Culture

A learned, shared, symbolic, integrated, and dynamic system of beliefs, values, and behaviors transmitted socially rather than biologically.

REVEL Example of Culture:

Children learning language, manners, dress codes, and social expectations from family and school shows that culture is learned, not inherited.

Characteristics of Culture

Culture is learned, shared, symbolic, integrated, dynamic, and adaptive.

REVEL Example of Characteristics of Culture:

Language functioning as a shared symbol system that gives meaning to communication demonstrates that culture is symbolic and shared.

Cultural Relativism

Understanding another culture according to its own values and standards rather than judging it by your own.

REVEL Example of Cultural Relativism:

A ritual practice that seems unusual to outsiders but holds spiritual and social meaning within that society demonstrates interpreting behavior in cultural context.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one’s own culture is superior and using it to judge other cultures.

Lecture Example of Ethnocentrism:

Referring to non-industrial societies as “primitive” because they lack Western technology demonstrates judging by one’s own standards.

Ethnography

A detailed written description of a culture based on immersive fieldwork.

REVEL Example of Ethnography:

An anthropologist living for an extended period in a community and documenting daily routines, rituals, and economic systems demonstrates ethnography.

Fieldwork

Long-term immersive research conducted within a community.

REVEL Example of Fieldwork:

Spending months or years participating in daily life within a society demonstrates fieldwork.

Participant Observation

A research method where anthropologists actively participate in daily activities while observing cultural life.

REVEL Example of Participant Observation:

Eating meals with families and attending ceremonies while collecting research data demonstrates participant observation.

Emic

The insider’s perspective of a culture based on how members understand their own beliefs and behaviors.

REVEL Example of Emic:

Community members explaining the meaning of their own rituals demonstrates the emic perspective.

Etic

The outsider’s analytical perspective used by researchers to compare cultural patterns.

REVEL Example of Etic:

An anthropologist comparing economic systems across societies demonstrates the etic perspective.

Historical Particularism

The idea that each culture develops uniquely based on its specific historical experiences.

REVEL Example of Historical Particularism:

Cultural traditions shaped by unique historical events in a society demonstrate historical particularism.

Functionalism

The theory that cultural institutions exist to fulfill human needs and maintain social stability.

REVEL Example of Functionalism:

The family providing care and education systems teaching social skills demonstrates institutions serving social functions.

Cultural Materialism

The theory that material conditions such as environment and economy shape cultural beliefs and practices.

REVEL Example of Cultural Materialism:

Environmental scarcity shaping survival-based lifestyles demonstrates material conditions influencing culture.

Structuralism

The theory that underlying mental patterns and binary oppositions shape culture.

REVEL Example of Structuralism:

Cultural classifications like good vs evil or male vs female demonstrate structuralist thinking.

Agency

The ability of individuals to make choices within social constraints.

Lecture Example of Agency:

Individuals resisting or adapting traditional gender expectations demonstrates agency.

Macroculture

A large-scale cultural system shared by a broad population.

REVEL Example of Macroculture:

National laws and shared societal values shaping behavior demonstrate macroculture.

Microculture

A smaller group within a larger society that shares distinct cultural traits.

REVEL Example of Microculture:

Religious communities or student groups within a nation demonstrate microculture.

Armchair Anthropology

Early anthropological research conducted without direct fieldwork.

REVEL Example of Armchair Anthropology:

Studying cultures through secondhand reports rather than direct immersion demonstrates armchair anthropology.

Culture Shock

Emotional and psychological stress experienced when adjusting to a new culture.

REVEL Example of Culture Shock:

Feeling overwhelmed by unfamiliar language and customs during immersion demonstrates culture shock.

Hawthorne Effect

The tendency for people to change their behavior when they know they are being observed.

Lecture Example of Hawthorne Effect:

Research participants acting differently because they know they are being studied demonstrates the Hawthorne Effect.

Deductive Approach

Starting with a theory and testing it through research.

REVEL Example of Deductive Approach:

Designing a study to test an existing hypothesis demonstrates deductive reasoning.

Inductive Approach

Building theory from observed data.

REVEL Example of Inductive Approach:

Observing patterns in data and forming a new theory demonstrates inductive reasoning.

Qualitative Method

Research based on non-numerical data such as interviews and observation.

REVEL Example of Qualitative Method:

Collecting life histories and conducting open-ended interviews demonstrates qualitative research.

Quantitative Method

Research based on numerical data and statistical analysis.

REVEL Example of Quantitative Method:

Using surveys and census data to measure trends demonstrates quantitative research.

Foraging

A mode of livelihood based on hunting and gathering.

REVEL Example of Foraging:

Seasonal movement following animal migration demonstrates foraging.

Horticulture

Small-scale farming using simple tools.

REVEL Example of Horticulture:

Slash-and-burn farming on small plots demonstrates horticulture.

Pastoralism

A livelihood system centered on herding domesticated animals.

REVEL Example of Pastoralism:

Moving livestock to access grazing land demonstrates pastoralism.

Agriculture

Large-scale farming with permanent fields and food surplus.

REVEL Example of Agriculture:

Food surplus leading to social stratification demonstrates agriculture.

Industrialism

An economic system based on factory production and wage labor.

Lecture Example of Industrialism:

Working wage-based factory jobs separate from home life demonstrates industrialism.

Balanced Exchange

A fair trade where both parties receive roughly equal value.

REVEL Example of Balanced Exchange:

Trading similar-value goods demonstrates balanced exchange.

Unbalanced Exchange

A trade in which one party benefits more than the other.

REVEL Example of Unbalanced Exchange:

Exploitative trade relationships demonstrate unbalanced exchange.

Medical Pluralism

The use of multiple medical systems within one society.

REVEL Example of Medical Pluralism:

Using hospital treatment alongside herbal or spiritual healing demonstrates medical pluralism.

Illness vs Disease

Disease is the biological condition, while illness is the cultural and personal experience of that condition.

REVEL Example of Illness vs Disease:

A diagnosis affecting identity and social roles demonstrates the difference between illness and disease.

Interpretive Approach

A medical anthropology approach focusing on the cultural meaning of illness.

REVEL Example of Interpretive Approach:

Understanding how suffering is shaped by cultural beliefs demonstrates the interpretive approach.

Evolutionary-Ecological Approach

A medical approach linking environment and disease patterns.

REVEL Example of Evolutionary-Ecological Approach:

Climate influencing disease spread demonstrates environmental impacts on health.