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Anthropology is a comparative study of human kind, its aims are to describe, analyse
and explain both the similarities and differences among human groups. Anthropologists
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are interested in characteristics that are typical or shared in a particular human
population, rather than what is abnormal and individually unique.
Anthropologists try to focus on the differences among the different groups rather than
the differences among the individuals within the same groups in the study of human
variation.
Relationship with Psychology: Psychology is the science of human behaviour.
Anthropology studies man in all places and times. In this way, both are closely related.
Psychology is really the science of human experience and behaviour.
Its studies man’s behaviour in relation to environment. Anthropology is also a
comparative and analytic study of human behaviour and common principles are reached
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on that basis. Both of them carry on minute analysis of human nature. Both of them try
to define man’s social behaviour. Both are complementary to each other. Whereas on
one side a psychological knowledge helps an anthropologist in understanding the root
causes of human behaviour in different cultures, on the other side anthropological
studies help the psychologist in calculating the influence of cultural environment on
human behaviour. In short, culture is reflected in personalities and personalities reflect
culture.
In modern times, the various anthropological studies have given important help in the
field of psychology. By studying different primitive cultures, anthropologists have shown
how the human behaviour differs in different cultural environments.
Every culture has got its special method of social control which has an important
influence on the personality of its members. For example, there has been a great
disturbance in the adjustment of adolescence due to great restraint on the mutual
relations among the individuals of different sex in civilzed societies.
It has been found out through anthropological studies that such changes are nowhere to
be seen in many primitive societies. For example, as in civilzed societies, there is no
restriction of any kind among the natives of Samoa Island and therefore an adult
becomes self-reliant very early. In India, as compared to Hindu society, it is easier for
adolescents of tribal society to become adult due to increased sex education and
decreased restrictions.
In this way, psychologists learn from psychological studies the changes which can be
seen in human personality and behaviour as a result of cultural changes. Remember that
nothing can be known in this field on the basis of application, because cultural
environments, especially in group form, cannot be created in an artificial way.

Q3. What is the difference between an anthropologist and a historian?
Ans. Anthropologists and historians are both interested in the past. Anthropologists
study all aspects of different cultures, while historians’ study particular events or
individuals without relation to culture. Although these occupations might be thought of

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