Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology Flashcards
7 cards from real BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Bachelor of Social Science Anthropology flashcards as text
Which subfield of anthropology focuses on the physical and biological aspects of human evolution and variation?
Answer: Biological (physical) anthropology
Biological anthropology studies human evolution, genetics, primatology, and variation in physical traits across populations.
What is 'totemism' as described by Claude Lévi-Strauss?
Answer: A symbolic system in which natural species serve as markers of social group differences
Lévi-Strauss argued that totems are good to 'think with'—natural categories used to express social distinctions rather than literal worship.
The concept of 'mana' in Polynesian cultures refers to:
Answer: An impersonal supernatural force or power residing in persons and objects
Mana is an impersonal, transferable spiritual force that can be concentrated in individuals, objects, or places and confers power and prestige.
What does the anthropological term 'exogamy' mean?
Answer: Marriage outside one's own defined social group
Exogamy requires individuals to marry outside their own clan, lineage, or community, often functioning to build alliances between groups.
In archaeology, what is 'stratigraphy' used for?
Answer: Establishing relative chronology by analyzing the layering of soil deposits
Stratigraphy uses the law of superposition—older layers lie beneath newer ones—to establish the relative age of artifacts and features.
Which concept from Marcel Mauss describes a system of obligatory, reciprocal gift exchange that creates lasting social bonds?
Answer: The gift (don)
Mauss argued in 'The Gift' that gift-giving involves obligations to give, receive, and reciprocate, embedding economic acts in social relationships.
What is 'cultural hegemony' as theorized by Antonio Gramsci and applied in anthropology?
Answer: The process by which dominant groups maintain power through consent and ideology rather than coercion
Cultural hegemony describes how ruling classes maintain dominance by making their worldview appear natural and universal, securing consent rather than relying solely on force.