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Key terms
Posted by: marirei | October 3, 2012 | Leave a Comment
Acculturation
1: cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture; also : a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact.
2: the process by which a human being acquires the culture of a particular society from infancy
(Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com)
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. To understand the full sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge from the social and biological sciences as well as the humanities and physical sciences. A central concern of anthropologists is the application of knowledge to the solution of human problems. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: sociocultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Anthropologists often integrate the perspectives of several of these areas into their research, teaching, and professional lives.
(Source: American Anthropological Association, http://www.aaanet.org)
Culture
1: the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
2: that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.
3: a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.
4: development or improvement of the mind by education or training.
5: the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Sociology
1: the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specifically : the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings
2: the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole and as it relates to the rest of society
(Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com)