Do Anthropologists become Self-Sufficient, Cynical, Bitter People?

College Majors
1

<p>I’m planning on going into Anthropology. I love to help people (I’m an EMT), and wanted to study Cultural Anthropology, and within that possibly medical anthropology as a major before entering Med School. </p>

<p>Well, today, someone close to me sent me this email. This person just finished his second day of Cultural Anthropology 101. He said:</p>

<p>“I feel like anthropologists would become self-sufficient, cynical and bitter people. Takes the romance out of life. Cuz they compartmentalize everything and try to explain every single human emotion and action! They don’t believe in ambiguity! Don’t do it!!”</p>

<p>He based the whole thing on this statement, which he claimed his teacher gave to he and his class as the “mission statement” of Anthropologists: “To Understand and evaluate human emotion and be able to explain all actions of human beings.”</p>

<p>I am pretty sure that isn’t the mission statement of Anthropology, and even if it was, why would that make you bitter, cynical, self-sufficient, etc?</p>

<p>Is any of this true? Frankly, if any subject would fall under the accusation of “taking the romance out of life,” I would think it would be psychology. But never Anthro. </p>

<p>I don’t know…what would I major in if I don’t major in Anthropology?? I’m getting ready to transfer into a four year university next fall (applying now), and I’m all ready to go in the Anthropology major (60 completed units, transfer prep complete, igetc, etc, 3.9 gpa).</p>

2

<p>Have you ever watched the TV show Bones?</p>

3

<p>Being self-sufficient is a good thing. </p>

<p>Also who cares what someone else says? Anthro is about human culture and history, not emotion, anyway.</p>

4

<p>“Do Anthropologists become Self-Sufficient, Cynical, Bitter People?”</p>

<p>No more than folks in most other professions. The occupation that I’d nominate as the one which best fits the description of your question is Correctional Officer, but that would still be a huge stereotype. If you like Anthropology, then declare it as your major - but make sure that you keep good grades in your Med School pre-req classes.</p>

5

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<p>I wouldn’t put too much stock into their response.</p>

6

<p>I’m an Anthro major (with a cultural/linguistic focus), and I feel like if anything it has done the opposite for me – it has made me more curious, and have an even more romantic view of the world around me. You think about things that you never would have considered in, say, a business major. You analyze aspects of life that you’ve always taken as commonplace and realize the uniqueness in every little thing …</p>