Summary Brief of Theories given by C. LEVI-STRAUSS, BRONISLAW K. MALINOWSKI & A.R. RADCLIFFE BROWN
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SOCM230IT
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Punjabi University Patiala
It briefly describes the significant points given by
#A.R. RADCLIFFE BROWN
1. Process of Social Life
2. Concepts of Social Structure, Structural Form, and Social Functions.
#Bronislaw K Malinowski
1. Malinowski's Biological Functionalism
2. Theory of Culture: Needs-Institutions-Culture S...
A.R. RADCLIFFE BROWN
(1881-1955)
• Influence of Durkheim
• Social facts
• Objective study
• Functional analysis
• Organic solidarity
• SOCIAL STRUCTURE
“Structure refers to an arrangement of parts or components related to one another in some
sort of larger unity.” In social structure the basic elements are human beings or persons
involved in social life. The arrangement of persons in relation to each other is the social
structure. For RCBrown, structure is not an abstraction but an empirical reality. It is an
empirically observable reality of arrangement or relationships of the members of a society.
A most important structural feature is the arrangement of people into dyadic relationships
or person-to-person relationships. A social structure becomes apparent during inter-group
interactions, and interpersonal interactions. Institutions “define for a person how he or she
is expected to behave, and also how he or she may expect others to behave”. Social
structure therefore has to be described in terms of the institutions, which regulate the
relationship between persons or groups. “The structural features of a social life of a
particular region consist of all those continuing arrangements of persons in institutional
relationships, which are exhibited in the actions, and interactions that in their totality make
up the social life”.
• SOCIAL LIFE. “The empirical reality with which social anthropology has to deal, by
description, by analysis and in comparative studies is the process of social life of a certain
limited region during certain period of time.” Process of social life consists of various actions
of human beings, particularly joint actions and interactions.
• ‘Diachronic’ description- Any anthropological description, which accounts for changes over
a period of time. ‘Synchronic’ description- Any anthropological description, which provides
an account of social life at a particular period of time.
• social organisation organisation: refers to arrangement of activities. “the arrangement of
activities of two or more persons adjusted to give a united combined activity.”
Structural form is comparatively stable. It is reflected in ‘social usages’ or widely observed
norms. These social usages persist, even though persons come and go. The stability of this
structural form depends on how well integrated its parts are and how effectively the parts
carry out their ‘functions’.
Social structure Vs structural form.
◦ Social structure is always in a state of flux.
◦ Social structure is a concrete reality whereas structural form is an abstraction.
• STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
• Durkheim talked about needs of the organism while RCB substituted the term ‘needs’ with
necessary conditions of existence. The study of structure makes sense only in terms of
function and function may be observed within a structure. While in living organisms we may
study structure and function separately, in case of human societies, structure and function
, can not be separated. “The life of an organism is conceived as the functioning of its
structure. It is through and by the continuity of the functioning that the continuity of the
structure is preserved”. Continuity of social structure is maintained by the process of social
life. Social life consists of the activities and the interaction of various human beings and of
the groups of which they are a part. Some of the features of social structure can be directly
observed, e.g., distribution of population etc. but the social relations, which in totality
constitute the social structure, cannot be observed except in the social activities in which the
relations are functioning. The function of social usage or activity refers to the contribution
that it makes to the functioning of the total social system.
• Eunomia:(good order; social health): harmonious working together of the parts of a society.
Functional unity or inner consistency of the system. Dysnomia: (disorder; social ill-health):
Condition of functional disunity or inconsistency in a society. Such a society may not die but
may change its structure.
• FEATURES OF BROWN’S STUDY
Theoretically sound and developed precise concepts. Clearly stated the concept of social
structure and social functions. Influenced by Durkheim
Field work based studies. Historical method combined with Functional method. Wanted
social anthropology to be built on the principles of natural sciences. Special status to social
anthropology. Related structure with function. Structural functionalist. Ceremonials,
customs, ways of acting and believing had to be seen in the context of the social system
from which they emerged, and the way in which they integrated and maintained that
system.
Social Anthropology is concerned with
◦ social functions and not biological functions.
◦ ‘persons’ in a society and not biological ‘individuals’
Bronislaw K Malinowski
(7 April 1884 – 16 May 1942)
Growth of scientific techniques in Social Theory
20th century scholars were mainly from scientific tradition
Malinowski- physicist
A R Radcliffe Brown- experimental Psychologist
Malinowski’s approach
Evolutionist X
Diffusionists X Social Anthropology
Field work-
Usually lasting over a year or more
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