Cultural anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology (pronounced: /ˈkʌltʃərəl ænθrəˈpɒlədʒi/) is a branch of Anthropology that studies human societies and cultures and their development. The term is derived from the Greek words anthropos (human) and logia (study).
Definition
Cultural Anthropology is the scientific study of human cultures, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and other domains of social and cognitive organization. This field is primarily concerned with the study of difference and change in human societies.
History
The development of Cultural Anthropology can be traced back to the works of Franz Boas and Bronislaw Malinowski in the early 20th century. They emphasized the importance of analyzing culture within its historical and environmental context, with a particular focus on the role of symbols and meaning in human life.
Subfields
Cultural Anthropology has several subfields, including:
- Ethnography: The systematic study of people and cultures, designed to explore cultural phenomena where the researcher observes society from the point of view of the subject of the study.
- Ethnology: The comparative study of different cultures, which focuses on the systematic comparison of human societies.
- Social Anthropology: The study of patterns of behaviour in human societies and cultures.
Related Terms
- Culture: The social behavior and norms found in human societies and the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.
- Society: A group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
- Human Behavior: The range of behaviors exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cultural anthropology
- Wikipedia's article - Cultural anthropology
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