Final answer:
Cultural anthropology's main components are the study of culture's elements (such as symbols, rituals, and social structures) and culture's aggregates, examining how these elements come together within a society. The field employs holistic techniques and cultural relativism to understand dynamic cultural interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main Components of Cultural Anthropology: The two main components of cultural anthropology are the study of culture's elements and the study of culture's aggregates. The elements include what people make, do, and think, merging into concepts like symbols, rituals, and social structures. Aggregates are ways in which these elements combine within a particular society, revealing the complexities and diversities of cultures. The methodologies of cultural anthropology evolved with time, with early anthropologists like Franz Boas emphasizing evolution, adaptation, and the fluid nature of culture as affected by trade and migration. Since the 1960s, there has been a focus on the dissensions within cultures, which stems from the diversity within societies and differing perspectives on normative cultural practices. Through holistic techniques and cultural relativism, cultural anthropologists aim to understand how different components within a culture interrelate and can sometimes contradict each other, driving societal change. This includes strategies such as collaborative work with cultural insiders to address ethical concerns in ethnography. Additionally, cultural anthropologists address broader themes such as social inequality and interactions with the natural world, illustrating how societal domains are interconnected.