Cultural Anthropology: A Concise Introduction

Preface

Chapter 1 Introduction to Anthropology

Defining Culture and Its Attributes

Definitions

Attributes of Culture

Culture is learned

Culture is based on symbolism

Culture is shared

Culture is patterned or integrated

Culture is generally adaptive

Conclusion

Chapter 2 Anthropological Methods

Introduction

Principles of Anthropological Method

Holism

Cross-Cultural Comparison

Cultural Relativism

Cultural Universalism

Anthropological Research Techniques

Basics of Research Techniques and Methods

Research and the Ethnographer

Basics of Scientific Methodology

Evaluating Hypotheses: Lett’s Six-Way Test

Falsifiability

Logic

Comprehensiveness

Honesty

Replicability

Sufficiency

Conclusion

Chapter 3 Human Evolution: Biological and Cultural

Introduction

Taxonomy

A Few Principles of Taxonomy

From Phylum to Class

Order: Primata

Anthropoidea to Homo Sapiens

Mechanisms of Evolution

Genetics

Cell Division

Genotype and Phenotype

Mutation

Natural Selection

Pongid-Hominid Comparative Anatomy

Human Brain and Braincase

Facial and Dental Anatomy

Speech Anatomy

Hand and Arms

Bipedalism, Quadrupedalism, and the Postcranial Skeleton

Early Hominids: The Way We Were

Late Hominids and Their Tools: What We Became

Homo Habilis and the Oldowan Tradition

Flintknapping

Oldowan Tradition

Homo Erectus and the Acheulean Tradition

Acheulean Tradition

Homo Heidelbergensis and the Levallois Tradition

Levallois Tradition

Neanderthals and the Mousterian

Mousterian Tradition

Language

Modern Homo Sapiens and Their Culture

Upper Paleolithic and Beyond

Migration of Modern Homo Sapiens

Race and Polytypic Variation

Reprise and Conclusion

Chapter 4 Anthropological Linguistics: Descriptive Linguistics

Introduction

Symbols and Signals/Signs

The Nature of Descriptive Linguistics

Structural Duality: The Core of Descriptive Linguistics

Phonetics

Articulatory Phonetics: Anatomy of the Vocal Tract

Articulatory Phonetics: Describing the Sounds of Speech

Phonology

Phonemes: Definition and Identification

Identifying Allophones

One Language’s Allophone Is Another’s Phoneme

Phonemes: Structural Duality I

Morphology and Syntax

Morphemes and Morphology

Phrases, Sentences, and Syntax

Morphemes and Syntax: Structural Duality II

Lexemes and Meaning

Universal and Generative Grammar

Conclusion

Chapter 5 Anthropological Linguistics: Language and Culture

Communication Systems: Cross-Species Comparison

Defining Communication

Three Types of Animal Communication

Stickleback Courtship

Bee Dance

Gibbon Calls

Human and Nonhuman Communication

Arbitrariness

Productivity

Displacement

Interchangeability

Cultural Transmission

Specialization

Structural Duality

Kinesics, Paralanguage, and Other Signals

Kinesics and Related Motions

Paralanguage

Language and Culture

Ethnolinguistics

Sociolinguistics

Kinship

Gender

Dialects

Code Switching

Historical Linguistics

Concepts of Historical Linguistics

Glottochronology

Conclusion

Chapter 6 Subsistence Systems and Material Culture

Making a Living Cross-Culturally: An Introduction

Foraging or Hunting and Gathering

Simple Foraging

Complex Foraging

Food Production

Horticulture

Tree Cultivation

Slash-and-Burn Cultivation

Tropical Cultivation in Amazonia

Ecology of Tropical Rainforests

Features of Tropical Rainforests

Slash-and-Burn Cultivation Primary Forest in Microcosm?

Pastoralism

Equestrian Hunting

Intensive Cultivation

Intensive Cultivation: Common Attributes

Formation of Intensive Cultivation: Some Explanations

Intensive Cultivation Technologies

Conclusion

Chapter 7 Principles of Kinship and Descent

Introduction

Why Kinship?

Constants of Kinship

Biological Constants

Psychological and Social Constants

Overview of Sex, Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Rules of Descent

Kinship as a Social Reckoning of Biological Fact

Mechanics of Kinship Analysis

Defining Rules of Descent

Bilateral Descent

Unilineal Descent

Patrilineal Descent

Matrilineal Descent

Double Unilineal Descent

Conclusion

Chapter 8 Sex and Gender

Introduction

Defining Sex and Gender

Sexual Behavior and Control

Incest Tabu

Incest Tabu and Exogamy

Explanations of Incest Tabus

Inbreeding

Childhood-Familiarity

Sexual Competition

Gender Roles and Differences

Gender Division of Labor

How Tasks are Divided

Explaining Gender Division of Labor

Relative Strength

Compatibility with Child Care

Economy of Effort

Male Expendability

Gender Relations

The Status of Women

Homosexual and Transvestite Behavior

Conclusion

Chapter 9 Marriage and Family Formation

Introduction

Marriage: Toward a Definition 1

Notes and Queries Definition

Sambandham and the Nayar: Stretching the Definition

Toward A Gender-Neutral Definition

Other Marriage Arrangements

Functions of Marriage and the Family

Marriage Types and Family Formation

Postmarital Residence

Family and Households

Monogamous and Polygamous Family Households

Joint Families

Extended Families

Patrilocal Extended Family Households

Matrilocal Extended Family Households

Avunculocal Extended Family Households

Ambilocal Extended Family Households

Neolocal Residence and Extended Families

Other Family Types

Divorce

Conclusion

Chapter 10 Descent Groups, Marriage Alliances, and Kinship Terminology

Introduction

Descent Groups: An Overview

A Scenario

Descent Groups: Definitions

Unilineal Descent Groups

Some Definitions

Segmentation and the Hierarchy of Unilineal Groups

Segmentation: Patrilineal versus Matrilineal Groups

The Uses of Unilineal Descent Groups

Dispersed Descent Groups

Corporate Descent Groups

Groups Based on Bilateral Descent

Ambilineal or Cognatic Descent Groups

Kindreds

Sociocentric and Egocentric Groups

Other Descent Groups

Marriage and Exchange

Bride Service and Bridewealth

Dowries

Cousin Marriage

Patrilateral Parallel-Cousin Marriage

Varieties of Cross-Cousin Marriage

Kinship Terminology

Principles of Classification

Cousin Terminology

Conclusion

Chapter 11 Economic Anthropology

Introduction

Economy and Society

Property

Division of Labor

Distribution and Exchange

The Gift and Its Obligations

Reciprocity and Its Variations

General Reciprocity

Balanced Reciprocity

Redistribution

Market

Conclusion

Chapter 12 Political and Legal Anthropology: Egalitarian Societies

Introduction

Political Concepts

Levels of Sociocultural Integration

Egalitarian Societies

Band Level of Integration

Band-Level Law

Band-Level Warfare

Tribal Level of Integration

Kin-Based Systems of Integration

Bilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage

Segmentary Lineages

Nonkin Systems of Integration

Age Grades and Age Sets

Bachelor Associations and Men’s Houses

Tribal Law

Guilt or Innocence: Oaths and Ordeals

Negotiation and Mediation

Tribal Warfare

Conclusion

Chapter 13 Political and Legal Anthropology: Ranked and Stratified Societies

Introduction

Ranked Societies and Chiefdoms

Ranked Societies

Chiefdoms

Kin-Based Integrative Mechanisms: Conical Clans

Kin-Based Mechanisms: Matrilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage

Other Marriage Forms

Non-Kin Integrative Mechanisms: Associations

Poro and Sande Secret Societies

Stratified Societies

Caste Systems

State Level of Integration

State and Nation

Formation of States

The State and Peasantry

The State and the Landless

Law and Order

Warfare

Stability and Duration of States

ISIS or the Islamic State: A State in Formation?

Administrative Apparatus and Functions

Decline or a Change in Strategy?

Life under ISIS: Case Studies

Recent Updates

Conclusion

Chapter 14 Psychology and Culture

Introduction

Elements of Personality

Enculturation

Language Acquisition

Cognitive Development

Dependence and Independence Training

Personality and Culture: Genetic and Environmental Models

Cultural Determinants

Biological and Genetic Explanations

Comparative Cognition and Culture

Culture and Personality

Mental Disorders

Conclusion

Chapter 15 Anthropology of the Supernatural

Introduction

Defining the Supernatural

World View and the Supernatural

Denizens of the Supernatural

Coexistence or No Existence: Gods and the Spirits

Practitioners of the Supernatural

The Supernatural: Some Case Studies

Dreamtime

Hinduism and the Balinese

Islam

Explaining the Supernatural

Revitalization Movements

Conclusion

Chapter 16 Globalization and Sociocultural Change

Introduction

Globalization and Its Discontents

Global Level of Integration

Transnational Corporations

Military Reinforcement: A System of Bases

Economic and Legal Mechanisms

Environmental Consequences of Globalism

Environmental Pollution

Overpopulation

Peak Oil

Globalization: Local and Regional Effects

From Peasant to Proletarian: The Case of Guatemalan Mayan

Colonization and Colonialism

Liberal Reforms

To the Neoliberal Present

Applied Anthropology: Traditional Approaches

From Unipolarity to Multipolarity?

Newly Industrializing Countries

Recent Alternative Global Movements

The Middle East

Latin America

Recent Compromises and Reversals of Post-2000 Developments

Middle East: From Arab Sprint to Arab Catastrophe

Latin America: Some Dubious Outcomes

Local and Regional Initiatives

The Vicos Project: An Example From Applied Anthropology

The Factory Recovery Movement in Argentina

A Study in Dystropia: The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq

Conclusion

Epilogue

Topical Glossary on Anthropology

Alpha Glossary on Anthroplogy

Kinship Diagrams

Bibliography

Index