A.R. Radcliffe-Brown carried out fieldwork among the Andaman Islanders in the Bay of Bengal from 1906 to 1908, recording their social organization, ritual and belief. Published in 1922 as The Andaman Islanders, the study argued that the islanders' customs, including their elaborate mourning and initiation rites, functioned to maintain the cohesion of the wider social structure, an approach that became a founding text of structural functionalism.
Facts
YearSourced to the subject's own account MethodA.R. Radcliffe-Brown relied on direct observation, comparative method and sociological interpretation rather than speculative historical reconstruction, documenting Andamanese kinship systems, rituals and social norms during his 1906-1908 fieldwork. 2 Key FindingRadcliffe-Brown argued that Andamanese taboos, naming customs, kinship and ritual functioned to regulate relationships and preserve social cohesion rather than merely to satisfy personal or supernatural needs, an early statement of structural-functionalism. 2 LocationSourced to the subject's own accountThe Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. The Andaman Islanders (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWikipedia, The Andaman Islanders, Culture sectionQuote, Wikipedia, The Andaman Islanders, Culture section
Anthropologist A.R. Radcliffe Brown argued that the Andamanese had no government and made decisions by group consensus.
1. The Andaman Islanders (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWikipedia, The Andaman Islanders, geography/introductionQuote, Wikipedia, The Andaman Islanders, geography/introduction
the Andaman Islands
2. Alfred Reginald Radcliffe Brown (Anthropologist) (Anthroholic)
AnthroholicAnthroholic, Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown profile, Fieldwork sectionQuote, Anthroholic, Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown profile, Fieldwork section
direct observation, comparative method, and sociological interpretation
2. Alfred Reginald Radcliffe Brown (Anthropologist) (Anthroholic)
AnthroholicAnthroholic, Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown profile, Theoretical contribution sectionQuote, Anthroholic, Alfred Reginald Radcliffe-Brown profile, Theoretical contribution section
how seemingly complex taboos and naming customs were in fact integral to regulating relationships and preventing conflict
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