Anthropological Theories

Classical Evolutionism (Tylor, Morgan, Frazer)

• Compare and contrast the symbolic approaches of Clifford Geertz and Victor Turner to understand culture. (2025)
• Critically examine James Frazer’s theory of evolutionism. Elucidate the place of religion in modernity. (2025)
• How the theories of postmodernism are relevant in promoting social justice and empowerment of marginalised communities? (2025)
• Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism. (2024)
• Critically evaluate Lewis Morgan’s classification of family. (2021)
• How did Morgan explain the evolution of marriage, family and socio-political organization? How did other evolutionists disagree with him? (2015)
• Point out the differences in the concepts of classical evolutionism and neo-evolutionism in socio-cultural anthropology. Which stage of prehistoric culture is known as cultural revolution and why? (2010)
• Write a note on Classical evolutionism. (1996)
• Write a note on 19th century evolutionism. (1988)
• Write a note on Contributions of Morgan and Tylor in the history of anthropological thought. (1985)
• Discuss the basic assumptions of 19th century evolutionism. Are these valid today? (1981)

Historical Particularism (Boas) & Diffusionism (British, German, American)

1. Write notes on Historical Particularism and Franz Boas. (2021)
2. Write a note in 150 words on Historical Particularism. (2015)
3. How do diffusionism and evolutionism differ as explanations of cultural change? (2015)
4. Critically examine the Historical Particularistic approach of Franz Boas. (1997)
5. What is meant by cultural diffusionism? Give an account of Fritz Graebner’s contributions. (1996)
6. What was Boas’ approach to studying primitive cultures? Role of fieldwork and history. (1995)
7. Bring out merits & demerits of British diffusion studies and American distribution studies. (1993)
8. Write a note on Diffusion and Diffusionism. (1992)
9. Write a note on Franz Boas. (1991)
10. Write a note on Franz Boas. (1988)
11. Distinguish between British school of diffusion and Austro-German school. (1984)
12. Diffusionism is an extremist view. Exemplify. (1983)

Functionalism (Malinowski) & Structural-Functionalism (Radcliffe-Brown)

1. Critically discuss the controversies related to the fieldwork of Bronislaw Malinowski and Margaret Mead. (2023)
2. Write a note in 150 words on Basic tenets of structural-functionalism. (2017)
3. Write a note in 150 words on Functionalism. (2016)
4. What is functionalism? Discuss the functional approach to understanding religion. (2014)
5. In what ways is Functionalism different from Structural Functionalism? (2013)
6. Write a note on Structural functionalism. (2008)
7. Describe structural features of social life in Radcliffe-Brown’s theory of social structure. (2003)
8. Discuss approaches of Radcliffe-Brown and Evans-Pritchard to comparative method. (2001)
9. What is meant by functionalism? Discuss Malinowski’s functionalism. (1999)
10. To Radcliffe-Brown, ‘function’ was the contribution of an institution to social structure. Elucidate. (1998)
11. Give names of two British functionalists. Describe one functional theory. (1995)
12. Write a note on A.R. Radcliffe-Brown. (1994)
13. Define social function. Critically evaluate Malinowski’s concept. (1992)
14. Discuss Malinowski’s contribution to functionalism. (1990)
15. Re-examine Radcliffe-Brown’s view of structure and function. (1989)
16. Evaluate Malinowski’s functionalism. (1987)
17. Write an essay on Structure-function theory of Radcliffe-Brown. (1986)
18. Examine Malinowski’s theory of needs. (1986)
19. Evaluate Radcliffe-Brown’s contribution to structural method. (1984)
20. Malinowski’s contribution to functionalism. (1984)
21. Functionalism not confined to Anthropology. Elaborate. (1983)
22. Contributions of Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, Firth to function. (1982)
23. Limitations of Radcliffe-Brown’s method of comparison. (1981)
24. “Structure-functional studies do not explain causal relationships.” Discuss. (1981)

Structuralism (Levi-Strauss, Leach)

1. Explain the structural analysis of kinship as proposed by Levi-Strauss. (2021)
2. How did Radcliffe-Brown and Levi-Strauss study kinship in terms of social structure? (2019)
3. How do concepts of binary opposition and exchange figure in Levi-Strauss’ kinship analysis? (2016)
4. Major criticisms of Levi-Strauss’ Structuralism. (2009)
5. Write a note on Structuralist approach to myth. (1994)
6. Write a note on Edmund R. Leach. (1993)
7. Discuss how Edmund Leach viewed social structure as a model. (1991)
8. Examine critically concept of Model & Myth in Levi-Strauss’ Anthropology. (1989)
9. Edmund Leach: Social structure as model. (1988)
10. Critically examine Levi-Strauss’ structural analysis. (1986)
11. Model and Myth in Levi-Strauss. (1985)
12. Structuralism from linguistics. (1984)
13. Structural study of myth (Levi-Strauss). (1982)
14. Social structure as models (Levi-Strauss & Leach). (1981)

Culture & Personality (Benedict, Mead, Linton, Kardiner, Du Bois)

• Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict. (2024)

1. Discuss various anthropological approaches to personality & culture. (2020)
2. What do you understand by National Character Study? Illustrate. (2018)
3. Explain Ruth Benedict’s Patterns of Culture. (2017)
4. Discuss relationship between culture & personality. (2008)
5. Critically discuss Ruth Benedict’s contribution. (2004)
6. Contributions of Mead & Linton to culture–personality link. (2001)
7. Contributions of Linton, Du Bois, Kardiner. (1999)
8. Write a note on Culture and Personality. (1996)
9. Culture & Personality relationship with examples. (1994)
10. Approaches in national character studies. (1994)
11. Basic Personality & Model Personality. (1992)
12. Model Personality. (1992)
13. Define basic personality; methods of study. (1988)
14. Basic personality & model personality distinction. (1984)
15. Basic personality structure & model personality. (1986)
16. Limitations of personality constructs. (1982)
17. National character studies – value & limitations. (1981)

Neo-Evolutionism (Childe, White, Steward, Sahlins, Service)

1. Critically examine Steward’s view of Neo-evolutionism. (2017)
2. Write a note in 150 words on Gordon Childe’s Theory of Cultural Evolution. (2018)
3. Explain Neo-evolutionism. (2009)
4. Contribution of Julian Steward to Cultural Ecology. (2002)
5. What is neoevolutionism? Evaluate White’s approach. (2000)
6. Cultural Ecology & Steward’s multilineal evolution. (1998)
7. Write a note on Neo-evolutionism. (1997)
8. 19th Century vs Neo-evolutionists. (1993)
9. Essay on Neo-evolutionism & Cultural Ecology. (1989)

Cultural Materialism (Harris)

1. Write a note in 150 words on Cultural Materialism. (2019)
2. Write a note in 150 words on Cultural Materialism. (2011)

Symbolic & Interpretive Theories (Turner, Geertz, Schneider)

1. Elucidate Geertz’s “thick description” with example. (2021)
2. Write notes on Victor Turner and Liminality. (2020)
3. Examine critically Turner & Geertz. (2019)
4. What made Geertz’s interpretive anthropology distinct from Turner’s symbolic anthropology? (2015)
5. Contribution of Turner & Geertz in symbolic/interpretive anthropology. (2013)
6. Write a note on Symbolism. (2007)
7. Write a note on Symbolic Anthropology. (2001)
8. Write a note on Symbolism. (1999)

Cognitive Theories (Tylor, Conklin)

1. Write a note on Cognitive Anthropology. (2002)

Postmodernism in Anthropology

1. Explain basic features of Postmodernism in Anthropology. (2015)
2. Write a note in 150 words on Postmodernism in Anthropology. (2012)