pseudoanthropological

Pseudoanthropological refers to claims, theories, or practices that present themselves as studies of humans and human societies but do not meet the standards of scientific anthropology. The term is used to critique work that uses anthropological rhetoric while lacking empirical foundations, rigorous methods, or critical scrutiny. Pseudoanthropology often relies on broad generalizations, essentialist or racialized explanations, or selective data to support preconceived narratives.

Common features include untestable hypotheses, non-replicable results, and reliance on anecdote or tradition rather than systematic observation. It may invoke cultural or biological determinism, racial hierarchies, or teleological readings of artifacts and practices. Such work is frequently promoted in popular media, fringe communities, or nationalist movements seeking to legitimize a particular worldview.

Historically, pseudoanthropology overlaps with scientific racism, phrenology, and craniometry, while in contemporary discourse it can appear in misrepresentations of prehistoric peoples, misinterpretations of ethnographic data, or sensational claims about cultural superiority. Critics emphasize that these approaches undermine evidence-based inquiry and can reinforce discrimination.

Legitimate anthropology distinguishes itself through transparent methods, explicit data collection, cross-cultural comparison, reflexivity, and peer review. It aims to situate findings within existing bodies of knowledge and to acknowledge uncertainty. Distinguishing pseudoanthropology from rigorous work helps prevent the misuse of anthropology for political or ideological ends.

See also pseudoarchaeology, scientific racism, ethnography.