Essay - Functionalism and Structuralism

 

Anthropology 702 Essay

Topic: Compare and contrast the functionalist and structuralist schools of thought as reactions to the early nineteenth century of  evolutionism.

 

The nineteenth century evolutionist have infact influenced the works of many writers as well as schola scholars rs in general general.. In addition, addition, in a reactio reaction n to this this theory theory emerged emerged the theory theory of  functionalism as well as structuralism. This essay will therefore give a brief account of the nineteenth ninet eenth century evolutionism evolutionism followed by an in depth explanation explanation of the two theories theories as well as a comparison of the two accompanied by relevant examples followed by an overall conclusion. The nineteenth century evolutionist firstly had claimed that societies in general developed in accordance to what they had referred to as a universal order in which every society regardless of their whereabouts followed this universal order. Furthermore, the evolutionist proceeded to identify the various universal evolution stages in which they had classified them as savagery,  barbarism and finally the highlest level that one could reach, civilization. Moreover, the evolutioni evolu tionists sts in this era were believed believed to have collected collected data from missionaries missionaries as well as traders. The evolutionist themselves had rarely visited the areas that they were analysing. Therefore, in this era the evolutionist relied heavily on secondary information which as stated  previously was acquired in various ways through through different individuals (Beattie, 1964). Therefore, they had opted to apply a generalized theory somewhat in an attempt to explain developmen devel opmentt in various various societies in a standardized standardized manner. In addition addition to this, it is then said that these evolutioni evolutionist st had some assumptions assumptions with regards to evolution and development development in genera gen eral, l, on onee being being the idea idea that that human human beings beings in general general share share simila similarr charac characteri teristi stics cs throughout the world. Therefore, in a way implying that these individuals all go through the samee process sam process of develo developme pment nt and do not differ differ in anyway anyway.. Furthe Furthermo rmore, re, the ninete nineteent enth h century centu ry evolutioni evolutionist st are said to have contributed contributed tremendous tremendously ly to anthropology anthropology in the sense that they had provided what one could reffer to as the first systematic method of thinking about one’s self as well as explaining human societies in general (Beattie, 1964). Therefore,i There fore,in n an reaction to the nineteenth century evolutionism evolutionism two very important important theories theories were brought forward. Functionalism for one was said to be introduced by Radcliffe Brown as well as Malinowski (Landa, 2007). The theory of functionalism therefore was said to seek  to examine the overall overall social significance significance of phenomena phenomena which is basically basically the purpose purpose that they serve in society in an attempt to maintain the whole. Furthermore, within this theory individuals are viewed as forming part a system which included every individual within that  particular society. In addition, the main focus of this theory was on the metaphor of the living

 

organi org anism sm where it is stated stated that that the several several parts parts of the organi organism sm are grouped grouped togeth together er to ensure the a smooth run of a society (Landa, 2007). In addition, Malinowski stated that individuals have physiological needs and that various social institutions are developed in order to meet the various needs of these groups of  individuals. In addition as previously stated cultural institutions function in a way that makes it possible for the psychological as well as the physical needs of individuals in a society to be met. Malinowski Malinowski was concerned concerned with how individual individualss found ways to pursue pursue their own ends wi with thin in th thee restr restric ictio tions ns of th thei eirr cu cult ltur uree (Lan (Landa da,, 20 2007 07). ). In ad addi diti tion on,, an anot othe herr aspect aspect of  functionalism is brought forth which is structural functionalism. Struct Str uctura urall functio functional nalism ism looks looks at how variou variouss social social structu structures res as well well as cultur cultures es have have contributed to the roles that individuals held in a society. In addition according to structural functionali funct ionalism sm the roles that individuals individuals have in society is based on statuses that continue continue to exist in unmodified forms even after an individual has disappeared. Therefore, the theory of  functionalism places huge emphasis on social structures as a whole and not on individuals alone reason being is that they believe that the group as a whole brings in a great level of  reality which is distinct from those of biological forms as well as inorganic matter. In addition, addit ion, under the theory of structuralism structuralism functionalism functionalism the general general fieldwork fieldwork is said to be geared towards gaining an overall understanding of how social structures are organised as well as how they function within various cultures. Social structuralism is also interested in taking an in depth look at social laws which govern  behaviour from a somewhat cross cultural perspective rather than simply focusing on one culture. Alternatively, the theory of Structuralism according to Claude Levi Strauss in which he states states that that cultur cultural al forms forms are based based on the common common properti properties es of the human mind. Therefore, implying that the structure of thoughts that individuals have in one part of the world can be found across all cultures. Moreover, the goal of structuralism is said to be able to discover the universal principles of the human mind underlying each culture (Scholte, 1974). Therefore, as analytical model structuralism is said to assume the way that individuals think is in fact unuiversal and these thought pastterns can be used in order to explain what is refer referre red d to as th thee de deep ep str struc uctu ture re or th thee un unde derl rlyi ying ng mean meanin ing g which which ex exist istss in cu cult ltur ural al  phenomena (Beattie, 1964).

 

As previously stated the structuralist paradigm within the field of anthropology is said to  believe that the way people think is infact universal and their thought processes is said to be the same across all cultures. In addition, it is said that these mental mental processes therefore exist in the form of binary oppositions. Therefore, some of these sorts of oppositions, include aspects such as hot and cold, raw and cooked, male and female and so forth. Morever, structuralist therefore suggest that the binary oppositions are reflected in a variety of cultural institution instit utions. s. Anthropol Anthropologist ogist therefore may discover the underlyin underlying g thought thought processes processes by examining aspects such as myths, language language and kinship (Scholte, 1974). In addition it is then said sai d that that a hidden hidden realit reality y exist exist beneat beneath h all cultur cultural al express expression ions. s. Basical Basically, ly, the strutu strutural ral approach states the one ought to understand the underlying meaning involved in human thought which are expressed in cultural acts due to the fact that is believed that elements of  culture in as well as of themselves are not explanatory but rather form part of a meaningful system therefore, the elements of culture ought to be understood in terms of their relationship to the entire system (Scholte, 1974). In addition, based on the above there are noticiable differences between the two theories. Firstly, functionalism evidently focuses on the whole which is the society in general which consists of a large of individuals and social structures which are put into place in an attempt to ensure the smooth running of that particular society. For example, the government will  provide education for children that belong to that particular society, the family of those children will pay tax that of which the state depends on. In addition the school assists in helping helpi ng the children children receive a good education education that will help them get good jobs in order for  them to support their families. In addition these children will become law abiding as well as tax paying citizens who eventually will end up supporting the state. Therefore, functionalism focuses on the group in order to ensure that the society as a whole runs smoothly which therefore will benefit everyone (Landa, 2007). Alternatively Altern atively,, structuralism structuralism seeks to understand the underlyin underlying g meaning meaning involved involved in the individual human mind as expressed in culturals acts. Therefore, they look at the behaviour of  an individual that of which may include their everyday activities such as running errands,  brushing their teeth, going to school or work and so forth. Structuralism acknowledges that in order to understand the behavior of individuals one ought to understand the way that their  minds min ds work work and what has been influe influenci ncing ng the way that that they they think think (Scholt (Scholte, e, 1974). 1974). In addition, functionalism also focuses on how cultural institutions function to meet the physical and psychological needs of people in a society. Therefore, it is believed that people have the

 

same needs and the structures put into place are there to satisfy such needs. Whereas, structuralism struct uralism acknowledge acknowledgess the fact that the universal universal principles principles of the human mind is what infl influe uenc nces es cu cult ltur uree no nott cu cult ltur uree th that at in infl flue uenc nces es th thee in indi divi vidu dual alss mind mind.. In my op opin inio ion n functionalism is similar to the nineteenth century evolutionism theory in the sense that it  believes that things are done in a particular way that does not change over time. Therefore, it also makes use of generalized theories in order to explain the development stages in various societies. The two focus on a standardized way of doing things unlike structuralism that acknowledges that change is something that is inevitable. Therefore, the way someone in Australia for instance may influence the way someone in South Africa thinks and may change some of the things that they usually say and do. In addition, functionalism implies that structures remain the same over time. For example, what an individual wears in 2015 will be worn in 2055 without changing the individuals within that society will pass away but the structures will forever remain the same over time. Alternatively Altern atively,, structuralism structuralism as previously previously stated states that the human mind is influenced influenced by universal elements for example someone that belongs to the zulu culture and believes in witchcraft but at a later stage changes religions perhaps due to a change of environment may stop believing in witchcraft this way their thoughts have been influenced which results in change. chang e. Therefore, Therefore, structuralism structuralism unlike unlike functionali functionalism sm can be influenced influenced making change change  posible which makes room for modification. In addition, functionalism f unctionalism wants to understand the social structures of a society whereas in structuralism there is a focus on the individual in order to understand the structures of a society. In conclusion, based on the above it has been made evident that functionalism tends to focus on society as a whole and strays from taking an individualistic approach to viewing society. Therefore, There fore, functionalist functionalist basically believes that society society is made up of parts that contribute to the whole. In addition, the structures within a functionalist society therefore do not change over time but remain the same and sum of the whole is what contributes to the smooth running runn ing of the society. Alternatively, Alternatively, the structural structural theory focuses on the individual individual state of  mind due to the fact that they believe that this is what influences their overall behavior. Therefore, struturalist believe that the minds of human beings are influenced by universal thought patterns which results in a great amount of change over time within that particular  society.

 

Bibliography:

Beattie Beatt ie,, J.H. J.H.M M (196 (1964) 4) Ot Othe herr Cult Cultur ures: es: Aims Aims,, Meth Method odss an and d Achi Achiev evem emen ents ts in soci social al anthropology. New York: Free Press. Landa, O (2007) Functionalist perspectives in anthropology. Scholte, B (1974). 'Structural Anthropology as an Ethnologic. The Unconscious in Culture: The Structuralism of Claude Levi-Strauss in Perspective.  New   New York: Dutton.