Structure and function

What new theoretical school emerged at the beginning of the 20th century? What two types were there?

Functionalism: Functionalism versus structural functionalism

What did the anthropological revolution of the early 20th century reject?

Rejected the unilinear evolutionary theory proposed by Tylor and Morgan and armchair anthropology

Who pioneered the functionalist revolution, how did they differ?

Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown were the pioneers, but Malinowski was more holistic, and Radcliffe-Brown was more about singling out specificity

What is diffusionism?

The belief that civilisation and its culture diffuse out from a centre

What is evolutionism?

Human civilisations develop linearly in a sequence of progression

What does diachronic mean?

Studying cultures evolution over time

What does synchronic mean?

Taking a snapshot of culture at one given time

How did Radcliffe-Brown approach functionalism? (3 points)

• Structural functionalist, influenced by Durkheim

• Comparative sociology, where he compared institutions from different cultures

• Used biological metaphor to describe how societies function

How did Malinowski approach functionalism? (3 points)

• Trained in the physical sciences first

• Wanted to see thing from the native point of view with a sense of holism

• Focused on the individual and their needs being provided for by a society

What question led Durkheim to functionalism?

How can societies maintain their integrity and coherence in the modern era as social complexity is increasing

What does Audrey Richards believe about anthropology?

Anthropology used to aim higher and be more holistic, now the specialisation has taken away its most valuable insights

What book was written by Meyer Fortes and Radcliffe-Brown?

African political systems