to behaviours, beliefs, a set of norms
or rules within a group
Culture: shared values, beliefs behaviour, food, material etc.
Nature vs. Nurture: the debate of which affects us the most;
genetics (Nature) or how were raised (Nurture)
Fossils: preserved remains of ancient organisms, provides info on past
Fitness: the ability to adapt and evolve in order to continue to
reproduce
Darwin
- Studied medicine and theology
Development of Evolutionary Theory
- 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct
The Galapagos Islands
- Off the coast of Ecuador (a group of isolated volcanic islands)
- Realized that within each group of plants and animals, there were
variations in size and colour
- Also learned that species have the ability to reproduce in large
numbers
Adaptation
- Over time, changes occurred in climate and other environmental
conditions
- Species who could not adapt died out, others reproduced and
evolved
Darwins finches
- 13 species on one island
- Bird adapted and evolved based on the food it eats and its
surroundings
Theory of Natural Selection
- Species were forced to evolve or face extinction

Over centuries of adaption species passed on these survival

characteristics
- Survival of the fittest ability to evolve and adapt
Natural Selection and Speciation
- Modifies population
- Some changed are so great that some organisms can no longer
breed
- A new species results
Darwin Concluded
- Physical/Behaviour traits enable organisms to survive and
reproduce
- Fitness results from adaptations
- Darwin reasoned that adaptations result from natural selection
and result in evolution
Evolution is the process by which living things change and diversify
over time
Ethical Codes
1) Participant awareness
2) Openness and Honestly
3) Voluntary Participation
4) Responsibilities
5) Protection from harm
APA
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Standards
Competence (skills)
Integrity (honesty)
Professional and scientific responsibility
Respect for peoples right and dignity
Concerns for others welfare
Social Responsibility

Social Science Inquiry Model

1) Identify a problem or Question
2) Develop a hypothesis
3) Gather Data
4) Analyze Data
5) Draw Conclusions