Deculturation
Deculturation, a term often mistaken for acculturation, refers to the process where a person, group, or society loses their original culture due to oppression, colonization, or other factors that lead to cultural disruption.
Culture
Emic and Etic
The concepts of Emic and Etic are fundamental in the field of anthropology, social science, and psychology. These terms help researchers in understanding, interpreting, and describing cultures or groups. Essentially, they define two types of viewpoints: an insider's perspective (Emic) and an outsider's perspective (Etic).
Ways of Acquiring Spouse
The ways of acquiring a spouse are numerous and deeply rooted in cultural, economic, and social contexts. Understanding these practices helps anthropologists and sociologists comprehend the complex nature of human societies and their evolving norms and traditions.
Honor Killing
Honor killings, a deeply disturbing cultural phenomenon, are murders committed under the pretext of preserving the perceived honor of a family or community. They occur when the victim, usually a female, is believed to have brought
Cultural Evolution
Cultural evolution is a concept that attempts to explain the way societies develop over time, emphasizing how cultural practices, ideas, and technologies change and spread across generations. This understanding of cultural evolution provides a lens through which we can comprehend the broad outlines of prehistoric cultures.
Cultural Materialism
Cultural Materialism, a theoretical framework originally coined by anthropologist Marvin Harris, provides an insightful perspective for examining socio-cultural phenomena. As a research strategy, it uses the material conditions of life, specifically the production and reproduction of life, to illuminate cultural practices and beliefs.
Ethnic Group
An ethnic group represents a category of people who identify with each other, usually on the basis of presumed similarities such as common ancestry, language, history, society, culture or nation. Ethnicity is often an inherited status, but it can also be adopted, shed, and renegotiated over time.
Interaction
Interaction, as a fundamental aspect of human behavior, has been a subject of interest in anthropology for decades. It's the essence of society's fabric, maintaining its integrity and enabling continuous evolution.
Individualism
Individualism, a concept rooted in social philosophy, centers on the moral worth of an individual as an independent entity. It prioritizes personal freedom, self-reliance, and autonomy, as opposed to collective thinking and behavior.
Cognition
Cognition is the suite of processes that lead to acquisition and understanding of knowledge. It involves several mental activities like learning, remembering, problem-solving, and perception. It is an essential aspect of our intelligence and conscious thought.
Stereotypes
Stereotypes, widely held simplified and generalized perceptions or images of a particular type of person or thing, play a significant role in how individuals perceive and interact with the world around them. From the viewpoint of cultural anthropology, stereotypes not only shape social interactions but also influence societal structures and cultural norms.
Alterity
Alterity, from the Latin 'alteritas', denotes the state of being 'other' or 'different'. The term is used predominantly in philosophical and cultural contexts to explore the concepts of diversity, difference, and identity. It is fundamental to any process that seeks to understand the self and the other and