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Anthropology Theories and Key Figures

The document outlines various theories of anthropology, including evolutionism, functionalism, and structuralism, highlighting their key concepts and contributions. It also discusses notable anthropologists such as Franz Boas and Clifford Geertz, detailing their approaches and impacts on the field. Additionally, it defines important terminology related to the study of societies, including diachronic and synchronic perspectives.

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18 views2 pages

Anthropology Theories and Key Figures

The document outlines various theories of anthropology, including evolutionism, functionalism, and structuralism, highlighting their key concepts and contributions. It also discusses notable anthropologists such as Franz Boas and Clifford Geertz, detailing their approaches and impacts on the field. Additionally, it defines important terminology related to the study of societies, including diachronic and synchronic perspectives.

Uploaded by

staryoho6
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Worksheet Chapter 3 – Non-Inclusive

Method and Theory in Cultural Anthropology

Theories of Anthropology

Evolutionism: Scientific process of adaptation and survival.

Neoevolutionism: Evolution of culture as a whole and not every culture will evolve
in the same direction.

Unilinear Evolutionism: Longterm cultural and social change. Also look at the
similarities between societies.

Functionalism: Approach focusing on the role (function) of sociocultural practice in


social systems.

Structuralism: One tale can be converted into another through:


1.) converting the positive element into its negative
2.) Reversing the order of the elements
3.) Replacing a male hero w/a female
4.) Presenting/repeating certain key points

Structural Functionalism: Customs function to preserve the social structure. Each


social institution serves a specific function.

Historical Particularism: Idea that histories are not comparable; diverse paths can
lead to the same cultural result.

Interpretative Anthropology: The study of culture as a system of meaning.

Anthropologists

Lewis Henry Morgan: Distributed questionnaires to travelers to collect information,


mostly for kinship terms.

Franz Boas: Founder of the Four-field of anthropology, historical particularism and


functionalism.
Bronislaw Malinowski: Believed that all customs and institutions in society were
integrates and interrelated, so that if one changed, others would change as well. Needs
functionalism.

Clifford Geertz: Interpretive anthropology. Also said that culture is based on cultural
learning and symbols

Claude Levi-Strauss: Structuralism. Processual approaches (agency and practice


theory).

A.R. Radcliffe-Brown: Urged anthropologists to focus on the role that particular


practices play in the life of societies today. Advocated that social anthropology should
be synchronic rather than a diachronic science.

Terminology

Diachronic: Studying societies across time

Synchronic: Studying societies at one time

Emic: Native-oriented research strategy focusing on local explanations and meanings.


Etic: Scientist-oriented research strategy emphasizing the ethnographers' explanations
and categories.

Complex societies: Long populous societies (e.g. nations) with social stratification
and central governments.

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