Download Anthropology – An Introduction

Anthropology – Schools of Thought
Anthropology is not one, single method of looking at human behaviour.
Instead it can be divided into three distinct schools of thought:
Functionalism, Structuralism, Cultural Materialism
Functionalism: to a functionalist cultures are organized in a manner meant
to solve the universal problems that humans face (eg: laws set up to deal
with issues of theft, murder). Every custom or practice in a culture serves a
purpose and is meant to fulfill a psychological or physical need.
Institutions – the established laws, practices, and customs
within a society are called institutions. A functionalist believes
that in order to understand a culture one must investigate these
institutions.
Strange Practices – can be explained by the Functionalist
Anthropologist through the idea that they all serve a purpose.
**an anthropologist should try to explain not judge
Structuralism – bases it’s theory on the idea of Binary Opposites.
Binary Opposites – the idea that we as humans have a
tendency to see things in terms of two opposing forces. For
example, there is good and evil, male and female, day and night
etc.
All cultures look at their population in terms of those born here
and those who are “outsiders” (think of our own immigrant
population – are they “outsiders”?) Even our calendar is
comprised of binary opposites (normal vs. holy or feast days).
According to the theory of binary opposites items/behaviours
are not inherently good or bad but become so in certain
situations or when placed in the right or wrong element. The
rules for deciding this are very complex.
**an anthropologist must seek out and explain these rules
Cultural Materialism – these anthropologists believe that it is economic
factors and technology that are most important in looking at and
understanding other cultures (known as materialism).
Determinism – cultural materialists also believe in a concept
known as determinism. This states that the types of technology
and economic methods always determine the type of society
that develops.
According to one famous Cultural Materialist (Marvin Harris)
society can be divided into three levels:
Society’s Infrastructure – refers to which goods are produced,
and the methods used to reproduce the population (and at which
acceptable rate).
Society’s Structure – According to the Cultural Materialist it is
the infrastructure that determines a society’s structure (social
classes, distribution of wealth).
Society’s Superstructure – looks at members’ behaviour and
pastimes as well as their mental processes (music, recreation,
and the arts).