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Anthroplogy Final Exam
NPCC Spring Semester Final
82
Anthropology
Undergraduate 4
05/08/2013

Additional Anthropology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

Law of Controlled Causation

(Card 1)

Definition
Intially, humans didn't see that they controlled anything. All credit was given to supernatural entities. Slowly, humans began to figure out how to manipulate their environment themselves. Once humans learn this, they stop asking for supernatural aid. As people learn, reliance on religion is often diminsihed.
Term
Animals communicate through what form of system?
Definition
A call system (closed calls)
Term

True Or False?

Only humans have the capability to produce language?

Definition
True
Term
Language is a system of _________.
Definition
Symbols
Term
What are some "simple sound" examples of phonemes?
Definition
"A", "E", "ay", "ee", "oo"
Term
Sounds that have been combined form words are called what?
Definition
Morphemes
Term

True or False?

Strings of phonemes are called morphemes.

Definition
True.
Term
Descriptive Linguistics
Definition
The study of the structure of language in general and of the specific variations among languages.
Term
Kin Selection
Definition
Promoting the passing of one's genes by aiding the survival or reproduction of one's close kin.
Term
Sociobiology
Definition
The scientific study that examines evolutionary explanations for social behaviors within species. Also called evolutionary psychology or behavioral ecology.
Term

True or False?

An infinite variety of phonemes and morphemes are available.

Definition
True.
Term
Language
Definition
Human communication by means of shared symbols in the form of sounds or representation of sounds.
Term
The Fore
Definition

-Live in eastern half of Papua New  Guinea

-Hunters, sweet potato and pig farmers

-The disease Kuru is common among Fore women

Term
Fore Cannabalism
Definition

-Practiced for ritual and nutritive reasons

-They seek to acquire "fertilizing" effect from the dead  bodies.

-Men get first dibs on game and pork, so women get protein from bits of deceased people.

Term
Diffusionism
Definition
An outdated concept of cultural evolution that claims major cultural advances were made by one or a few societies and spread to other societies. In fact, while diffusion occurs, all people are innovative within their own cultures and resources.
Term
Acculturation
Definition
Rapid diffusion of cultural items either by choice of the recieving society or by force of a more dominant society. Often as a result of military conquest.
Term
Phoneme
Definition
A unit of sound in a language. Symbolic syllables.
Term

Ritual Warfare 

 

Definition
Motivated by the placation of ghosts among the Dani people. Ghost of person slain in warfare demands revenge. This is a self-perpetuating cycle. There is concern that only one life will be taken in revenge.Sometimes a group will result in ambush, and kill a woman or child.
Term

Law of Controlled Causation

(Card 2)

Definition
An inverse relationship between knowledge and religion
Term
Ecclesiae
Definition

Religious organization that claims to include most or all members of a society and is recognized as the national or official religion.

Example: Church of England

Term
Duality of Patterning
Definition

Here, the two levels of human language: units of sound and units of meaning that are combined to create words.

Units of sound: Phonemes

Units of meaning: Morphemes

Term

True or False?

Religious beliefs tend to affect people's behavior.

Definition
True.
Term
Revolution
Definition
Rapid and extensive culture change generated from within a society.
Term
Name the four types of religion.
Definition

1.) Ecclesiae

2.)Denomination

3.)Sect

4.) Cult

Term
Syntax
Definition
Rules of word arrangement and order in a language. Parts of speech, etc.
Term
Thought to ponder:
Definition
Is human intelligence adaptive, for the most part? Will the changes we make be good in the long run?
Term
Stimulus Diffusion
Definition

When knowledge of a cultural trait in another society the invention of a similiar trait.

Examples: American Revolution begat the French Revolution, Sequoia, a Cherokee, made an alphabet inspired by the English alphabet.

Term
Productivity
Definition
Here, the ability of human languages to generate limitless numbers of meanings.
Term
Unilinear Evolutionism
Definition
An outdated concept of cultural evolution that claims all societies pass through the same series of stages, from savagery to civilization. Basically, that all socieites will go on same path over time, regardless of any variable factors
Term
The Dani
Definition

-Polygynists

-Use ritual ghost warfare

-Live on sweet potatoes and pigs

-Live in West Papua, now Indonesia

Term
Spongiform encephalopathy
Definition
Called Kuru by Fore people. 100% fatal. Degenerative disease of central nervous system. Symptoms include slurred speech, unusual behavior, complete motor incapacity, and death. Passed through cannabalism, mostly among Fore women.
Term
Not only do humans have culture, we can __________ culture.
Definition
Communicate
Term

True or False?

Homo erectus was believed to be the first hominid with the power of speech.

Definition
True.
Term
Monotheism
Definition
One main god with other supernatural beings (angels, demons, ghosts, devils, etc.)
Term
Diffusion
Definition
Movement of ideas from culture to culture
Term
Endocannibalism
Definition
The eating of human flesh from members of one's own society.
Term
Altruism
Definition
Acting to benefit others while disregarding one's own welfare
Term
Biological Determinism
Definition
The idea that human behaviors have a biological basis with minimal influence from culture.
Term
What two factors of cultural change are most typically altering  culture?
Definition
Invention and Diffusion
Term

Law of Controlled Causation 

(Card 3)

Definition

A secularized view:

When you control how things happen, you cause things yourself.

Term
Historical Particularism
Definition
Culture is affected by different events in different places. Each society can only be understood in reference to it's particular history.
Term
Once a person learns a language system, it can change their__________.
Definition
Thought processes
Term
Witchcraft
Definition
Traditionally, evil acts performed by individuals who posess inherent powers
Term
Many societies are run by their __________ beliefs.
Definition
Religious
Term
Cultural Determinism
Definition
The idea that human behaviors are almost totally the result of learned cultural information, with few or no instincitve responses.
Term
Priests
Definition
A full-time, trained religious specialist who can interpret the supernatural and petition the supernatural on behalf of humans.
Term
What is an exmaple of artificial communication?
Definition
Hand signs, sign language, body language & gestures
Term
Scientific belief is based solely on ____________.
Definition
Proven evidence
Term
What animals (besides humans) have been known to mourn after the deaths of another?
Definition
Elephants, chimps
Term
Sect
Definition
Relatively small religious group that has broken away from some other religious organization to renew what it considers to be the original vision of the faith. Example: The Amish
Term
Thoughts to Ponder:
Definition

-Is language the essence of who we are as humans?

-Do elements like culture and language shape our perception of the world?

Term
Another name for phonemes might be _____________.
Definition
Syllables
Term
Another word for morphemes might be _________.
Definition
Words
Term
Briefly describe the development of Christianity.
Definition
A branch of Judaism centered around Jesus Christ. Has many various denominations around the world.
Term
Ethnosemantics
Definition
The study of the meanings of words, especially as they relate to folk taxonomies.
Term
Cognates
Definition
Words that are similiar in two or more languages as a result of common descent.
Term
Morpheme
Definition
A unit of meaning in a language
Term
Is our behavior based on practical measures or on cultural symbolism?
Definition
Our behavior is both practical AND symbolic.
Term
Why are supernatural beliefs universal?
Definition
We are the only animal that knows the inevitability of death. Most of us fear death,and religion addresses this issue.
Term
Discovery
Definition
The realization and understanding of a set of relationships. An addition to knowledge. Can be concrete or abstract.
Term

True or False?

Religion can be studied scientifically.

Definition
False
Term
Most human groups have a _________.
Definition
Religion
Term
Syncretism
Definition
The synthesis of existing religious beliefs and practices with new ones introduced from the outside. Example: Voodoo
Term
Denomination
Definition
Large, organized religion that is not officially linked to the state or government
Term
Cult
Definition

Small, secretive religious group that represents either a new religion or a major innovation of an existing faith

Example: Scientology

Term
Arbitrary
Definition
Here, the fact that the features ofhuman languages bear no direct relationship to their meanings, but are agreed-upon symbols
Term
Hutterites
Definition

-A branch of the Anabaptists

-Due to persecution, they began to live apart from common society in self-sufficient communities.

-Lives with "All things common."

-Economic and social communism

Term
Holiness Churches
Definition

-It's followers are called Holy Ghost People.

-Early 20th Century. Found in Tennessee, Appalacchia, and Southeast

-Speak in tongues, handle snakes, drink poison. Don't recieve medical treatment. Tests of faith.

-No formal heirarchy, all are equal.

-Most of these people are very poor.

Term
Religion
Definition
A system of ideas and rules for behavior-based or supernatural explanations.
Term
Animism
Definition
The belief in the possesion of supernatural powers by people, animals, places, or objects
Term
Displacement
Definition
The ability to communicate about things and ideas not immediate in space or time
Term
Religion provides ______________ for things we can't scientifically know.
Definition
explanation
Term
Magic
Definition
The use of ritual and paraphernalia to compel or manipulate the supernatural to act in desired ways
Term
Shaman
Definition
A part-time, supernaturally chosen religious specialist who can manipulate the supernatural
Term
Sorcery
Definition
Magical acts with evil intent
Term
Invention
Definition
Creation of new artifacts (concrete items. New creations. The application of discovered knowledge.
Term
Most early ________ originated in the early stages of agricultural development.
Definition
Monotheism
Term

Law of Controlled Causation 

(Card 2)

Definition

-An inverse relationship between knowledge and religion.

-As science grew, the Church lost alot of it's power over governments. (Not necessarily over people, though.)

Term
How can anthropology be used?
Definition

-Can be useful for understanding the cultural worlds around us.

-Education

-Archaeology

-Linguistics

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