Who is the father of functionalism?

The father of functionalism in anthropology is Bronisław Malinowski. Malinowski was a Polish-British anthropologist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern anthropology. He is best known for his pioneering work in functionalism, which emphasized the importance of understanding cultural practices and institutions in terms of their functions or purposes within a society.

Malinowski conducted fielThe father of functionalism in anthropology is Bronisław Malinowski. Malinowski was a Polish-British anthropologist who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern anthropology. He is best known for his pioneering work in functionalism, which emphasized the importance of understanding cultural practices and institutions in terms of their functions or purposes within a society.
Malinowski conducted fieldwork among the Trobriand Islanders of Melanesia, where he developed his theory of functionalism through participant observation and intensive ethnographic research. He argued that every aspect of a culture, from rituals to economic systems, serves specific functions that contribute to the maintenance and stability of society. By focusing on the practical functions of cultural phenomena, Malinowski sought to understand how they fulfilled the needs of individuals and the broader social group.
Malinowski's functionalist approach revolutionized anthropology by shifting the focus from the mere description of cultural customs to the analysis of their underlying functions and meanings. His work laid the foundation for later developments in structural-functionalism and symbolic anthropology, influencing generations of anthropologists and shaping the discipline's methodology and theoretical frameworks.
dwork among the Trobriand Islanders of Melanesia, where he developed his theory of functionalism through participant observation and intensive ethnographic research. He argued that every aspect of a culture, from rituals to economic systems, serves specific functions that contribute to the maintenance and stability of society. By focusing on the practical functions of cultural phenomena, Malinowski sought to understand how they fulfilled the needs of individuals and the broader social group.

Malinowski’s functionalist approach revolutionized anthropology by shifting the focus from the mere description of cultural customs to the analysis of their underlying functions and meanings. His work laid the foundation for later developments in structural-functionalism and symbolic anthropology, influencing generations of anthropologists and shaping the discipline’s methodology and theoretical frameworks.