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RecommendedVAID ICS Sampoorna Anthropology Test Series for UPSC
Home/Anthropology/Mains PYQ/Topic/Anthropological Theories
Topic Explorer · Paper I

Anthropological Theories Questions in UPSC Anthropology Optional Mains

The theoretical backbone of Paper I — from classical evolutionism and diffusionism to structuralism, cultural materialism and interpretive anthropology, with the thinkers and critiques that examiners expect you to name.

Filter Answer available 34 questions · 31 answered

Syllabus context

Paper I 8 — Anthropological Theories

All year-wise Anthropological Theories questions

2026 How is the theory of structuralism helpful in understanding the concepts of caste and gender? Answer 2026 Critically discuss how culture determines human behaviour in the light of Leslie White's theory. Answer 2026 Compare Edmund Leach's structuralism with interpretive anthropology of Clifford Geertz. Answer 2026 Discuss, with appropriate examples, how basic personality types may lead towards building up of national character. Answer 2025 Compare and contrast the symbolic approaches of Clifford Geertz and Victor Turner to understand culture. Answer 2025 How the theories of postmodernism are relevant in promoting social justice and empowerment of marginalised communities? Answer 2024 Discuss historical particularism as a critical development to the classical evolutionism. Answer 2024 Critically discuss the characteristics of the psychological types in the cultures of the American South-West as observed by Ruth Benedict. Answer 2024 How does Levi-Strauss look at the Tsimshian myth of Asdiwal? Critically discuss Levi-Strauss' theory of structuralism in the light of his study of mythologies. Answer 2024 Critically explain the notion of 'deconstruction' in the light of the postmodern works of Jacques Derrida. Answer 2023 Discuss political and methodological aspects of national character studies. Elucidate the contemporary relevance of such studies. Answer 2023 Critically examine Arjun Appadurai's conceptualization of global cultural economy. Answer 2023 William Ogburn and Cultural lag Answer 2022 Discuss the approaches of Leslie White, Julian Steward and Marshall Sahlins in the light of cultural evolution. Soon 2021 Historical Particularism and Franz Boas Answer 2021 Elucidate the concept of “thick description” of Clifford Geertz with a suitable example. Answer 2020 Victor Turner and Liminality Answer 2020 Discuss various anthropological approaches to the study of personality and culture. Answer 2019 Cultural Materialism Answer 2019 Examine critically the contributions of Victor Turner and Clifford Geertz in anthropology. Answer 2018 What do you understand by the National Character Study ? Illustrate the concept. Answer 2018 Gordon Childe's Theory of Cultural Evolution Answer 2017 Critically examine the Stewardian view of neo-evolutionism. Answer 2017 Basic tenets of structural-functionalism Answer 2017 Explain Ruth Benedict's patterns of culture. Answer 2016 Functionalism Answer 2016 According to Geertz, how does the cock-fight reveal aspects of Balinese culture ? Soon 2016 How do the concepts of binary opposites and exchange figure in Levi-Strauss' structural analysis of kinship ? Soon 2015 Historical Particularism. Answer 2015 How did Morgan explain the evolution of marriage, family and Socio-Political organization, and how did other evolutionists disagree with his explanation? Answer 2015 How do diffusionism and evolutionism differ as explanations of Culture Change ? Answer 2015 Explain the basic features of 'Postmodernism' in Anthropology. Answer 2015 What made Geertz's Interpretive Anthropology distinct from Turner's Symbolic Anthropology ? What does each of them mean by the terms 'Symbol' and 'Symbolic' ? Answer 2014 What is functionalism ? Discuss the functional approach to the understanding of Religion. Answer

Anthropological Theories

34 questions

1(d) Cultural Materialism

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Cultural Materialism
2019Paper IAnthropological TheoriesModel answer available

1(e) Functionalism

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Functionalism
2016Paper IAnthropological TheoriesModel answer available

1(e) Historical Particularism.

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Historical Particularism (Boas)
2015Paper IAnthropological TheoriesModel answer available

1(d) Victor Turner and Liminality

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Symbolic Anthropology > Turner; liminality
2020Paper IAnthropological TheoriesModel answer available

5(e) William Ogburn and Cultural lag

10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper I > 6. Anthropological Theories > Cultural lag (Ogburn)
2023Paper IAnthropological TheoriesModel answer available