ANTH Anthropological Theory and Methods 2

Question 1

What 19th-century anthropological theory held that all cultures evolve through the same universal stages from savagery to civilization?

Accepted Answer

Unilineal evolutionism

Answer

Unilineal evolutionism, associated with Lewis Henry Morgan and Edward Tylor, proposed that all societies pass through fixed stages: savagery, barbarism, and civilization.

Question 2

Which theoretical approach, developed by Marvin Harris, argues that material conditions (technology, environment, economy) primarily determine cultural practices?

Accepted Answer

Cultural materialism

Answer

Cultural materialism argues that infrastructure (technology and economy) shapes social structure and ideology, prioritizing material conditions in cultural explanation.

Question 3

What method involves comparing data across many societies to identify cross-cultural patterns and test hypotheses about human behavior?

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural comparative method

Answer

The cross-cultural comparative method uses databases like the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) to systematically compare cultural traits across societies.

Question 4

Which feminist anthropologist challenged male-centered accounts of human evolution with the 'Woman the Gatherer' model?

Accepted Answer

Sally Slocum

Answer

Sally Slocum's 1975 essay 'Woman the Gatherer' critiqued androcentric 'Man the Hunter' narratives by emphasizing women's gathering activities in early human subsistence.

Question 5

In anthropology, 'reflexivity' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The practice of examining how the researcher's own identity and position influence the research process

Answer

Reflexivity requires researchers to critically examine how their own cultural background, power position, and subjectivity shape their observations and interpretations.

ANTH (Anthropology) Practice Test

ANTH (Anthropology) Practice Test

ANTH Anthropological Theory and Methods 2