Question

Difference between functionalism and structural functionalism

Answer 1

Both Functionalism and Structure-Functionalism came to anthropology on the same year - 1922, with the publication of Argonauts of the Western Pacific by Malinowski and The Andaman Islanders by Radcliffe-Brown. The former was espoused by Malinowski and the latter by A R Radcliffe-Brown. The two are similar in the sense that that both are dealing with the same problem - social institutions like marriage, family, economy, polity, religion, magic etc.

The fundamental difference is in their perspective. Malinowski (“pure functionalism”) took individual as unit and thought that social institutions came into being and persist because they fulfill the needs of an individual. These needs are both biological and psychological. That is why it is also known as Bio-psychological functionalism. His approach is also called “bottom-up” (individual > society) because it placed primacy of individual before society.

On the other hand Radcliffe-Brown’s structure-functionalism (“hyphenated functionalism”) put society before individual. He believed that social institutions exist because their primary function was to maintain society and social solidarity His approach is also known as “top-down” (society > individual) approach.

As theory in anthropology both became obsolete by 1950 because neither could explain social and cultural change. However thy left a very important and lasting legacy - participant observation - which is still the hallmark of social research

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Difference between structuralism and structural functionalism

“structural-functionalism,” is a subtle modification of the previously existing “functionalist” theory, while “structuralism” represents a complete paradigm shift. In that sense, it's analogous to the difference between Newtonian and Einsteinian physics — it's a whole new way of looking at the subject matter.