A.R. Radcliffe-Brown

Definition

A.R. Radcliffe-Brown was a prominent British social anthropologist who is considered one of the founding figures of modern social anthropology. He is known for his influential work on the study of kinship and social structure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Radcliffe-Brown's approach to kinship emphasized the study of social structure and the functional relationships between different kinship roles and obligations.
2. He rejected the evolutionary and historical approaches to kinship prevalent in the 19th century, instead focusing on the synchronic analysis of kinship systems.
3. Radcliffe-Brown's concept of the 'social structure' was central to his understanding of kinship, which he saw as a fundamental aspect of the overall social system.
4. He argued that kinship systems should be studied in terms of the social functions they serve, such as the regulation of marriage, the organization of economic activities, and the transmission of social status.
5. Radcliffe-Brown's structural-functional approach to kinship had a significant influence on the development of modern social anthropology and the study of social organization.

Review Questions

• Explain Radcliffe-Brown's key contributions to the study of kinship.
  • Radcliffe-Brown's approach to kinship was a significant departure from the evolutionary and historical perspectives that dominated the 19th century. Instead of focusing on the origins and development of kinship systems, he emphasized the synchronic analysis of kinship as a fundamental aspect of social structure. Radcliffe-Brown viewed kinship as a system of social relationships that served important functional roles in regulating marriage, organizing economic activities, and transmitting social status. His structural-functional approach to kinship had a lasting impact on the field of social anthropology and the study of social organization.
• Describe how Radcliffe-Brown's concept of 'social structure' influenced his understanding of kinship.
  • Radcliffe-Brown's concept of 'social structure' was central to his approach to kinship. He saw kinship systems as a key component of the overall social structure, with each kinship role and obligation serving specific functions that contributed to the functioning of the larger social system. Radcliffe-Brown's emphasis on the synchronic analysis of kinship, rather than its historical development, was driven by his belief that the social structure and the relationships within it were the primary determinants of kinship patterns. This structural-functional perspective on kinship shaped the way anthropologists studied and understood the role of kinship in shaping social organization and behavior.
• Evaluate the influence of Radcliffe-Brown's work on the development of modern social anthropology.
  • Radcliffe-Brown's contributions to the study of kinship and social structure had a profound impact on the development of modern social anthropology. His rejection of the evolutionary and historical approaches that had dominated the field in the 19th century, and his focus on the synchronic analysis of social systems, represented a significant shift in anthropological thinking. Radcliffe-Brown's structural-functional perspective, which emphasized the ways in which different aspects of social organization were interdependent and served specific functions, became a dominant paradigm in the field. His work influenced generations of anthropologists and helped to establish social anthropology as a distinct discipline, with a focus on understanding the underlying patterns and dynamics of social life. Radcliffe-Brown's legacy continues to be felt in the ways that anthropologists approach the study of kinship, social structure, and the broader social and cultural systems that shape human behavior and experience.

Related terms

Structural-Functionalism:

A theoretical approach in anthropology that views society as a complex system with interdependent parts, each contributing to the overall functioning of the whole.

Social Structure: The patterned social arrangements in a society that shape individuals' relationships and behavior, such as kinship systems, social classes, and political institutions.

Kinship:

The system of social relationships based on blood, marriage, and adoption that form the basic building blocks of social organization in a society.