Download Schools of Thought in Anthropology

Schools of Thought in
Anthropology
What is a School of
Thought?
A perspective, a viewpoint,
or a certain way of
interpreting a discipline's
subject matter that has
become widely credible.
Functionalism
• Society must have a set of standard
laws and practices to provide stability.
These are called Institutions.
• Society is a logical institution and
functions in the best interest and by the
needs of the majority; every practice,
custom serves a purpose to provide
stability.
• All cultures are set up to deal with the
universal problems that human societies
face (e.g. Conflict = law enforcement).
Key Terms of Functionalism
Institutions: established laws, practises &
customs in a society.
Norms: a set of generalized patterns of
behaviour for a society (e.g. Marriage,
job)
Roles: the expected behaviours,
responsibilities associated with a
position (principal)
Status: Where that role fits in the society
Hierarchy: a ranking system based on
status & roles of the society.
Individuals have
physiological
needs:
• Food
• Shelter
• Water
There are also
culturally derived
needs:
• Language
• Arts
• Clothing
• Products/
Technology
Structuralism
• The mind functions on binary opposites
• Humans see things in terms of two
forces that are opposite to each other.
For example night and day, good and
bad
• Binary opposites differ from society to
society
• Rules in each culture are different
• Anthropologists must seek out & explain
these rules, depending on cultural they
are in.
For example:
Structuralists, believe that the world is
organized according to male and female
constructs, roles, words, and ideas.
Functionalist and Structuralist
Views on Kinship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqXHJEb3
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Cultural Materialism
• Technological and economical factors
are most important ones in moulding a
society
• The types of technology and economic
methods that are adopted always
determine the type of society that
develops; the true explanation of a
culture can only be derived by
examining members' decisions
regarding human reproduction &
According to Cultural Materialists, a
culture is evaluated by outsiders on 3
levels:
Level 1
Infrastructure
Represented by material factors: goods/
products / services.
• E.g. Way in which goods are produced
• E.g. Methods used to reproduce
population at an acceptable rate
Level 2
Structure
• Social class
• Distribution of wealth
Level 3
Superstructure
• Music
• Recreation
• Arts