What was replaced by contemporary theories after the fifties?

Introduction
The period following the 1950s witnessed significant shifts in various academic disciplines, including sociology, psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. New theoretical frameworks emerged, challenging and replacing earlier paradigms. This comprehensive solution explores the changes that occurred in different fields and the theories that replaced earlier approaches after the 1950s.
1. Sociology: From Structural Functionalism to Conflict Theory
In sociology, structural functionalism dominated theoretical discourse until the mid-20th century. This approach viewed society as a complex system composed of interrelated parts that function together to maintain social order and stability. However, in the post-1950s era, conflict theory gained prominence, particularly through the work of scholars like Karl Marx and Ralf Dahrendorf. Conflict theory emphasizes the role of power, inequality, and social conflict in shaping society, highlighting the struggles between dominant and subordinate groups for resources and control.
2. Psychology: Behaviorism to Cognitive Psychology and Humanistic Psychology
Behaviorism, which focused on observable behavior and external stimuli, was the dominant paradigm in psychology until the 1950s. However, the rise of cognitive psychology and humanistic psychology marked a departure from behaviorist principles. Cognitive psychology shifted the focus to internal mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving, while humanistic psychology emphasized subjective experiences, personal growth, and self-actualization. These new paradigms offered more holistic approaches to understanding human behavior and mental processes.
3. Anthropology: From Cultural Evolutionism to Cultural Relativism
Anthropology underwent a transformation from cultural evolutionism to cultural relativism in the post-1950s period. Cultural evolutionism, which posited that societies progress through distinct stages of development, was critiqued for its ethnocentrism and teleological assumptions. Cultural relativism emerged as a corrective to these biases, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultures within their own socio-cultural contexts. This shift led to a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and a rejection of universalist approaches to studying human societies.
4. Philosophy: Analytic Philosophy and Postmodernism
In philosophy, the dominance of logical positivism and analytic philosophy in the early 20th century gave way to the rise of postmodernism in the post-1950s era. Analytic philosophy, which emphasized clarity, precision, and logical analysis, was critiqued for its narrow focus on language and logical structure. Postmodernism challenged the idea of objective truth and questioned the stability of meaning and reality. It emphasized the plurality of perspectives and the role of power in shaping knowledge and discourse, leading to a more reflexive and deconstructive approach to philosophical inquiry.
5. Education: Behaviorism to Constructivism
In the field of education, behaviorism influenced pedagogical practices until the mid-20th century, with its emphasis on stimulus-response conditioning and reinforcement. However, after the 1950s, constructivism emerged as a dominant theoretical framework. Constructivism posits that learners actively construct knowledge through interaction with their environment and prior experiences. This approach emphasizes student-centered learning, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, challenging traditional teacher-centered methods.
6. Economics: Neoclassical Economics to Behavioral Economics
Neoclassical economics, which dominated economic theory until the mid-20th century, was based on the rational choice model and the assumption of perfect information and rational decision-making. However, in the post-1950s era, behavioral economics emerged as a new paradigm. Behavioral economics integrates insights from psychology and sociology to study how cognitive biases, emotions, and social factors influence economic decision-making. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of human behavior in economic contexts, challenging the rational actor model of neoclassical economics.
Conclusion
The period after the 1950s witnessed significant theoretical shifts in various academic disciplines, as new paradigms replaced earlier approaches. In sociology, conflict theory replaced structural functionalism, emphasizing social conflict and power dynamics. Psychology saw a shift from behaviorism to cognitive psychology and humanistic psychology, focusing on internal mental processes and subjective experiences. Anthropology transitioned from cultural evolutionism to cultural relativism, promoting a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity. Philosophy moved from analytic philosophy to postmodernism, questioning objective truth and emphasizing plurality of perspectives. In education, constructivism replaced behaviorism, emphasizing student-centered learning and critical thinking. Economics saw a shift from neoclassical economics to behavioral economics, incorporating insights from psychology and sociology into economic theory. These theoretical changes reflect broader intellectual and social transformations in the post-1950s era, shaping the way we understand and engage with the world.