anthropologist

An anthropologist is a scholar who studies humans, both past and present, by examining culture, language, biology, and material remains. The field aims to understand how people live, think, organize themselves, and interact with their environments in different times and places.

In the American tradition, anthropology is often taught as a four-field discipline: cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, and physical (biological) anthropology. Researchers may specialize in one subfield or work across several. Core methods include fieldwork and participant observation, ethnography, interviewing, surveys, and the analysis of artifacts, texts, and, in some cases, genetic or biological data.

Ethical practice is central. Fieldwork may involve long-term engagement with communities, with attention to informed consent, reciprocity, and avoiding harm or misrepresentation. Anthropologists aim to translate complex patterns of behavior into readable explanations while respecting local perspectives.

Career paths vary. Many anthropologists work in universities or museums; others advise governments, international organizations, NGOs, or private firms on issues such as development, health, education, and cultural heritage.

Education typically requires graduate study, culminating in master's or doctoral degrees, plus field experience and training in research design and ethics.

Historically, anthropologists such as Bronisław Malinowski, Franz Boas, Margaret Mead, Claude Lévi-Strauss, and Clifford Geertz helped shape methods and theory, but the field now encompasses a wide range of approaches and topics worldwide.