What is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of what makes us human. Anthropologists take a
broad approach to understanding the many different aspects of the human
experience, which we call holism. They consider the past, through
archaeology, to see how human groups lived hundreds or thousands of years
ago and what was important to them. They consider what makes up our
biological bodies and genetics, as well as our bones, diet, and health.
Anthropologists also compare humans with other animals (most often, other
primates like monkeys and chimpanzees) to see what we have in common
with them and what makes us unique. Even though nearly all humans need
the same things to survive, like food, water, and companionship, the ways
people meet these needs can be very different. For example, everyone
needs to eat, but people eat different foods and get food in different ways.
So anthropologists look at how different groups of people get food, prepare
it, and share it. World hunger is not a problem of production but social
barriers to distribution, and that Amartya Sen won a Nobel Prize for showing
this was the case for all of the 20th century’s famines. Anthropologists also
try to understand how people interact in social relationships (for example
with families and friends). They look at the different ways people dress and
communicate in different societies. Anthropologists sometimes use these
comparisons to understand their own society. Many anthropologists work in
their own societies looking at economics, health, education, law, and policy
(to name just a few topics). When trying to understand these complex
issues, they keep in mind what they know about biology, culture, types of
communication, and how humans lived in the past.
The Four Subfields
American anthropology is generally divided into four subfields. Each of the
subfields teaches distinctive skills. However, the subfields also have a
number of similarities. For example, each subfield applies theories, employs
systematic research methodologies, formulates and tests hypotheses, and
develops extensive sets of data.
1. Archaeology
Archaeologists study human culture by analyzing the objects people have
made. They carefully remove from the ground such things as pottery and
tools, and they map the locations of houses, trash pits, and burials in order
to learn about the daily lives of a people. They also analyze human bones
and teeth to gain information on a people’s diet and the diseases they
suffered. Archaeologists collect the remains of plants, animals, and soils
from the places where people have lived in order to understand how people
used and changed their natural environments. The time range for
archaeological research begins with the earliest human ancestors millions of
years ago and extends all the way up to the present day. Like other areas of
anthropology, archaeologists are concerned with explaining differences and
similarities in human societies across space and time.
2. Biological Anthropology
Biological anthropologists seek to understand how humans adapt to different
environments, what causes disease and early death, and how humans
evolved from other animals. To do this, they study humans (living and
dead), other primates such as monkeys and apes, and human ancestors
(fossils). They are also interested in how biology and culture work together
to shape our lives. They are interested in explaining the similarities and
differences that are found among humans across the world. Through this
work, biological anthropologists have shown that, while humans do vary in
their biology and behavior, they are more similar to one another than
different.
3. Cultural Anthropology
Sociocultural anthropologists explore how people in different places live and
understand the world around them. They want to know what people think is
important and the rules they make about how they should interact with one
another. Even within one country or society, people may disagree about how
they should speak, dress, eat, or treat others. Anthropologists want to listen
to all voices and viewpoints in order to understand how societies vary and
what they have in common. Sociocultural anthropologists often find that the
best way to learn about diverse peoples and cultures is to spend time living
among them. They try to understand the perspectives, practices, and social
organization of other groups whose values and lifeways may be very
different from their own. The knowledge they gain can enrich human
understanding on a broader level.
4. Linguistic Anthropology
Linguistic anthropologists study the many ways people communicate across
the globe. They are interested in how language is linked to how we see the
world and how we relate to each other. This can mean looking at how
language works in all its different forms, and how it changes over time. It
also means looking at what we believe about language and communication,
and how we use language in our lives. This includes the ways we use
language to build and share meaning, to form or change identities, and to
make or change relations of power. For linguistic anthropologists, language
and communication are keys to how we make society and culture.
Applied and Practicing Anthropology
Applied or practicing anthropologists are an important part of anthropology.
Each of the four subfields of anthropology can be applied. Applied
anthropologists work to solve real world problems by using anthropological
methods and ideas. For example, they may work in local communities
helping to solve problems related to health, education or the environment.
They might also work for museums or national or state parks helping to
interpret history. They might work for local, state or federal governments or
for non-profit organizations. Others may work for businesses, like retail
stores or software and technology companies, to learn more about how
people use products or technology in their daily lives. Some work in the USA
while others work internationally. Jobs for applied anthropologists have
shown strong growth in the recent past with more and more opportunities
becoming available as demand grows for their valuable skill sets. Visit
the Careers page to learn more.
Anthropology Around the World
While anthropologists devote much of their attention to what human groups
share across time and space, they also study how these groups are different.
Just as there is diversity in the ways people physically adapt to their
environment, build and organize societies, and communicate, there are also
many ways to do anthropology. Unique approaches to anthropology
developed in many countries around the world. For example, in some
countries the four-field approach is not as strong as it is in others.
Anthropologists from across the globe work together through international
organizations to try and understand more about our lives as humans.
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