Focuses on how humans living in societies operate and how they are organized. 

Social Anthropology 

The study of psychological subjects using anthropological practices and methods and understanding how psychological processes shape social processes.

Psychological Anthropology

The study of biological and behavioral characteristics of humans, hominin ancestors, and non-human primates.

Biological/Physical Anthropology

Studies the production, histories, and representation of cultures in ethnographic photography, film, other newer media, and all other visual representations, including performances.

Visual Anthropology 

Studies human languages in the context of the cultures that developed them. Focuses on the foundation of languages and how language affects socities.

Linguistic Anthropology 

Focuses on investigating cultural variation, beliefs, and social/cognitive organization among humans. Studies how culture organizes and shapes the world and how humans are shaped by their environment.

Cultural Anthropology 

Digital anthropology is the study of the relationship between humans and digital technology. The field is new and has a variety of names, including techno-anthropology, digital ethnography, cyber anthropology, and virtual anthropology.

Digital Anthropology 

Studies the history of humanity through observing, and analyzing material culture (i.e. artifacts)

Archaeology

Applied Anthropology is sometimes referred to as the "fifth sub-discipline." Practical application of anthropology theories, methods, and findings. Anthropologists solve real-world problems using anthropological techniques and usually are employed outside of academic settings.


Applied Anthropology

Nutritional anthropology is the study of food and nutrition from an evolutionary, behavioral, social, and cultural perspective. These anthropologist study how nutrition impacts health at an individual, community, and population level.

Nutritional Anthropology 

The study of fossils and ancient life is defined as before and including the Holocene epoch. 

Paleontology / Palaeontology 

- University of Manchester School of Social Sciences
- Applied Anthropology: University of Memphis

References for Additional Subdisciplines of Anthropology 

- Social Anthropology 

- Cultural Anthropology

- Linguistic Anthropology

- Biological or Physical Anthropology

- Visual Anthropology

- Psychological Anthropology

- Archaeology 

- Applied Anthropology 

- Nutritional Anthropology 

- Digital Anthropology

Arizona State University

San Jose State University

Washington State University at Tri-Cities

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The process in which physical/behavioral changes of a population occur over long periods of time. Evolution is a scientific theory that for over the last 150 years, scientists have gathered an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports this theory.  

Evolution 

There are many ways to conduct anthropology. Different approaches to anthropology have developed in many countries. Anthropologists on a global scale work together through international organizations to try and understand more about our lives as humans.

Anthropology on a Global Scale

Wikipedia

- While evolution allows for modifications to occur in species over time, only the most advantageous modifications will be passed on to the descendants of a population over time 
- This is known as natural selection, first described by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace

Evolution through Natural Selection

Rapid evolution in plants and animals that is instigated by human behavior, often through the manipulation of genes. 

Evolution through Artificial Selection 

Evolution is a constant process that is not exclusive to the past and occurs in our modern day! For example, cod fish have recently, rapidly evolved to be smaller in order to avoid human capture in light of excessive fishing.

Current Examples of Evolution

The mutual influence of two or more species on one another's evolution.

Coevolution

Evolution Reference Library

- The study of the evolutionary history of a certain group of organisms, utilizes taxonomy to show relationships 
- Often represented as a family tree to show which species "yielded" later ones

Phylogeny

Subdisciplines of Anthropology

The study of human behavior, societies, and cultures throughout history (including the present). Anthropology, in broad terms, studies methods to describe and explain the similarities and differences in biology and culture of all humanity in all times and places. 

Anthropology

Evolution by natural selection was first demonstrated by the observation that more offspring are often produced than can possibly survive. This is followed by three observable facts about living organisms: 
- 1) Traits vary among individuals with respect to their morphology, physiology, and behavior (phenotypic variation)
- 2) Different traits confer different rates of survival and reproduction (differential fitness)
- 3) Traits can be passed from generation to generation (heritability of fitness)

Basis for Darwin's Theory of Evolution

American anthropology is usually divided into four main subfields:
- Archaeology 
- Biological Anthropology 
- Cultural Anthropology 
- Linguistic Anthropology 

The Four Subfields of Anthropology 

- Anthropology and COVID-19
- Nutritional Anthropology 
- Psychological Anthropology 

Interdisciplinary Fields in Anthropology 

A global network of associations contributing to worldwide communication and cooperation in the field of anthropology

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