What is Biomedical Anthropology or Biological Anthropology?

1. Overview of the Topic – Summary:

From Wikipedia: Biological anthropology, also known as physical anthropology, is a scientific discipline concerned with the biological and behavioral aspects of human beings, their related non-human primates and their extinct hominin ancestors. It is a subfield of anthropology that provides a biological perspective to the systematic study of human beings. (1)

2. What is the focus of this Topic?:

From Wikipedia: Biomedical anthropology is a subfield of anthropology, predominantly found in US academic and public health settings, that incorporates perspectives from the biological and medical anthropology subfields. In contrast to much of medical anthropology, it does not generally take a critical approach to biomedicine and Western medicine. Instead, it seeks to improve medical practice and biomedical science through the holistic integration of cross-cultural or biocultural, behavioral, and epidemiological perspectives on health. As an academic discipline, biomedical anthropology is closely related to human biology. (1)

3. Why it’s listed here – What is the relevance to Architectural Medicine?

It is listed here due to the focus on seeking “to improve medical practice and biomedical science through the holistic integration of cross-cultural or biocultural, behavioral, and epidemiological perspectives on health”.

This whole view point on human health perspectives considers the many facets of the human experience and how this impacts health, which is a main focus with Architectural Medicine’s big picture view of the many facets of human health and wellness.

4. Common groups and individuals involved with this topic:

“Currently, the only accredited degree program in biomedical anthropology is at Binghamton University [2]. Other anthropology departments, such as that of the University of Washington,[7] offer biomedical tracks within more traditional biological or biocultural anthropology programs.” (1)

Notable biological anthropologists

5. Resources: