SALALE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Academic Year: 2022/23 Year: II Semester: I

Mode of delivery: Parallel Course Code: SoAn2031

Course Title: Anthropological Theories I Credit Hours: 3

Course Instructor: Miliyon.B

Course Description
This course reviews important theoretical perspectives developed in anthropology. It presents
overview of the Anthropological theories and provides a broad coverage of classical
anthropological theories. Includes the likes of social evolutionism, diffusionism, functionalism,
structural functionalism and Marxian theories of class struggle and discusses them in detail.
Course Objectives
After the completion of the Course, students will be able to:
 Point out classical anthropological theories.
 Identify the major proponents of each anthropological theory
 Identify the limitations and strength of each anthropological theory
 Appreciate the contribution of each theory to the development of the discipline, Social
Anthropology.

Course Contents

CHAPTER ONE: ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORIES: CONCEPTS AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

1.1. Definitions of concepts

1.2. Major aspects of viewpoints of anthropological theories
1.3. The need for anthropological theories
1.4. Historical development of anthropological theories
1.5. Precursors of the anthropological tradition
CHAPTER TWO: 19TH CENTURY SOCIAL EVOLUTIONISM /EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
2.1. Uni-linear social evolutionism
2.2. Universal social evolutionism
2.3. Multi-linear evolutionism
2.4. Changing perspectives on evolution
CHAPTER THREE : DIFFUSIONISM
3.1. The concept of Diffusionism
3.2. British Diffusionism
3.3. German-Austrian Diffusionism
3.4. The Limitations And Strength Of Diffusionism
CHAPTER FOUR: HISTORICAL PARTICULARISM
4.1. Overview of Historical particularism
4.2. Boas versus unilineal evolutionists
CHAPTER FIVE : FUNCTIONALISM
5.1. Overview of functionalism
5.2. Functionalism : British Anthropology
5.3. Structural functionalism : Radcliffe Brown
5.4. Psychological Functionalism : Malinowisk
5.5. Limitation of functionalism
CHAPTER SIX: CULTURE AND PERSONALITY
6.1. Overview of Culture And Personality Theory
CHAPTER SEVEN: MARXIST PERSPECTIVES
7.1. Conflict theory

Distribution of Values for Assessment

1. Test …………………………………………………………………...20%
2. Individual Assignment…………………………………………….…..10%
3. Group Assignment and presentation……………………………….......15%
4. Quiz…………………………………………………………….………..5%
5. Final Exam………………………………………………………..…… 50%
Reference Books and Biblography
Barnard, Alan (2000). History and Theory in Anthropology, Cambridge; Cambridge University
press
Beals. R. La. and Hoijer. H. 1953. An Introduction to Anthropology, university of California
Los Angeles.
Bohahana. P. and Glozer. M. 1988. High points in Anthropology: Pan American University
Harris. M. 1968. The Rise of Anthropological theory; Harper Colins Publishers, Colombia
University
Layton. R (1997). An Introduction to theory in Anthropology, Cambridge, Cambridge
University press
Levenson David and Embert. M. 1996. Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology; New York.
Herery Holt Company Vol. II. Pp.343-344
Bibliography
Eriksen, Thomas H. (2001). Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and
Cultural Anthropology. 2nd ed. London: Pluto Press
Eriksen, Thomas H. and Nielsen, Finn S.(2001). A History Of Anthropology. London: Pluto
Press.
Moore, Henrietta L. and Sanders, Todd (2006). Anthropology in Theory: Issues in
Epistemology
(Oxford; Black well publishing)