Difference Between Social and Cultural Anthropology

关键区别 - 社会与文化人类学

社会和文化人类学是两个分支anthropologybetween which some differences can be identified. This difference can mainly be understood when paying attention to the focus of each discipline. The这两个学科之间的关键区别在于，社会人类学是一个研究领域，重点是社会and the social institutions. On the other hand, in cultural anthropology, the focus is on thecultureof a society。通过本文，让我们理解两者，社会和文化人类学之间的主要区别。

What is Social Anthropology?

社会人类学是一个专注于社会和社会机构的研究领域。A social anthropologist is interested in gaining adeeper understanding of the social structure and the relationship between various social institutions。As we all know, the society is composed of various social institutions. They are the family, education, politics, religion and the economy. Each institution has a specific role in the society and contributes towards maintaining the social order in one way or the other. The social anthropologist is keenly interested in comprehending the role of these institutions, their nature, and the relationship that they have to other institutions.

Social anthropology as a discipline was mainly nurtured in Britain. It was influenced by the intellectual currents of France. In social anthropology, one of the main techniques that are being used is Participant观察。In participant observation, the anthropologist does not merely go to the research field and gather information. On the contrary, he becomes a part of the society that is his research field. This allows him to gain a broader understanding of the society and various social ties that exist within that particular society.

Social anthropology mainly providesqualitative data给研究人员；这是因为研究人员在丰富的深入数据中探讨了什么，这使他能够理解社会结构以及社会机构之间的关系。一旦实地研究完成，人类学家就会产生ethnography。Ethnography is a lengthy in-depth account of the particular society, its structure, relationships, and social institutions.

什么是文化人类学？

与社会人类学的情况不同，在文化人类学中，压力在研究社会方面施加了重点，重点是社会的文化。This can include thestudy of behavioral patterns, language,customs,仪式,laws, ideals,arts, etc.The cultural anthropologist is eager to learn and comprehend the various cultures of people. As we know, in our world today, there are different types of societies. Within these societies, there exist different cultures. These cultures are very much different from one another, and shape the lives of people in the society.

The cultural anthropologist pays attention to these cultures. Hestudies the unique elements of the culture，例如人们拥有的特定仪式并理解人们为这些仪式提供的主观含义。然后，他试图通过人类学方法以客观和科学的方式分析这种主观解释。

Cultural anthropology is quite famous in the United States, unlike the social anthropology. Some of the key figures in cultural anthropology are Ruth Benedict and Franz Boas. In most cultural anthropological studies, the focus has been on isolated communities, such as in the case of Margaret Mead, who studies of the people in Samoa island. However, in the modern day, this focus has changed in order to capture the populated societies as well.

What is the Difference Between Social and Cultural Anthropology?

社会和文化人类学的定义：

Social Anthropology:社会人类学是一个专注于社会和社会机构的研究领域。

Cultural Anthropology:In cultural anthropology, the focus is on the culture of a society.

Characteristics of Social and Cultural Anthropology:

Focus:

Social Anthropology:主要重点是社会机构，他们的关系和整个社会。

Cultural Anthropology:The focus is on rituals, customs, arts, language, beliefs and culture at large.

Technique:

Social Anthropology:When conducting research, the main technique is participant observation.

Cultural Anthropology:Even in cultural anthropology, the main technique is participant observation.

受欢迎程度：

Social Anthropology:Social anthropology is popular in Britain.

Cultural Anthropology:文化人类学在美国很受欢迎。

Image Courtesy:

1.’Bronisław Malinowski among Trobriand tribe‘ By Unknown (maybeStanisławIgnacyWitkiewicz, 1885-1939) [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons

2.Ruth Benedict由世界电报员工摄影师[公共领域]通过Wikimedia Commons