Human Behavior, Ethnocentrism, And Cultural Relativism

Anthropology is a broad study of the products and precedents of human behavior. These products and precedents include the study of material objects, institutions and factors that contribute to social change and understanding of human behavior. In studying human behavior, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism will be examined as these concepts expose the authors (McDonnell 2016). Male domination will also be considered while examining these concepts as an important trait in the Afghan society. Ethnocentrism is an idea supported by a mixture of beliefs that one’s own culture is superior to any other culture. The ideas, foreign ways, and values of them are less human or less rational (McDonnell 2016). Cultural relativism, on the other hand, is the understanding of people and culture on their own terms. Understanding that all cultures have a qualitative difference from our own culture and that they have their own inner logic (McDonnell 2016). In the culture practice of Bacha Bazi (2001), whereby young boys dress up as women and dance for wealthy men that is against the law in Afghanistan. It is a form of sexual slavery and many boys are exploited and some are murdered. In the class video â€Å"Dancing Boys†, the journalist Najibullah and the producer Doran both were ethnocentric. How Najibullah goes to Afghanistan with a method agenda to film about this practice and expose it on a deeper level and the producer Doran putting other speakers in the video that give statements that areShow MoreRelatedCultural Relativsim vs. Ethnocentrism1190 Words   |  5 Pagesof the human spirit.† The quote means that because a person is not like you or your culture does not make them inferior. It makes them unique in their own way. On the other side of the spectrum is David Eller who stated â€Å"Insularity is the foundation of ethnocentrism and intolerance; when you only know of those like yourself, it is easy to imagine th at you are alone in the world or alone in being good and right in the world. Exposure to diversity, on the contrary, is the basis for relativism and tolerance;Read MoreEssay on Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism667 Words   |  3 Pagesand contrast ETHNOCENTRISM and CULTURAL RELATIVISM. Discuss how you have experienced OR witnessed both concepts in our American Society. Ethnocentrism is viewing your own culture as more superior than any other culture, that all other groups are measured in relation to one’s own. 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It is a well-knownRead MoreEthnocentrism Is A Basic Attitude Expressing The Belief That One? S Own Culture Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesETHNOCENTRISM Ethnocentrism is a basic attitude expressing the belief that one?s own ethnic group or one?s own culture is superior to other ethnic groups or cultures, and that one?s cultural standards can be applied in a universal manner. The term was first used by the American sociologist William Graham Sumner (1840?1910) to describe the view that one?s own culture can be considered central, while other cultures or religious traditions are reduced to a less prominent role. Ethnocentrism is closelyRead MorePhilosophical Implications of Cultural Relativism4081 Words   |  17 PagesPhilosophical Implications of Cultural Relativism Philosophical position of Cultural Relativism is best understood in terms of its epistemological, ethical and logical implications. Philosophical means articulation, argumentation, analysis, and synthesis of the idea, principle or concept. [1] Implication is a relationship between two propositions that holds when both propositions are true and fails when the first is true but the second is false. It is to develop a logical cohesion among argumentsRead MoreCulture and Ethnocentrism1439 Words   |  6 Pagesethnocentric, and if so is it a bad thing? To answer that, one must understand what ethnocentrism is. According to Macionis (2004), ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of ones own culture. We are not born with culture; culture is a socially learned behavior, or set of values that a given groups holds as a norm and are considered to be true and right. It is these cultural norms that connect the individuals of the group, which make up a society. No societyRead MoreAnthropology, Ethnography, And Ethnology1568 Words   |  7 Pagesmanifold interpretations of stories no matter the culture.(Bohanan 1966) Ethnography and Ethnology give an understanding of ourselves as humans, their variance lies in the unique methods each use as well as the separate goals pursued. The Ethnographer collects information while developing connections with the cultures they are studying.Ethnography gathers its cultural information through fieldwork often spending many years on and off(Lenkeit 2011:6) A ethnographers goal is to observe every aspect ofRead More Ethnocentrism Essay1373 Words   |  6 Pagesethnocentric, and if so is it a bad thing? To answer that, one must understand what ethnocentrism is. According to Macionis (2004), ethnocentrism is â€Å"the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture†. We are not born with culture; culture is a socially learned behavior, or set of values that a given groups holds as a norm and are considered to be true and right. It is these cultural norms that connect the individuals of the group, which make up a society. No society