Cultural Anthropology

Question 1

What are the two types of cultural anthropology?

Answer 1

Material and non material

Question 2

Define non material and give an example

Answer 2

The thoughts and behaviors we learn and share with others. E.g. Opening doors for people

Question 3

Define material and give an example

Answer 3

All physical objects that humans crate and give meaning to e.g. Clothes, photos, cars, bibles.

Question 4

List the five characteristics of culture

Answer 4

Learned, shared, perception, subcultures, and influences our biological needs and inherited tendencies

Question 5

Define learned and give an example

Answer 5

How we learn most of our thoughts, behaviors and values. It’s a lifelong process. E.g. What’s considered disrespectful

Question 6

Define shared and give an example

Answer 6

From one generation to another. E.g. Link crew at CHCI

Question 7

Define perception and give and example

Answer 7

Shapes how we perceive and understand the world.
Major- positions on world conflicts or appropriate attire
Minor- names of different foods or objects

Question 8

Define subcultures and give an example

Answer 8

Groups that share some characteristics of the overall culture but also have distinctive ideas and behaviors. E.g. Amish, emo, rappers.

Question 9

Give examples for influences our biological needs and inherited tendencies

Answer 9

• what we eat
• where and when we sleep
• what we drink

Question 10

Define cultural change and give an example

Answer 10

Cultures are adaptive and this occurs when environmental concerns, social issues, political idea, or technology influence aspects of the culture, causing it to adapt
E.g. Civil rights movement, iPods, reduce reuse recycle

Question 11

Define cultural lag and give an example

Answer 11

Occurs when cultural change happens too rapidly and one generation adapts more quickly than another.
E.g. Interracial marriages, texting.

Question 12

Define ethnocentrism and give an example

Answer 12

Judging other cultures from the perspective of one’s own culture. The notion that one’s culture is better an nearer to perfection than another in terms of its own values and beliefs, not by another culture’s.
E.g. Not hiring someone because of their name.

Question 13

Define cultural relativism

Answer 13

The idea that each culture must be understood in terms of its own values and beliefs, not by another culture’s standard.

Question 14

Define the cultural materialism theory

Answer 14

It states that the materials or conditions within the environment (climate, food supply, and geography) influence how a culture develops, creating the ideas and ideology of a culture.

Question 15

What does the three level approach consist of?

Answer 15

Infrastructure, structure, and superstructure.

Question 16

Define infrastructure

Answer 16

Basic factors such as natural resources, economy, and populations. (Bottom level)

Question 17

Define structure

Answer 17

Social organization, kinship, political organization. (Middle level)

Question 18

Define superstructure

Answer 18

Ideas, values and beliefs. (Top level)

Question 19

List the six ways that all cultures are similar

Answer 19

1. Formation of groups
2. Sharing of emotions ideas and information
3. Method of obtaining food
4. System of government
5. Method of passing on skills and knowledge,
6. Religious/ spiritual tradition and/ or philosophy.

Question 20

Define Culture

Answer 20

The major way in which human beings adapt to their environment and give meaning to their lives