The culture concept, ethnography, fieldwork methods, and cultural relativism from an intro cultural anthropology course.
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- What is culture in anthropological terms?
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The shared, learned, and transmitted beliefs, values, practices, and material objects of a group- Why is culture considered learned rather than innate?
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It is acquired through enculturation and socialization within a group, not determined by biology or instinct- What does it mean that culture is shared?
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Culture is held in common by members of a group who participate in and transmit it to one another- How is culture transmitted between generations?
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Through socialization, enculturation, and education as elders pass it to younger members- Define cultural relativism
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Understanding a culture on its own terms without judging it by the standards of another culture- What is ethnocentrism?
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The tendency to view one's own culture as the standard and judge other cultures as inferior or strange- Define ethnography
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A detailed descriptive study of the culture of a specific group based on fieldwork observation- What is participant observation?
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Living among the people being studied, participating in daily activities while systematically observing- Who is a key informant in fieldwork?
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A knowledgeable community member who provides detailed information and insights to the ethnographer- How long does ethnographic fieldwork typically last?
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Usually one to two years minimum to achieve deep understanding of a culture- What are fieldnotes?
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Detailed written records an ethnographer keeps during fieldwork documenting observations, conversations, and reflections- What is reflexivity in anthropological research?
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Conscious reflection on how the researcher's own background and presence affects the research findings- Distinguish etic from emic perspective
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Etic is outside, objective analysis by the researcher; emic is insider understanding of how people view their own culture- What is culture shock?
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Disorientation and stress experienced when first encountering an unfamiliar culture during fieldwork- How does language relate to culture?
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Language embodies and reflects cultural values, worldviews, and categories of meaning unique to each culture
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