TAMU Anth 210 theories only exam 1

unilinear evolution

Morgan; there is one path along which all societies evolve

Historical Particularism

The idea, attributed to Franz Boas, that cultures develop in specific ways because of their unique histories.

Functionalism

Malinowski: cultures meet biological needs

Structural Functionalism

Radcliffe-Brown, Pritchard; cultural elements serve cultural system as a whole

Structuralism

levi-strauss; a conceptual framework positing that each element of society serves a particular function to keep the entire system in equilibrium

Neoevolutionism

White and Steward; idea that cultures evolve along with their ecology

Cultural Materialism

idea (Harris) that cultural infrastructure determines structure and superstructure

Interpretive Anthropology

geertz, Douglas; interpretation of meaning not laws

Post Modern

focault, Geertz;focus on practice of researchers and subjectivity

behavioral ecology/dual inheritance theory

Boyd, richerson; cultural transmissions as an evolutionary force

cultural relativism

the practice of judging a culture by its own standards

Ethnocentrism

judging another culture based on the terms of one's own culture, our culture as "correct culture"