Structural-Functionalism Flashcards

Structural Functionalism Overview

• Structural Functionalists adopt a structure-centered, synchronic perspective to analyze society.
• Emphasis on social order where various cultural structures (education, legal, religious, economic) allow societies to function effectively.
• Common values and norms are essential for social cohesion, with the family viewed as a pivotal unit.

Definition of Structural-Functionalism

• Structural-functionalism is a consensus theory emphasizing mutual agreements within society.
• Shared values and norms are crucial for societal stability and continuity.
• Social change is perceived as a gradual and orderly process rather than abrupt transformations.

Key Anthropologist: Radcliffe-Brown

• Radcliffe-Brown defined society as a system of relationships, contrasting with Malinowski's focus on individuals.
• He argued that individuals are less relevant to understanding social structures.
• Proposed that stateless "primitive" societies are formed from corporate-descent groups with no centralized institutions.

Key Anthropologist: Evans-Pritchard

• In his 1937 work, argued that the Nuer people of Africa organized primarily through unilineal descent groups.
• These groups serve specific functions like property administration and defense, establishing a lasting social structure.
• His analysis of kinship among Nuer fits into the broader framework known as "descent theory," shared with Fortes.

Criticisms of Structural-Functionalism

• Critiques include the downplaying of individual roles within society.
• The theory tends to overlook systemic inequalities based on race, gender, and other factors, ignoring related conflicts.
• It views societal change as a return to equilibrium, failing to account for genuine transformations.
• The notion that society has needs comparable to those of individuals is considered flawed.

Synchronic View

• A synchronic analysis focuses on a specific timeframe, examining a language or social structure as it exists at that moment.
• Synchronic linguistics disregards historical development, concentrating solely on the language's current system.

Diachronic View

• A diachronic study involves the examination of evolution and changes over time, paralleling historical analysis.
• Often referred to as historical linguistics, it contrasts with synchronic analysis by considering how elements develop over time.