University:
Tyler Junior College
Course:
ANTH 2301 | Anthropology
Academic year:

2024
Views:

471

Pages:

1
Author:

Dave D.

Theories of Cultural Change ANTH 2301 Social Structure The term "social structure" describes how a society is formally organised. It includes the regular actions and things that are placed at certain locations and times to accomplish certain goals, including making decisions as a group, producing and distributing products, or practicing a religion. Social structures combine material culture (like buildings) with behaviours (like meetings) and ideas (like the rules and procedures controlling these gatherings) by providing a framework that specifies when, when, how, and by whom these activities are done. Take the political sphere, or social framework of communal decisionmaking, as an example. In certain communities, as with the Akans, decisions about the society are usually decided by an individual holding a hereditary political position and called a chief or king. A council of community elders, or the leaders of the extended families in the area, often supports these chiefs, and the chief is required to confer with this council on all topics pertaining to the community. In addition, other social groups—such as women, youth, farmers, or traders—have leaders of their own who speak with the chief directly, guaranteeing that the interests of the various groups are reflected. The way that concerns are brought forward, addressed, and decisions are reached is governed by established processes. Together, the connections, groups, positions, and processes make up the political system's social structure. It's crucial to remember, though, that social systems change throughout time. Although they offer a framework, people's daily actions constantly modify and reshape them. The dynamic nature of social structures—which are influenced by interpretation, involvement, and resistance—is emphasised by anthropologists. These procedures are always flexible and adaptive because they represent the different factors that shape social systems. For instance, the relationships and behaviours within a political system that is centred on a chief and a council of elders in a community might change as the needs and ideals of the community do. It's possible for new groups to form, for responsibilities to be redefined, and for processes to be modified to better fit the modern environment. Social structures are dynamic, which emphasises how crucial it is to view them as flexible systems that change based on the behaviours and perceptions of the individuals inside them rather than as inflexible frameworks. Because of this, the social structure of community decision-making is a dynamic system that is always being constructed and altered by the involvement and engagement of community members, reflecting the continuing interaction between longstanding customs and cutting-edge practices. This viewpoint is consistent with the idea that social institutions, although they offer predictability and order, are essentially malleable and subject to negotiation, moulded by the decisions and actions of the people who make up the community.

Social Structure - Anthropology

Related Documents

Details

Description

Related Documents

Struggling with your assignment and deadlines?

Free up your schedule!

Take 5 seconds to unlock