Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Anthropology takes a broad approach to understanding the many different aspects of the human experience. The discipline is divided into four fields: human biology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Any individual anthropologist will probably specialize in one or two of these areas but have general familiarity with them all.
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Cultural Anthropology: Cultural anthropologists study human behavior by means of first-hand observation and interviewing within particular communities, and interpret that behavior by considering the cultural context in which it occurs. They study particular cultures, explain variation among cultures, and study processes of cultural change and social transformation.
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Biological Anthropology: Biological anthropologists study a variety of aspects of human evolutionary biology. Some examine fossils and apply their observations to understanding human evolution; others compare morphological, biochemical genetic, and physiological adaptations of living humans to their environments; still others observe behavior of human and nonhuman primates (monkeys and apes) to understand the roots of human behavior.
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Archaeology: Archaeologists study the material remains of present and past cultural systems to understand the past and present of human societies.
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Linguistics: Linguistic anthropologists study the ways in which language reflects and influences social life. They are interested in the relationship between language and culture, and how language is used to create and maintain social relationships.
Anthropology is concerned both with the biological features that make us human and with social aspects such as language, culture, politics, family, and religion. Anthropologists are concerned with many aspects of people’s lives, and their research can involve studying a religious community in London or human evolutionary fossils in the UAE.
