Social - Sci 076257 File2of8 PDF
Social - Sci 076257 File2of8 PDF
Social - Sci 076257 File2of8 PDF
ISBN-10: 007105818-4
SOCIAL SCIENCE
An Introduction
Senior Author
Jan Haskings-Winner
Instructional Leader
Authors
Rachel Collishaw
Glebe Collegiate Institute
Sandra Kritzer
Centre Wellington District High School
Patricia Warecki
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
B McGraw-Hill
D Ryerson
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PEDAGOGICAL REVIEWERS
iii
1-
ACCURACY REVIEWERS
Dr. Mike Atkinson Dr. Kathryn Denning Dr. Bonnie Haaland
Associate Professor of Psychology Associate Professor Professor
University of Western Ontario Department of Anthropology Kwantlen Polytechnic University
London, ON York University, Toronto, ON Surrey, BC
STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS
McGraw-Hill Ryerson and the authors thank the students from Centre
Wellington District High School in Fergus and Glebe Collegiate Institute
in Ottawa for their contributions to this resource.
DEDICATIONS
Jan Haskings-Winner
For Ray Winner, who provides encouragement and unconditional love. For my
family and friends-who believe all things are possible with perseverance!
Rachel Collishaw
To my parents for the gift of travel, the space, meals, and conversations.
To Craig for your faith, love, and support, and to my children, Beatrix and
Cole. May the gift of culture inspire you to seek your own adventures.
Sandra Kritzer
Thank you to Gayle and Ken Kritzer for their encouragement and culinary
support throughout this project, and to Linda Mowatt for her years of mentorship.
Patricia Warecki
To Marc, my pedagogical godfather. For Emma, Jacob, and Evelyn, my darling
children who inspire me to try new things everyday and for my husband John
whose love, patience, and encouragement continue to see me through all of
life's adventures.
iv
A Tour of Your Textbook xii Where Do Humans Come From? 39
Introduction 2 When Did Humans Walk Upright? 40
Cultural Anthropology 18
Human Variation 49
The Language of Social Science: Introducing Why Are Humans Different from One Another? 49
Social Sciences 19
D o Human Subgroups Exist? 49
Research Tools of Cultural Anthropologists 20
Ethnology 22
Chapter 1 Review 52
How Do Ethnologists Study Culture? 22
Landmark Case Study: Richard Lee and the Research and Inquiry Skills 57
Dobe Juj'hoansi 26 Variables and Control Groups in Social Science 57
Schools of Thought in Cultural Anthropology 28 Sources in Social Science 57
Cultural Relativism 28 Quantitative and Qualitative Research 57
Section 1.2 Human Evolution and Defining Viktor Frankl (1 905-1 997) 69
Contents M H R v
False Memories in the Visual Age 73 Conflict Theory 105
Section 2.2 Psychological Approaches to Karl Marx ( 1 8 1 8-1 883) 105
Understanding Behaviour 74 Landmark Case Study: William Foote Whyte
Developmental Psychologists 74 and the Street Corner Society 106
Sigmund Freud ( 1 856-1 939) 74 Feminist Sociology 107
In Focus: Core Knowledge 75 Dorothy Smith ( 1 92 6-) 107
Jean Piaget ( 1 896-1 980) 75 Current Research 107
Erik Erikson ( 1 902-1994) 76 In Focus: M. N. Srinivas (1916-1999) 108
Leta Stetter Hollingworth ( 1 886-1 939) 78 Symbolic Interactionism 109
Harry Harlow ( 1 905-1 981 ) 79 Max Weber ( 1 864-1 920) 109
Landmark Case Study: Mary Ainsworth The Chicago School 110
(1913-1999): Infant-Mother Attachment 80 Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead,
Understanding the Brain 82 and the Looking-Glass Self lll
New Technology: Windows into the Brain 82 C. Wright Mills and Sociological Imagination 112
How the Brain Works 82 Section 3.2 Socialization and Social Development 113
In Focus: Phineas Gage 83 What is Social Behaviour? 113
Perception 84 What Influences Behaviour? 113
Controlling the Ever-Changing Brain 85 The Language of Social Sciences: Sex and Gender 114
I s Meditation the Answer? 85 Different Cultures, Different Greetings 116
Focusing Therapies 86 In the F ield: Social Worker Egerton Blackwood 117
Point/Counterpoint: How Does Internet Use Measuring Social Behaviour 118
Affect the Brain ? 87 Socialization 119
How Do We Learn Language? 88 The Categories of Socialization 119
The "Teen Brain"? 89 In Focus: Female Violence and the Murder of
Chapter 2 Review 90 Reena Virk 1 20
Abnormal Socialization 1 21
Chapter 3 What is Sociology? 92
Agents of Socialization 124
Spotlight on Sociology: Energy Drinks and
The Primary Agent of Socialization: The Family 1 24
Risky Behaviour 94
Secondary Agents of Socialization 1 25
Research and Inquiry Skills 95
Chapter 3 Review 128
Surveys 95
Assessing and Recording Sources 95
Section 3.1 Schools of Thought 96
Sociology: Past and Present 96
The Roots of Sociology 96 Chapter 4 Anthropology and M 132
vi M H R Contents
Coming of Age in Contemporary Canadian Self-concept in Western and Eastern Asian
Culture 144
Families 1 75
Alternate-Gender Identity 1 50
Attitudes of Anthropology 178
Y ir Yoront 1 55
Cultural Diffusions: Japanese Hip-Hop Culture 1 84
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis 1 56
Personal Belief Dilemmas 1 85
Body Language 1 58
Moral Dilemmas in P hysical Anthropology 188
Foraging Societies 1 59
Medical Anthropology: Goats in Malawi 1 90
Horticultural Societies 1 59
Ecological Anthropology: The Domestication
Agricultural Societies 1 60
of Wood in Haiti 1 92
Industrial Societies 1 60
Applied Policy: Improving Immigrant Services
Postindustrial Societies 1 60
in Saskatoon 193
Power of Globalization 1 63
Creating a Research Plan in Psychology 1 99
Arranged Marriage 1 70
Environmental Influences on IQ 203
Types of Marriage 1 72
Applying Our Understanding: Behavioural
In Focus: Canada's Polygamous Community: Genetics 205
Contents M H R vii
1-
Personality 207
Section 5.3 Ethical Issues in Psychology 234
Categorizing Personality 207
Introduction to Ethics in Psychology 234
Predicting Personality 208
Issues in Ethical Experimentation 235
Using Facial Patterns to Determine Personality 208
Why Experiment? 2 35
Introversion 209
The Benefits of Empirical Research 235
Perfectionism 210
Unethical Experiments 236
Birth Order 212
Landmark Case Study: Philip Zimbardo
Sex and Gender Differences 213
( 1933-) : Stanford Prison Experiment 238
The Influence of Biology 213
Ethics i n Research 240
Experiment: Gender Roles or Obedience? 21 3
Creating an Ethical Experiment 241
Neurosexism 214
Ethical Experiments on the Internet 242
Gender Identity 214
Issues in Ethical Testing 243
In Focus: A Question of Circumstance? 215
Tests of Intelligence 243
Section 5.2 Psychology and Behaviour 216
Multiple Intelligences 244
Psychological Influences on Behaviour 216
Studying the Unstudiable 245
How Does Motivation Affect Behaviour? 216
Surveys at School 246
Biological Explanations for Motivation 217
Point/Counterpoint: Gender and the Classroom 247
Cognitive Explanations: Rewards and Should We Change People Based on
Punishments 21 7
Psychological Beliefs? 248
I ntrinsic Versus Extrinsic Motivators 21 7
Left Is Not Right 248
Achievement Motivation 218
Homosexuality 248
How Does Attitude Affect Behaviour? 220
Advertisements for Children 249
How Are Attitudes Formed? 220
Memory Alteration 250
Types of Attitudes 220
Ethics and Mental Illness: Helping Tbose
Can Attitude Predict Behaviour? 221
in Need 252
Can Attitudes Be Changed? 222
Mental Illness in Prison 252
The Psychology of Marketing: How It Can
In Focus: Ashley Smith 252
Change Our Minds 223
Moving Forward: Veterans Get Help 253
Social Science in Popular Culture: Behavioural Chapter 5 Review 254
Profiling 224
viii M H R Contents
Defining New Ways to Discriminate in a The Challenges of Class in Sociology 300
Post-9/11 World 2 70 The Invasion-Succession Model 301
The Discrimination Against Obese People Demographic Studies and Sociology 301
by Doctors 2 70 Census 302
What Causes Prejudice and Discrimination? 271 The Danger of Value Judgments 304
Learned Theory 2 71 Health and Sociology 304
Competition Theory 2 71 The Sick Neighbourhood 305
Social Science in Popular Culture: The Ethics of Racial Profiling 306
Little Mosque on the Prairie 272 Point/Counterpoint: Racial Profiling 307
Frustration-Aggression Theory 2 74 Racial Profiling: An Issue of Human Rights 308
Ignorance Theory 2 74 Communication Technology and Sociology 309
Point/Counterpoint: Do Parents Have the Right V ideo Surveillance 309
to Teach Their Children Antisocial Beliefs? 2 75 Social Networking 310
Section 6.2 Sociology and Behaviour 276
Visual Sociology and YouTube 311
Social Belonging and Groups 276
Chapter 6 Review 312
In Focus: The Social Network 278
The Power and Influence of Groups 279
Collective Behaviour 280
Convergence Theory 280
The Rational Decision Theory 281
Prosocial Behaviour 281 Spotlight on Anthropology: Canada's
Crowds 283 Residential Schools 318
Mobs 283 Research and Inquiry Skills 319
In Focus: The Expressive Crowd: SARS-Stock 284 Evaluating Sources 319
Fear and Collective Behaviour 285 Section 7. 1 Understanding Cultures 320
What Is Old Is New Again 297 Race: Myths and Reality 337
Landmark Case Study: The Clark Doll Experiment Cultural Anthropology Perspective 338
(1939)/CNN Doll Experiment (2010) 298 Physical Anthropology Perspective 341
Contents M H R ix
r
Society 351
Influence of Friends and Group Environments 384
Identities 352
Conforming to Expectations 3 84
Conformity 370
Landmark Case Study: Jane Elliot: Section 9.1 Identity in Different Contexts 406
X M H R Contents
Testing Social Attitudes: Sexual Orientation 409 Appendices 448
What is Culture? 411 Appendix 1: Research and Inquiry Skills 448
Deviance 411 Appendix 2: Landmark Case Studies 450
In Focus: Richard Nesbitt: The Geography
Appendix 3: Key Theorists 453
of Thought 41 2
Glossary of Key Terms 454
Alienation 414
In Focus: Alienation and Mental Health 415 References 462
Contents M H R xi
-
Welcome to Social Science: An Introduction. The following pages provide
a brief guided tour of this textbook-and will help you understand how
Social Science: An Introduction is set up to help you complete the course
successfully. Unit 1 provides an overview of each of the three social sciences
-anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Unit 2 helps you find connections
between social science and everyday life, and Unit 3 connects sooial science to
the world and society around you .
Cover
• The cover illustrates that by
studying each discipline, you are
opening a keyhole-or window
into how each discipline views
our world.
Unit Opener
• Mini Table of Contents lists the
chapters in the unit. What is Social Science?
each discipline.
• A photograph captures the main
theme of the chapter.
• The Chapter Introduction onlines
the content that is explored within
the chapter.
Chapter Review
• End-of-chapter questions that help you to review chapter content.
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inaccurately-social science is used in popular media.
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21-UN•l·-I>So<:>ol ?
these and oth e r questions that shape h u man nature. Social science is the
organized study of people and their a ctivities and their customs in rel ation
to others. M u ch of what you hear about h u man beh aviour is really myths and
this text, you wil l ch a l l enge these myths. The reasons why individu a ls,
groups, and societies act the way they do is a ctua l ly quite complex. Using
social sciences to unde rstand the world wi l l provide you with insight and
help you question many of the ideas you may have taken for granted.
Q U ESTIONS
I
about this case. What would you have done if
sociologists i nvestigate the issue of helping others
you were one of the employees at Site!?
from different perspectives. What factors do you
think influence a person's decision to help someone 3. If you could, what questions would you ask the
in need? participants involved?
4 MHR I ntroduction
Social Science
There are many social sciences, but they are all concerned with society
and human behaviour. Social science includes anthropology, criminology,
Before You Read
Why did you take this
economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. Law and comparative
course? List all the
religions are often considered social sciences as well. Within all of these social reasons, and then try
sciences, there are many areas of study. This course will focus on anthropology, to organize the ideas
psychology, and sociology since they relate to who you are and whom you into themes.
will become. These subjects will help build an understanding of the world,
and often provide career opportunities.
Social scientists use a unique vocabulary. They use the social science anthropology:
language and images in various forms to read, write, listen, view, represent, the scientific study o f
humans, including their
and think critically about different ideas and points of view (see Figure 1-3 ) .
origins; behaviour; and
physical, social, and
Anthropology Psychology cultural development
psychology:
the scientific study of the
human mind, mental states,
and human behaviour
sociology:
the scientific study of
human social behaviour,
including individuals,
groups, and societies
Sociology
F I G U R E 1 - 5 D a n i e l Everett
doing fieldwork with the
Piraha (pronounced
Pee-da-ha) people. What
questions would you pose
to each of these men?
6 MHR Introduction
Introduction to Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humankind. The field is divided into
two areas: cultural anthropology and physical anthropology. Cultural
anthropology can be divided further into social anthropology (ethnology) ,
archaeology, and linguistic anthropology. Physical anthropology can
be divided further into paleoanthropology, forensic anthropology, and
primatology. There are many different anthropological schools of thought,
including cultural materialism and feminist anthropology, to name just a
few. This means that anthropology involves more than digging up bones
or finding out where humanity began (see Figure I-6) .
Anthropologists use reasoning to gain insight into how humans live,
think, communicate, produce, and interact with their social and physical
environments.
Studying anthropology can lead to a wide range of careers, including
social science analyst, social service agency planner, archaeological
fieldworker, exhibit assistant, cultural artifact specialist , museum worker,
research assistant, forensic anthropologist, and art conservator, among
many others.
F I G U R E 1-6 The Museum of
There are many well-known anthropologists, some of whom you
Anthropology in Vancouver
will study in later chapters. A few of them are Noam Chomsky, Charles
recently underwent a
Darwin, Jane Goodall, the Leakys, Margaret Mead, Edward Sapir, Marvin $55 m i l lion renovation. How
Harris, and Richard Less. Many anthropologists, including Jane Goodall, might studying a rtifacts such
study primates. Goodall is best known for her studies of chimpanzees as these totem poles give
in Tanzania. Examine the two photos in Figure I-7 and consider how a nthropolog ists insight into
the study of these animals fits into anthropology. humans today?
r F I G U R E 1-7 Humans a re part of a group of mammals cal led primates. This g roup
incl udes gori l l a s and chimpa nzees, among others. H ow do you think studying these
a n i m a ls can help us understand o u rselves?
List a few more careers related to anthropology. Which one interests you
most? In what ways do you think anthropologists think differently than
historians or geographers?
F I G U R E 1-9 Sports
psychology is a growing
fie l d . How m ight a sports
psychologist help a n
athlete t o i mprove h i s
o r h e r performance?
8 MHR Introduction
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology is the study of human social life, groups, and societies. It also
involves studying the behaviour of individuals and groups, as well as social
institutions. Sociologists study such areas as gerontology, politics, culture,
economy, religion, and crime. They examine organizations, social movements,
collective behaviour, social institutions, and social identities. Examine the
cartoons in Figure 1-10, and identify the sociological themes in each.
approaches.
2. Describe one situation or event from your community or the world that
relates to each of the three areas of the social sciences discussed here.
1' FIGURE 1-1 1 Social science resea rch begins with questions.
10 M H R I ntroduction
1 . Questions. Begin with questions about a topic that interests you, and has an impact on many people.
F I G U R E 1-1 2 The socia l
Your questions should have the potential to be answered through investigation. Select a focus area
science i n q u i ry model
such as anthropology, psychology, or sociology. Create a central research question.
provides steps to follow
when conducting research
to investigate a question.
2. Focus. Take notes about what you already know and research what has been previously
4. Collect data. Anthropology, psychology, and sociology use different methods to collect data,
including surveys, questionnaires, interviews, observations, and statistics. Select the methods that
5. Assemble and analyze data. Organize your data into charts, graphs, or another format
that best communicates your main ideas.
6. Stop and check. Have you collected enough data to confirm or refute your hypothesis?
If not, return to step 4.
7. Present results. Draw conclusions, identify any limitations from your research, and make
some recommendations about next steps. This is the so what part of the process.
Share your findings in a presentation, either written, oral, visual, or a combination.
8. Reflection. Reflect and evaluate your research process and results. What went well? What
What is Anthropology?
Research and Inquiry Skill Focus: Section 1 .1 Cultural Anthropology and
• Creating a Central Research Understanding Human Culture and Behaviour
Question Section 1 .2: Human Evolution and Defining
• Recording Data and Analyzing Humans
I nformation Chapter 1 Review
What is Sociology?
Research and Inquiry Skill Focus: Section 3. 1 : Schools of Thought
• Surveys Section 3.2: Socialization and Social Development
• Assessing and Recording Sources Chapter 3 Review
hy study soci a l science? Social science provides you with l ife ski l ls as
anthropol ogy, psycho logy, a n d sociology-is the study of people, their actions,
research has been i n strumental in their fie l ds. T h rough case stu d ies, classic
nthropology is the scientific study of the ori gin, the behaviour, and the
the wo rld. In this chapter, you will learn about diffe rent fie lds of anthropology
Yo u ' l l a lso learn methods for conducting anthropo logical research and l e a rn
how to fo rmu late yo u r own research qu estions and record info rmation.
• exp l a in significant iss ues in different a reas of ant h ropo logy Primatology
• exp l a i n t h e m ain research methods for cond u cting anthropol ogic a l Dian Fossey (1 932-1 985)
Paleoanthropology
Archaeology
Charles Darwin
Ruth Benedict (1 887-1948)
Noam Chomsky
Diamond Jenness
(1 886-1965)
Bronislaw Malinowski
(1 884-1 942)
W
hen American anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon
.
(1938-) (see Figure l -2) went to Venezuela in
1 969 to study the Yanomami:i (sometimes called the
Yanomami) , isolated hunter-gatherers who live in the
Amazon rainforest, he had little idea of the controversy
his research would generate among anthropologists.
Chagnon spent years living with the Yanomami:i,
participating in their culture, providing them with goods
such as axes and machetes, and vaccinating them
against deadly diseases. His book Yanomamo: The
Fierce People described the Yanomami:i as an extremely
violent society, where aggression and conflict between
r FIGURE 1 -2 Napoleon Chagnon (left) was criticized
for his dealings with the Yanomamo people. To what
men was valued. Chagnon suggested that aggression i n extent i s the criticism of Chagnon's work justified?
males was both culturally a n d biologically determined.
The males who were most aggressive had more wives
between the Yanomami:i culture that Tierney observed
and children than those who were less aggressive.
and the one Chagnon described might not be caused only
Chagnon reasoned that cultural success (in this case,
by the actions of anthropologists, but by the massive
being aggressive and violent) led to increased genetic
social changes caused by missionary work, forestry,
success (meaning that more of the children born would
gold mining, and changes to their environment.
be disposed toward violence) . Chagnon's book went on
The controversy raises questions for anthropologists,
to become a best-selling anthropology text and is often
such as: How does a researcher 's presence influence
studied in universities.
a society? Anthropologists agree that they must always
Fast forward to 2000 and the publication of Darkness
carefully consider their impact on the people they
in El Dorado: How Scientists and Journalists Devastated
study and try to protect the safety, dignity, and privacy
the Amazon. Author and journalist Patrick Tierney
of their subjects. The ongoing disagreement among
condemns Chagnon's work, criticizing his methods
anthropologists whether Chagnon's research practices
and accusing him of manipulating data to reach the
were ethical, that is, whether his research adhered
conclusions he wanted. Tierney, who also spent time
to accepted principles and conduct, demonstrates
with the Yanomami:i, claimed that Chagnon had incited
that what anthropologists consider to be ethical has
the violence and conflict he observed by providing
changed over time.
(or bribing) the Yanomami:i with goods and creating
competition between them and neighbouring tribes. Q U EST I O N S
Tierney has also suggested that the vaccines did more
1. Why was Chagnon's research criticized? Is the
harm than good since some of the Yanomami:i became
criticism of Chagnon's work justified? Why or
ill after they were inoculated.
why not?
Did Chagnon's participation in Yanomami:i society
alter the behaviour of the people he interacted with? 2. To what extent can anthropologists conduct
It's important t o remember that Tierney studied the research ethically in another culture? Explain.
Yanomami:i decades after Chagnon. The differences
I
hypothesis:
Doing so helps you to keep focused and avoid irrelevant
a tentative assumption made from known facts as the basis
for investigation
research. After you finish collecting your data, you will
need to analyze and synthesize it. It's also important to
evaluate your sources. Note who the author is, his or
Activities
her qualifications, and where it is published.
1 . In small groups, brainstorm an issue or problem in
your school or community that could be investigated. Activities
2. Once you have your list, create at least three s you read through Chapter 1 , create a mind map
1. A
research questions that are testable and unbiased. that organizes the main theories and ideas of all the
3. How would you go about researching the problem? anthropologists mentioned in the chapter.
What kinds of information would you need to gather? 2 . Create a graphic organizer to help you understand
the different schools of thought in anthropology.
h u man, how cu ltures a d apt to new c h a l lenges in innovative ways, and how culture
is learned and passed on to new generations. In this section, you wi l l learn a bout
the different fie lds of cultural anthropology, different theories and schools of
thought, and the tools cu ltural anthropologists use to conduct their research.
Cultural Anthropology
culture: What do you think of when you hear the word culture? Maybe you think about
the total system of ideas, the ballet , the theatre, or a concert. Culture is not just the artistic activities
values, behaviours, and
a society considers valuable, like playing an instrument. Culture is made
attitudes o f a society
commonly shared by most up of what people do, what people make, and what people believe. Culture
members o f a society includes all behaviour of people in their everyday lives, from daily rituals
(for example, washing dishes) to beliefs about abstract concepts (for example,
time) , and is learned and transmitted from one generation to the next. It can
be the food people eat, the clothes they wear, the shelter they live in, how
they move from place to place, how they defend themselves, what they learn,
and the languages they speak.
Cultural anthropologists are anthropologists who study both past and
present cultures. They ask questions such as: Why is there social and
political inequality? How does language affect and express culture? What
can we learn about a culture from what the people leave behind? Researchers
attempt to answer these questions by immersing themselves in a culture for
months or years while conducting interviews and taking detailed notes as
they study the history and structure of languages and the physical remains
of past cultures. The mind map below (see Figure 1 -3) explains the different
fields of cultural anthropology.
Cultural Anthropology
Ethnology
_ I_
Linguistic Anthropology
I
Archaeology
Ethnologists immerse themselves in Linguistic anthropologists study the Archaeologists study the physical
a culture for months or years and history and structure of language, remains of a past culture through
take meticulous notes. and the ways humans use language. excavation and reconstruction.
t
F I G U R E 1 -3 The different fields of cu ltural a nthropology
TH E L A N G UAG E O F SOCIAL S CI E N C ES
R E F L E CT A N D R ES P O N D
predictions about the beliefs and values of his or her culture based on
this item.
2 . Look at the images on this page. Choose two images, and develop a
research question that a cultural anthropologist might ask for each one.
Interviews
Interviews are important tools used by anthropologists (and other social
scientists) to understand the culture they are studying and obtain valuable
information, There are different kinds of interviews, each with its own
advantages and disadvantages, Before interviewing, it is important for the
anthropologist to inform the subjects about the purpose of the research, how
the information will be used, and the confidentiality they can expect This is
called informed consent, and it is critical to obtaining information ethically,
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
!
Unstructured Interviews
Connecti ng
Unstructured interviews are between an anthropologist and an informant
!___ Anthropology Unstructured interviews allow the researcher to test out his or her initial
to Sociology ideas and can lead to a greater understanding of the topic The researcher
In the past, anthropologists should have some knowledge going into the interview, but unstructured
were concerned mainly with
interviews provide an excellent way for new directions to emerge and are often
documenting non-Western
a first step to more structured interviews and surveys, It is important that there
cultures while sociologists
analyzed social problems is no deception between the interviewer and the interviewee, The interviewee
within Western cultures. knows why the anthropologist is interviewing him or her and the outline of
Today, many Canadian the project For example, in your research on hockey you meet with the local
universities have joint coach every morning so he can tell you about his experiences, Over several
anthropology-sociology
months, you take detailed notes and let him direct the content of the interviews.
departments where
researchers can work
This is a useful method when you are at a field site for several months or years
together on u nderstanding and have a lot of time (Bernard, 2006) , However, no questions can be pre
culture and social problems established and the researcher has little control over a respondent's answers,
i n Canada and i n other
countries. The difference Semi-structured Interviews
between the disciplines
is often i n the research
Semi-structured interviews are often used by anthropologists who stay in a
methods used. community for only a few weeks and need to use their time efficiently. These
types of interviews allow the researcher to prepare some questions in advance
Structured Interviews
At the beginning of their research, anthropologists often count all the F I G U R E 1 -5 A plan of a
people they are studying and map their physical locations. They take Ju/'hoan village. What kind
of information about people's
photographs and draw diagrams, such as the ones shown in Figures 1 -5
cu ltu re and daily lives is
and 1 -6, of how humans use physical space and the relationships between
ava ilable in this diagram? How
people in the society. Anthropologists collect this type of information on the
i s the i nformation different
activities of the people in the society to help them understand the society
from the i nformation provided
they are studying. For example, by counting the hours of work over a by the photograph?
month of one community of hunter-gatherers in Southern Africa, the
Juj'hoansi, anthropologist Richard Lee discovered that most of the people
spent an average of 20 hours a week gathering food. Women brought i n
5 5 percent o f the total calories, in addition t o doing other kinds of work,
including making clothing, processing food, and child care. Lee found out
that the Juj'hoansi worked no more than 40 hours a week in all tasks,
which helped him to draw conclusions about the equality of labour within
their society. This kind of information can be compared to information
gathered through interviews or informants, which can help anthropologists
1
verify what people are telling them.
R E F L E C T A N D R ES P O N D
F I G U R E 1 -6 Anthropologist
Richard Lee interviewing J u/'hoansi
1. Create a chart comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different
hunter a bout cooking debris. How
research methods used by cultural anthropologists. does Figure 1 -5 help you m a ke
2 . Select which type of interview you would do if you were going to sense of this photo?
conduct research today in the Juj'hoan village and explain your reasons.
Before You Read Ethnology is the study of the origins and cultures of different races and peoples.
Have you ever
Ethnologists are concerned with topics such as marriage customs, kinship
misunderstood someone patterns, political and economic systems, religion, art , music, and technology.
trying to communicate They study a culture through participant observation, in some cases living
with you? What were with a group and participating in their culture, while taking extensive notes.
the circumstances and
They use these notes to write an account of the culture, or ethnography.
what was the result?
What did you learn
from the experience?
F I G U R E 1 -7 Livi ng with
a cu ltu re while studying
its members is a common
ethnology: method of research in
the study of the origins and anthropology. Can you th ink
cultures of different races of some of the chal lenges
and peoples
and problems of using
kinship: participant observation as a
the relationship between research method? What are
two or more people that is some of the benefits?
based on common ancestry,
marriage, or adoption
participant observation:
the careful watching of a
group, in some cases living
How Do Ethnologists Study Culture?
with its members and
participating in their culture Participant observation is the main method of study that ethnologists use
to gather information about cultures. Bronislaw Malinowski pioneered this
ethnography:
the written account of
method in his 1 91 5 study of the Trobriand Islanders in the South Pacific. He
a culture immersed himself in their culture, learning their language and participating in
their society. He stated that the anthropologist's goal should be " to grasp the
native's point of view, his relation to life, to realize his vision of his world"
(Malinowski, 1 961 ) .
To live in another culture, anthropologists might have to learn a new
Skills Focus language and adapt to new foods, new hygiene standards, different social
Field notes are accounts conventions, and sometimes different climates. Because they must face these
of experiences, dialogues,
very personal challenges, most cultural anthropologists feel that fieldwork
and observations made
by a researcher while provides them with a very deep and intimate kind of knowledge (Ember and
in the field. Choose a Ember, 1 999) .
location in the school It's important for anthropologists to understand the world view of the
(or other busy place) culture they are studying, which can be very difficult. To do this, anthropologists
and spend an hour
must first confront and reflect upon all of their own cultural assumptions. One
observing and taking
of the ways anthropologists can understand the world view of a culture is by
field notes about what
you experience. learning about the myths, stories, and songs that make up its oral history. One
of Canada's pioneer anthropologists, Diamond Jenness ( 1 886- 1 969) , studied
the oral history of the nomadic Innuinait (Copper Inuit) in the Canadian Arctic
between 1 91 3 and 1 91 6 . He became fluent in Inuktitut and recorded hundreds
of drum dance songs, poems, legends, and stories on wax phonographic
cylinders. He also carefully documented the people's daily life through
meticulous field notes (Nat ural Resources Canada, 2010) .
YOUTH PERSPECTIVES
Q U EST I O N S
Chapter 1 • What Is An t h ro po l o g y ? M H R 23
The Problems of Participant Observation
subjective: As you read on page 22, participant observation can be a source of in-depth
type of conclusions shaped cultural understanding. It is also highly subjective, which means that a
by a person's cultural and
researcher's point of view and cultural background can shape his or her
personal perspective,
feelings, and beliefs conclusions. To make their conclusions more reliable, researchers should
use objective data (for example, counting populations, mapping, and semi
objective:
structured interviews) , along with the notes from their participant observations.
type of conclusions based
on facts and data and
It is also important for researchers to use reflexivity, the practice of reflecting
uninfluenced by personal on their own world view, biases, and impact on the culture they are studying.
perspectives, prejudices, Researchers should share their work with their subjects and ask them if their
or emotions
interpretations are accurate (Ember and Ember, 1 999) .
reflexivity:
the practice of reflecting Sex, Lies, and Anthropology: Margaret Mead and Derek Freeman
on your own world view,
Margaret Mead is one of anthropology's most influential and controversial
biases, and impact on the
culture you are studying
figures. Best known for her study of Samoan adolescent girls, Mead was
interested in examining whether stresses during adolescence were caused
by adolescence itself or by society. Mead studied Samoan adolescent girls
using participant observation, living among a
small group and conducting interviews over nine
months between 1 925 and 1 926. Mead observed
that, in contrast to American adolescent girls,
adolescence was a stress-free time fm: Samoan
girls. Mead believed that this easy transition to
adulthood was due to the sexual freedom Samoan
girls experienced and concluded that sex roles
were determined by culture, not biology. This
conclusion fit with the anthropological and societal
ideas of the 1 920s. Women were re-evaluating their
roles in North American society, and her findings
were popular among women and men who wanted
social change. Margaret Mead was a popular
speaker and went on to publicize her work and
the study of anthropology.
Derek Freeman, who began working in
Western Samoa in the 1 960s and studying its
culture, criticized Mead's work in a book published
in 1 983. He concluded, based on his own research
and interviews, that Samoa actually had very
restrictive sexual practices. He felt that Mead had
been tricked by her informants, teenage girls who
were highly embarrassed by the intensely personal
questions of a foreigner, citing specific rituals that
r
indicated the importance of female v rginity.
I
I
best-selling work of cultural anthropology. F I G U R E 1 -1 0 Japanese teens
Look at the photographs on this page. Can you make demonstrating street fashion. Can
conclusions about the cultural attitudes, beliefs, and values you draw any conclusions about
Japanese culture from this photo?
of the people in these photos from these images? What might
be some challenges of studying a culture only through
photos? How could you overcome those challenges?
R E F L E CT A N D R E S P O N D
1. W
hy was Mead a controversial figure?
2 . How did Margaret Mead and Derek Freeman come to
I
culture of an enemy nation during wartime? represent North American cu lture? If this photo
was the only evidence you had of North American
cultu re what concl usions m ight you draw?
"Arrogance, " was his cryptic answer. about someth i n g you heard but may not have
"Arrogance ?" u nderstood?
Functional Theory
I n anthropology, functional theory is the idea that every belief, action, or
relationship in a culture functions to meet the needs of individuals. This
theory stresses the importance of interdependence among all things within a
social system to ensure its long-term survival. Meeting the needs of individuals
makes the culture as a whole successful. Like Boas, Bronislaw Malinowski
rejected cultural evolutionism, but unlike Boas, he felt that societies could be
objectively measured and compared.
Malinowski saw functional theory at work in the Trobriand Islands
during World War I. Every year, there was a ceremonial exchange of a necklace
and an arm band between two men on each island in the South Pacific. The
jewellery was not valuable, but the exchange was a highly anticipated event
(New World Encyclopedia, 2008) . Malinowski discovered that the j ewellery
travelled the entire circle of the islands in two different directions, linking
distant individuals in what he called the " Kula Ring. " This exchange of
jewellery was not an economic trade, but it reinforced the status of the Kula
traders and allowed them to trade food and everyday objects, and maintain
peaceful relationships. What seemed to be a highly ceremonial exchange had
very real economic, social, and political functions, serving the needs of the
individuals and the whole society (Schwimmer, 2007) .
The Infrastructure
A society's material
resources - technology, population,
available land, etc.
The Structure
A society's familial, political,
economic, and social systems
r
in three stages. symbols, and religion
1
Identify some examples of cultural relativism and cultural
materialism. How does each theory help you understand your
own culture?
F I G U R E 1 -1 5 An equal rights
protest in the U n ited States.
How wou l d M a rgolis explain the
differences between Figure 1 - 1 4
and Figure 1 - 1 5?
Feminist Anthropology
! Connecti ng
By the 1 9 70s, feminist anthropologists were re-examining anthropology to
!,__ Anthropology
ensure that female voices were heard and included in research, They also
to Psychology
compared cultures to see how many were dominated by men, how many
M uch in the way feminist
were dominated by women, and how many were egalitarian. Ernestine Friedl,
a nthropologists examine
gender relationships in an American feminist anthropologist, concluded that in forager societies,
different cultures, feminine the amount of freedom women had was strongly tied to their contributions
psychologists examine to the food supply. Men and women are relatively equal in societies where
female identity and issues women gather more of the food, but in societies where men have more
faced by women. The field
control over the food resources (for example, in societies where hunting is
also highlights gender bias
the major food-gathering activity) , men are more dominant and women have
in traditional psychological
theories and counters this less control over their lives and choices (Friedl, 1 9 78). Figure 1 - 16 demonstrates
bias with alternative theories. the division of labour by gender in the world.
Secondary Butcher a n i m a l s Preserve meat Care for children Care for infants
subsisten ce and fish Cook
and household Prepare food
activities a n d drinks
Launder
Fetch water
Collect fuel
T
F I G U R E 1 -1 6 Worldwide patterns in the division of labour by gender. What does this
chart tel l you a bout gender roles?
VOI CES
Postmodernism is a theory that influences a number of disciplines, including Mass media
anthropology. It is the belief that it is impossible to have any "true" knowledge communications
technologies also enable
about the world. Postmodernism rej ects the idea of objective truth. What
people to participate in
we "know " about the world is our own construction, created by society. communities of others
Postmodernists try to deconstruct, or break down, what a society believes to with whom they share
be true. Postmodernists believe that anthropologists can't study their subjects neither geographical
proximity nor a common
in a detached or objective way, like a chemist studying a chemical reaction,
history but an access to
because of the personal relationships that develop between anthropologist and signs, symbols, images,
informants during participant observation. Postmodernists practise reflexivity, narratives, and other
resources with which
which you learned about on page 24.
they can convey mutual
Since the 1 980s, postmodern anthropologists have more and more been solidarity. . .
doing research in their own cultural settings. Some of the recent research Rosemary E . Coombe
has focused on understanding the immigrant experience in urban Canada
(for example, defining of Italian cultural spaces in Toronto) .
Another example of postmodernist anthropology is the research done subculture:
by Canadian anthropologist and director Sam Dunn on the subculture of a small group within a
larger group who shares
heavy metal music and heavy metal fans (sometimes called headbangers
a common system of
or metalheads) . In his two films, Metal: A Headbanger's Joumey (2006) and values, beliefs, attitudes,
Global Metal (2008) , he explains how his passion for heavy metal music led behaviours, and lifestyle
distinct from those of the
him to conduct his research at home and around the world. Dunn's work is
larger group
an example of multisited fieldwork (fieldwork conducted in more than one
location) , studying a culture that crosses national
and ethnic boundaries. Dunn is an insider in the
headbanger culture and shows reflexivity in his
documentary, frequently discussing how his own
bias as a metal fan is affecting his research.
1. W
omen in Canada make up half o f the
population, yet they make up less than 20 percent
of the elected government. How would a feminist
and a functionalist differ in their explanations of
this statistic?
2 . What is the essential difference between
postmodernists?
worldwide comm u nity who a bsorb the music
and transform it into a new form of cultura l
3 . Study the chart of division of labour in world
expression (Dunn, 2008). Do you th i n k it is
cultures by gender (see Figure 1 - 1 6) . How would possible for a resea rcher who is a member of
a cultural materialist interpret the information the cu lture he or she is studying to conduct
differently from a feminist anthropologist? reliable research?
4. If you were an anthropologist studying ethnicity,
class, or gender in your community, how would
you conduct your research?
Using Linguistics
Widely dispersed throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North America, there
F I G U RE 1 -1 8 Road sign are an estimated 4 million to 14 million Roma in the world. It is impossible to
i n Squam i sh a n d English estimate the total population with accuracy, since many governments do not
i n British Col u mbia. record Roma in their census figures and many Roma conceal their ethnic origin.
How do you th i n k Historically, the Romani people were highly mobile and nomadic, moving
road s i g n s l ike th is o n e from place to place, as they were expelled from cities and countries. To study
wou ld help t h e cultural the history of the Romani people, scholars have looked to linguistics to track
revival or surviva l of the
their migration. Recent studies have traced their origins to India. The Roma
Squamish people?
migrated from India to Europe in the eleventh century (Matras, 2002) .
Structural Linguistics
Noam Chomsky is known as the father of modern structural linguistics, or the
study of how sounds are put together to make meaning. He is best known for
developing the theory of universal grammar: that all human children are born
with internal, universal rules for grammar and that they apply these rules as
they learn their mother tongue.
According to Chomsky, the reason that children so easily master language
is that they have innate knowledge of certain principles that guide them. In
other words, Chomsky's theory is that learning language is made possible
by a predisposition that our brains have for the structures of language.
However, evolutionary biologists disagree, saying that language is not an
instinct encoded in the brain, but is a learned skill. For Chomsky's theory
to be true, all the languages must share some structural characteristics. In
fact, linguists have shown that the 5000 plus languages of the world do
share rules and principles.
T
F I G U R E 1 -1 9 Does this baby
a linguistic anthropologist might ask teens today?
a l ready know gra m m a r?
Sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics is the study of how people use language within their
culture to express status and context. For example, you would probably use
language differently when talking to a teacher in a classroom than with your
friends on the weekend.
A study by Roger Brown and Marguerite Ford from 1 964 showed that
how people address each other can show the relationship between them.
Peers tend to address each other by their first names, while people who use
a title and last name to address each other often have a business relationship.
If one person uses a title and last name while the other uses a first name,
there is a difference in status (for example, students and teachers). In some
cases, generally among boys and men, people address each other by their last
names with no title, particularly in a sports context. Some anthropologists
suggest that this is a middle ground, indicating respect but not intimacy.
Sociolinguists study not only spoken language, but also body language in
different cultural contexts. For example, in many First Nations cultures, it is
rude for students to look a teacher in the eye. In Japan, showing your teeth is
a sign of social dominance and is considered very rude. North Americans who
tend to smile openly are often seen as aggressive or bullying in Japan. Many
large corporations employ linguistic anthropologists to train their employees
to work effectively in other cultures so that they are not misunderstood.
R E F L E C T A N D R ES P O N D
I N THE FI ELD
r
Toronto. Oth e rs a re found accidently, sometimes when b u i l d i n g s
a re b e i n g built or torn down .
F I G U R E 1 -20 Archaeologists
In one project, ASI excavated a l o n g the shore l i n e of the N i ag ara from Arch aeological Services I nc.
River i n Fort Erie. Fort Erie was upgrading the town's i nfra structure working at the Snake H i l l Cemetery
and redeveloping l a n d . The m u n i cipa l ity brought in ASI to m i n i m ize
i m pact of their work on the archa eological sites throug hout the town . ASI d r i l l ed through roads a n d
sidewa l ks t o study the soil a n d fo u n d evidence of a l a rge settl ement that existed 4000 years before
E u ropeans a rrived in N orth America . The a rchaeo l og ists from ASI a l so found the Snake H i l l Cemetery,
a previously u n known American m i l itary cemetery from 1 8 1 4. They were a b l e to identify a n d exh u m e
28 bodies, which were t h e n repatriated t o t h e U n ited States.
The staff at ASI have backg rounds in anthropol ogy, a rchaeol ogy, and geogra phy. They interpret
data using state-of-th e-a rt tech n iq ues, i n c l u d i n g 3-D i m a g i n g to bring to l ife an l roq uoian v i l l a g e , a n d
chemica l a n a lysis of a n i m a l a n d h u m a n b o n e samples t o determ i n e d ietary trends.
Q U ESTIONS
F I G U RE 1 -2 1 One of the
best known a rchaeological
sites i n Canada is L'Anse
a ux Meadows. Dated to
1 000 CE, it is the remains
of the first European settle
ment in North America.
In 1 999, three teachers were h u nting big horn After one yea r, h i s re m a i n s were cremated and
sheep i n Tatshenshin i-Aisek Park, British Col u m b i a , scattered across the glacier where h e was fou n d .
w h e n t h e y came across what turned o u t t o b e the Several a rtifacts had b e e n found with Kwaday D a n
m u m m ified rem a i n s of a n a n cient m a n , preserved Ts'inchi, including a woven cedar hat, a wa l k i n g stick,
in a g l acier. Archaeologists and the Champagne a spear thrower, a n i ron-blade knife, and a robe
a n d Aish i h i k First N ations (CAFN) went to the site made of gopher and squi rrel skins. One a rtifact, a
and excavated the rem a i n s for furth e r study. Fi rst leather bag, was left unopened beca use it was l i kely
N ations peopl e in Canada h a ve specific b e l i efs a sacred medicine bag (G ra m bo, 2006).
a bout the h a n d l i n g of a n cient h u m a n re m a i n s , In 2008, researchers gathered to d i scuss their
a n d the h a n d l i ng o f this fi nd demonstrates how results. Kwaday Dan Ts' i n s h i was a h u nter who l ived
a rchaeologists, the British C o l u m b i a gove rnment, about 200 to 300 years a g o . From the contents of
and Fi rst N ations worked together to e n s u re that h is stomach, researchers believe h e was trave l l i n g .
cu ltural concerns were respected w h i l e recog n izing T h rough m itochondria l D N A test i n g , resea rchers
the sign ificant scientific i nformation that cou ld be revea l e d that Kwa day Dan Ts' i n s h i was related to
d iscovered (Governm ent of B ritish Co l u m b i a , 2000). 1 7 l iving people from coastal a n d i n terior Fi rst
H i storical ly, a rchaeologists did N a tion g rou ps,1 5 of which a re from the wolf c l a n .
not a lways respect F i rst N a tions bel iefs a n d val ues These D N A fi ndings su pport t h e ora l h i story o f the
or i nvolve them i n their d iscoveries. Sometimes local Fi rst N a tions, confirm ing both the i m portant
this resulted i n p rotests and legal battles a n d led ties between the coasta l and i n l and peoples a n d
to repatriation policies, where artifacts a n d rema i n s t h e traditional c l a n associations. Lawrence J o e , the
o n c e part o f m useum col lections were retu rned. heritage d i rector of the CAFN stated, "We wa nt to
The CAFN elders n a med the a n cient man be able to use the science to confirm our cu ltural
Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi, which means " long-ago person knowledge, our beliefs, and our fa m i l y relationships"
fo u n d . " Archaeologists were a l lowed to study the (C BC, 2008). By working together with F i rst N ations
h u m a n rem a i n s for one year. N o ph otos cou l d be c u ltu res, a rchaeologists a n d anthropologists have
ta ken, and the body was kept i n a locked freezer. been able to learn from the past a n d a pply that
knowledge to the present.
Q U EST I O N S
F I G U R E 1 -2 2
1 . How can a rchaeology contribute to the
T h e glacier i n
understa nding of Canada's First N ations
Tatsh ensh i ni
peoples, both past and present?
Ai se k Park, British
Columbia where 2 . Why is it i m portant for a rchaeo l og ists to
Kwaday Dan work with g ro u ps such as the Champagne
Ts' i nshi was fou n d . and Aish i h i k Fi rst N ations?
1. W
hat techniques do archaeologists use to learn about past or current
cultures?
2. What personal qualities and skills do you think an archaeologist
should have?
3. What are some ethical questions archaeologists face in their work?
Look carefully at the following photos (Figures 1 -24 and 1 -25) . What kind
of evidence is each anthropologist examining? What kind of questions might
they be asking about the evidence? What conclusions do you think they can
come to from the evidence shown?
,>
I
Q U EST I O N S FIGURE 1 -29 Ardipithecus
ramidus. The bones were so
1 . Why is the d iscovery of Ardipithecus ramidus i m portant to
fragile that it took sci entists
anthropologists? 1 5 years to carefu lly excavate
2. What do Ard i 's physical features tell us about her? and ana lyze them.
Australopithecus afarensis
3.85 - 2.95 mya Homo neanderthalensis
200 OOQ-28 000 ya
Ardipithecus
ramidus
4.4 mya
Sahelanthropus
tchadensis
7-fJ mya
8 l -- -- 6 5
Million years ago (mya) Present
Since the d i scovery of the fi rst Neand erth a l sku l l i n flowers they were, but we don't know for s u re if the
the N eander Va l l ey i n Germany i n 1 856, anth ropolo flowers on the g rave were pl aced d e l i berately or if
g i sts have been debating j u st who the Neanderthals the pollen ended u p there accidental ly.
were a n d what the i r place is i n the story of h u m a n
evo l ution. Were they less inte l l igent beings who
lost out to Homo sapiens, or were they inte l l igent,
we l l -adapted precursors to modern h u m a n s? Are
they o u r d i rect a n cestors, or d i d they become
extinct? Some suggest that they could have been
h u nted by other premodern h u m a n s, w h i l e others
suggest that they may have i nterbred with modern
h u mans. A D N A study in the spring of 20 1 0 found
that h u m a n s and N eandertha l s did i ndeed inter
breed a n d that a l l popu lations except Afri cans have
some Neanderth a l genes. As more research is done,
o u r p i ct u re of Neanderth a l s continues to change.
One of the most interesting fi nds in paleoanthro
T
pology is the d i scovery of a Neanderthal burial site F I G U R E 1 -3 1 A Neanderthal female reconstruction
at S h a n i d a r Cave in I ra q . A l a rge amount of pollen based on both fossil anatomy and DNA analysis
Q U ESTIONS
"Feel like going out clubbing later?" 1 . How are Neanderth als d i ffe rent from modern
I
F I G U R E 1 -3 2 The term Neanderthal is used to
describe someone or something as outdated, 2. H ow do the fi n d i n gs made by scientists about
u n i nte l l igent, or u n civil ized. New finds i n the N ea nderth a l s relate to various theories of
F I G U R E 1 -3 3 Compare
the three types of stone
tools shown here. What
differences do you notice?
Oldowan stone tool Acheulian stone tool Mousterian stone tool What conclusions can you
2. 5-2 m i l lion years old 1 . 5-200 000 years old 200 000-35 000 years old d raw about the hom i n ins
who made and used
Some paleoanthropologists are specialists in making stone tools as our these tools?
ancestors might have done millions of years ago. Experiments have shown
that with the oldest stone tools, the most effective part is the small flake
leftover from making the large core. These specialists have discovered that the
flakes are razor sharp and can be used to butcher an animal or whittle wood
into sharp sticks. The chopper can also be used to cut branches or cut tough
animal joints (Ember and Ember, 1 999) .
While experimentation can tell anthropologists what a tool could be used
for, microscopic analysis of a tool can indicate what it was actually used for.
The polish on a tool can indicate whether it was used to cut meat, wood, or
plants. Another way to learn about tool use is by looking at ancient animal
bones. Microscopic analysis of cut marks on animal bones can indicate
whether a hominin tool was used to make the marks or whether they were
caused by an animal or through erosion. It is clear that hominins at least
2 . 5 million years ago were cutting meat from animal bones.
1. W
hat are the significant contributions of the following anthropologists to
5. Think about a product or technology that you use everyday. How do you
I
F I G U R E 1 -3 4 Dr. Temperance Brennan, the m a i n
impartial about the evidence they collect, forensic
cha racter o f the television show Bones, is inspired
anthropologists are not usually involved in detective
by real-l ife forensic anthropologist and novelist
work, and it can take weeks and sometimes months to
Kathy Reichs.
process evidence.
Most opportunities for Canadian forensic
anthropologists involve investigating former war zones Forensic anthropologists who go to war-torn
and genocides. Forensic anthropologists working for countries also need a good understanding of cultural
Physicians for Human Rights went to Rwanda after anthropology. They need to be aware of the cultural
the 1994 genocide to help exhume and identify bodies norms surrounding death. For example, bodies in
thought to have been part of a single massacre. To their Canada are usually buried face up in a coffin, but in
horror, they discovered that more than half of the bodies Muslim countries it is usual to cover the bodies with
were infants and children and that they had been killed a sheet and lie them on their side in the direction of
by a blow to the head with a machete (Thomas, 2003) . Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. Knowing what normal
While it can be rewarding to bring war criminals to practice in a culture is can help people to determine
justice, or to identify and return bodies to family members whether or not a death is suspicious. Cultural
so that they can grieve, it can be very traumatic as well. anthropology skills are also useful to those who
Dean Bamber, an Edmonton anthropology graduate interview family members about the deceased and
student who went to help with the excavations, says he help them to be sensitive to the cultural and religious
will never forget seeing the bodies of young mothers with practices of the area. Knowing whether bodies should
newborn infants tucked in pouches on their backs. "The be cremated or buried, whether religious ceremonies
worst of all was a little kid I found, maybe four years old, should be conducted, and which family members or
who was wearing a T-shirt from Queen's University, " he government officials should be present are critical in
says. "That was too much" (Sheremata, 1 996) . restoring peace to grieving families (Thomas, 2003 ) .
I
exa m i n i n g h u m a n remains. What a re the
1 . I s it bone?
rewards and c h a l lenges of a career in forensic
2. Is it animal or human bone?
a nthropology? How does forensic a nthropology
3. How many individuals are represented?
use anthropology concepts?
1 . How
is forensic a nthropology similar to other types
of a nthropology? How is it different?
• Humans are the only primates who live in groups and mate in pairs.
Some primates, such as chimpanzees, mate and live in groups, and
others, such as orangutans, mate and live in pairs. Humans are the
only primates who do both at the same time.
• Humans also develop ideas and beliefs about the world that guide their
actions. Humans also have the ability to think and reflect on their own
behaviour. They develop complex systems of morality and spirituality that
influence and motivate behaviour.
1. W
hat are some of the challenges and rewards of studying primates in
the wild?
hominin cultures?
1.
Natural selection involves three principles:
variation (Every species has a lot of variety within it.)
2. heritability (Individuals pass on traits to their offspring . )
3 . environmental fitness (Individuals who are better adapted t o their
environment will produce more offspring and pass on their traits to the
next generation.)
Percent of population ·
T
F I G U R E 1 -4 1
This map indicates the distribution of type 0 blood in h u m a n popu lations.
What conclusions can you d raw by looking at this m a p?
P O l N T/C O U N T E R P O I N T
Skin Variations
As h u m ans m i g rated out of Africa, populations beca m e more varied in skin colour. Was this variation the
result of specific enviro n m ental advantage or of isolation? Did skin colour g ive an evo l utionary advantage
i n the past? Are there evo l utionary advantages for different skin colours today? Anth ropol og i sts exa m i n e
both sides of the issue below.
Yes No
• A l l m a m m a l popu l ations in warmer c l i mates have • There a re m a n y fa i r-skinned Amazo n i a n I n d i a ns
more m e l a n i n (da rk pigment). a n d Southeast As i a n s living at the same l atitudes
rays, which can cause skin can cer. • Because skin c a n c e r usua l ly affects people
• Lighter skin a bsorbs more vita m i n D, which afte r they have had c h i l d re n , skin cancer l i ke l y
a l lows the body to a bsorb ca l c i u m , a nutrient had l ittle effect on the evo l ution o f skin colour
• H u m a n s with l i ghter skin were more l i kely to • M a ny d a rk-skinned people have l ived l onger i n
survive in c l i mates farthe r from the equator, with Tas m a n i a , at l atitudes very fa r from t h e equator,
less ava i l a b l e s u n l ight ( E m ber and E m ber, 1 999). than l ight-skin ned popu lations h a ve l i ved i n
Sca ndinavia (Diamond, 1 994) .
Q U ES T I O N S
1 . Using the information a bove, come up with a hypothesis a bout the evol utionary advantages of
d ifferent skin colours.
R E FLECT A N D R ES PO N D
Thinking/Communication
How would you make sure that your research is ethical and reflexive?
school, and what would it tell them about your culture? Choose three
artifacts in your classroom, and explain what these would tell future
Communication/Application
shared, and show how it is passed on from one generation to the next.
1 2 . Look at the Web sites of universities and colleges in Ontario that offer
anthropology courses. Make a poster comparing three different programs.
Look at the different fields and schools of thought at each school and give
an example of research being done there.