BSCO-103(EM) 2025-26

Functionalism is a theoretical approach in anthropology that emphasizes the role of social institutions in fulfilling the needs of individuals and maintaining the stability of society. Among the early functionalists, Bronislaw Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown made pioneering contributions, but their approaches and interpretations of functionalism diverge in significant ways. Understanding their differences requires examining their theoretical foundations, methodology, focus, and conceptualization of social functions