Question

A theoretical approach advanced by Bronislaw Malinowski which suggests that a culture is similar to a biological organism: the parts work together to support the operation of the whole. Religion and family organization, for example, contribute to the functioning of the whole culture _________.

Answer 1

The theoretical approach that compares culture to a biological organism and focuses on how different cultural elements function together to support the whole society is known as functionalism or structural-functional theory, as proposed by figures like Bronislaw Malinowski.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theoretical approach in question is known as functionalism or structural-functional theory, which was advanced by anthropologists such as Bronislaw Malinowski. This approach compares culture to a biological organism, where each part, such as religion or family organization, works collectively to support the operation of the whole. In this view, all elements of human life interrelate to form a coherent society. Malinowski identified that cultures satisfy basic human needs, address derived needs through social structures like family and gender roles, and integrative needs through religion, law, and ideologies. Other theorists like Durkheim and Radcliffe-Brown contributed to the development of functionalism, emphasizing the interrelatedness of society's structures and the integrated system that they form.