Anthropology.

The study of human societies and cultures and their development.

The study of human biological and physiological characteristics and their evolution.

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 centurys 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.

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 peoples 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.

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.

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.

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.

ANTHROPOLOGY, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL SCIENCES

Anthropology and Sociology:
The relation between anthropology and sociology is widely recognized today. In fact,
Anthropologist, Kroeber, pointed out that the two sciences are twin sisters. Robert red field
Writes that viewing the whole United State, one sees that the relation between anthropology
And sociology is closer than those between the anthropology and other social sciences.
Sociology is greatly benefited by anthropological studies. Sociologists have to depend upon
Anthropologists to understand the present-day social phenomena from our knowledge of the
Past which is often provided by anthropology. The studies made by famous anthropologists,
Like racliffe-brown, b. Malinowski, ralph linton, lowie, raymond firth, margaret mead,
Evans-pritchard and others have been proved to be valuable in sociology.
Sociological topics, such as the origin of family, the beginning of marriage, private
Property, the genesis of religion etc. can be better understood in the light of anthropological
Knowledge. The anthropological studies have shown that there is no correlation between
Anatomical characteristics and mental superiority. The notion of racial superiority has been
Disproved by anthropology.
Further, sociology has borrowed many concepts, like cultural areas, cultural traits,
Interdependent traits, cultural lag, cultural patterns, culture configuration etc from socio-
Cultural anthropology. The knowledge of anthropology, physical as well as socio- cultural is
Necessary for a sociologist. An understanding of society can be gained by comparing various
Cultures, particularly the modern with primitive.
Anthropology and history:
Anthropology and history are very much interrelated. Anthropology is becoming one of the
Most genuine fruits of history to which it is intimately connected. The two sciences are so
Close that some writers refuse to accept anthropology as a science different from history.
Some anthropologists regard anthropology as a branch of history. Human being is born in a
Natural way, but social life is not the product of nature. It is true that human nature is such that
Human beings have to live in united groups, but human nature does not decide the cultural
Level of society. In other words, culture of a particular society is not a product of human
Nature. The structure of society has no natural order like that of the structure of the solar
System or an atom. Society is a web of social relations supplied by history and are united

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Among them by moral values. Anthropologists have been doing the work of social reformation.
History and anthropology are both related to human actions. Social anthropology discusses
Human actions which cause social events. History presents a description of these events.
Anthropology and economics:
Anthropology and economics, as social sciences, have very close relation. The relationship
Between the two sciences is so close that one is often treated as the branch of the other.
Anthropologists have contributed to the study of different aspects of economic organization.
An economist provides knowledge of property system, division of labor, occupations,
Industrial organization etc. to the anthropologists. Some matters such as labor relations,
Standard of living, employer-employee relations, social classes, socio-economic planning,
Socio-economic reforms etc. are common to both economists and anthropologists.
The area of co-operation between anthropology and
Economics is widening day by day. Economists are now
Analyzing the social factors influencing economic
Growth. Economists are working with the anthropologists
In their study of the problems of economic development
In underdeveloped countries. Economists are more and
More making use of the anthropological concepts and
Generalizations in the study of economic problems.
Problems like poverty, beggary, unemployment, over-
Population, and unregulated industrialization have both
Social and economic implications.
Anthropology and social psychology:
Anthropology and psychology are contributory sciences.
Psychology is defined as the study of human behavior.
Anthropology studies man in all places and times.
Psychology is the science of human experiences and
Behaviors. It also studies mans behavior in relation to
Environment. Anthropology is also a comparative and
Analytic study of human behavior and experiences. These
Two subjects are complementary to each other. On one side
A psychological knowledge helps an anthropologist in
Understanding the root causes of human behavior in
Different cultures and on the other side anthropological studies help the psychologists in
Calculating the influence of cultural environment of human behavior. In modern times, the
Various anthropological studies have rendered important help in the field of psychology. By
Studying different primitive cultures, anthropologists have shown how human behavior.

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Differs in different cultural environments. Every culture has its special method of social
Control, which has an important influence on the personality of its members.
The closest relation between psychology and anthropology is seen in the relation between the
Main branches, social psychology and cultural anthropology. In social psychology, individual
Behavior is studied under social environments. Social anthropology also studies human
Society, social institutions and groups. The famous anthropologist, hoebel writes that, the
Anthropologist concentrates chiefly on society of primitive people, and the sociologist
Concentrates on our contemporary civilization.
Anthropology and political science:
Anthropology and political science are very closely related. In fact, political activity is only a
Part of social activity. Thus, political science appears to be a branch of anthropology. Political
Activity is influenced by the social life of man. In fact,
Political activities will have no meaning outside the
Social context. Politics is after all the reflection of
Society. This is made clear by the common saying,
people have the government which they deserve.
Political science gives anthropological facts about the
Organization and functions of the state and government.
Political science is concerned with the state but
Anthropology studies state as one of the human
Associations.
The laws of the state have a great influence upon
Society. These laws are largely based on customs,
Traditions, conventions and usages. But these customs,
Traditions etc, are the concerns of anthropology. The
Institution of family is an element in social life. It is a
Concern of anthropology. There are some common
Topics of interest for both anthropologists and political
Scientists. Such topics are war, mass movements,
Revolutions, government control, public opinion,
Propaganda, leadership, elections, voting, political
Minorities and social legislations like civil code. Communal riots, racial tensions between
Whites and Negroes, Asians and Europeans, border disputes between different states, caste
Conflicts etc. are problems that have political as well social implications

.
Why is anthropology different from other social sciences?
Anthropology shares certain interests and subjects of study with other fields of social science, especially
sociology, psychology, and history, but also economics and political science. ... Anthropology involves
the comparison of different societies in order to understand the scope of human cultural diversity.