What is Diffusionism in Archaeology?

Within archaeology, innovation diffusion is considered to be one of the basic mechanisms of cultural transmission as it describes the way novel traits or practices spread between individuals in a population.

What Diffusionism means?

diffusionism in American English

(dɪˈfjuʒənˌɪzəm ) noun. Anthropology. the theory that certain similar practices, inventions, etc. that exist among different cultures or peoples are solely or primarily the result of diffusion as opposed to independent discovery or development.

What is Diffusionism theory in anthropology?

Diffusionism: This school of thought proposed that civilization spread from one culture to another, because humans are basically conservative and lack inventiveness (Winthrop 1991:83). An extreme example of this theory was the idea proposed by English scholar Grafton Elliot Smith.

Who is associated with Diffusionism?

The main proponents of British school of Diffusionism were G. Elliot Smith,William J Perry and W.H.R Rivers. They held the view that all cultures originated only in one part of the world.

What does diffusion mean in anthropology?

Cultural diffusion describes the spread of one culture's practices, beliefs, and/or items, like food, music, or tools. This spread can be among members of the same culture or to completely different cultures around the world.

Anthropological Theory: Diffusionism (Introduction)

What are examples of diffusion?

What is acculturation and diffusion?

Definitions of Diffusion and Acculturation: • Diffusion is when cultural traits of a culture spread to another culture. • Acculturation is when a culture completely transforms and becomes accustomed to the new cultural traits.

What is heliocentric Diffusionism?

Heliocentric diffusion -- the theory that all cultures originated from one culture. Culture circles (kulturkreise) -- the theory that cultures originated from a small number of cultures.

What is extreme Diffusionism?

Early diffusionists are referred to as “extreme diffusionists” in the present because their accounts of historical movements of traits around the globe were simplistic and largely unprovable.

Who is the main proponents of British School of Diffusionism?

The founder of the British School of diffusion was Graffon Elliot Smith. Both Smith and his disciple William James Perry insisted that cultures originated in Egypt. They argued that it was from Egypt that cultures spread to different parts of the world.

What is Diffusionism PDF?

Diffusionism ​was an attempt to understand the nature of culture in terms of the origin of culture traits and their spread from one society to another. It refers to the transmission or movement of cultural traits or characteristics between societies.

What is culturally relativistic?

Cultural relativism is the view that ethical and social standards reflect the cultural context from which they are derived. Cultural relativists uphold that cultures differ fundamentally from one another, and so do the moral frameworks that structure relations within different societies.

What is an ethnographer?

Meaning of ethnographer in English

a person who studies and describes the culture of a particular society or group: She became an accomplished linguist and ethnographer.

Why is Emic and ETIC important?

The emic helps us to understand local realities, and the etic helps us to analyze them. In the case of a project targeting women in Afghanistan, it is helpful for project managers to understand local level emic perceptions of gender, so they will know how to craft and manage the project in culturally acceptable ways.

What is the difference between cultural appropriation and diffusion?

Cultural appropriation is a term for cultural diffusion that is seen as disrespectful or mocking. For example, a Halloween costume based on racial stereotypes may be hurtful to people.

What is neo evolutionary theory?

Neoevolutionism is concerned with long-term, directional, evolutionary social change and with the regular patterns of development that may be seen in unrelated, widely separated cultures. Sociological neoevolutionism emerged in the 1930s.

What are the three schools of diffusion?

What is enculturation in anthropology?

Definition of enculturation

: the process by which an individual learns the traditional content of a culture and assimilates its practices and values.

What is forced diffusion?

Forced diffusion occurs when one culture subjugates (conquers or enslaves) another culture and forces its own customs on the conquered people.

What is assimilation in anthropology?

assimilation, in anthropology and sociology, the process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.

What is German school of diffusion?

German School of Thought

Believing in theory of cultural diffusion, German diffusionists also touched evolutionary schemes. They were of the view that different cultural complex originated independently or freely, at several parts of earth, from where they imitated or migrated to other places.

What is hybridity anthropology?

In anthropology: The study of ethnicity, minority groups, and identity. …to the growth of “hybridity”—the dissolution of rigid cultural boundaries between groups hitherto perceived as separate, the intermixture of various identities, in effect the dissolution of identities themselves.

What is acculturation example?

Examples of Acculturation

Native Americans replacing or modifying certain societal or cultural elements such as dress, language, or religion upon contact with Europeans. The loss of some Native American customs and languages due to the influence of Europeans.

What's the difference between assimilation and acculturation?

Assimilation is a two-way process, and the majority culture is changed as well as the minority culture. Acculturation occurs when the minority culture changes but is still able to retain unique cultural markers of language, food and customs.

What are the differences between enculturation and acculturation?

Acculturation usually doesn't provides the acceptance and distinct identity. Acculturation is basically done with a motive. Enculturation is the very first familiarization process to a particular culture and begins right after the birth. Acculturation is necessary for the better adaptation in foreign surrounding.