2.1 The Nature of Culture:

The concept a characteristic of culture and Civilization; Ethnocentrism vis-a-vis Cultural Relativism

Indicate the implications of culture relativism for applied Anthropology. (200 words) (1981)
All cultures are hybrid. Substantiate. (1982)
Civilization is a special development of culture. Elaborate. (1983)
What is cultural relativism ? Evaluate its importance for the development of comparative method in social anthropology. (1984)
Write a note on Cultural relativism (1987)
How does culture differ from civilization? Describe the attributes of culture. (1987)
What do you understand by ‘norms and values’ ? Discuss their anthropological perspective and relevance in the context of contemporary times. . (1988)
Write a note on Culture as Construct or Reality. (1989)
What do you understand by ‘norms and values’ ? Discuss their anthropological perspective and relevance in contemporary times. (1990)
Write a note on Culture and civilization (1991)
What do you understand by ‘norms and values. Write briefly on cultural relativism. (1992)
Write a note on Norms and Values (1993)
Write a note on Cultural relativism (1995)
What is cultural change ? How did the Austro-German school put up the scheme of cultural change ? (1995)
Write a note on Acculturation and contra-acculturation (1997)
Elucidate the various concepts of social and cultural changes indicating the specific problems involved in the change process. (1997)
What do you understand by cultural relativistic approach and ethnocentric approach in the study of culture ? Discuss the logical premises of cultural relativist approach. (1997)
Write a note on Pattern of culture. (1998)
Write a note on Superorganic view of culture (1998)
Write a note on Culture trait and Culture complex (1999)
Write a note on Culture Area & Age Area (2000)
“Components of culture are vast and varied.” Explain this statement. (2002)
Write a note on Cultural Materialism. (2003)
Write a note in 150 words on Cultural; relativism and subseqent violation on human rights (2010)
What stage is known as the incipient stage of food production ? Point out major features of this cultural stage. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples from a specific area in the old world. (2010)
Bring out the distinguishing features of culture and civilization. (250 words) (2013)
Why has the concept of Cultural Relativism been so dear to anthropologists ? (250 words) (2013)
Is culture unique to human beings ? Critically examine. (2014)
Write a note in 150 words on Cultural Relativism (2016)
Discuss the development of the concept of culture in Anthropology. (2017)
Write a note in 150 words on Cultural Relativism.(2019)
Write notes on Human rights and Cultural relativism in about 150 words. (2020)
Discuss the historical and cultural contexts that led to superseding ethnocentrism with cultural relativism in anthropology. (2022)
Write notes on: Race and Ethnicity. (2023)
Write notes on: Attributes of culture. (2024)
Write notes on: Culture and embodiment. (2025)
Critically examine the drawbacks in assuming culture as an ‘integrated-closed system’ in understanding of contemporary society. (2025)

2.2 The nature of Society:

Concept of Society; Society and Culture; Social institutions; Social groups and Social stratification

Write a note on Differences between temporary groups and permanent groups. (1986)
Write a note on New ethnography (1987)
Write a note on Ethnography (1990)
Write a note on New ethnography (1991)
Write a note on Group and Association” (1992)
Write a note on Social institution (1993)
Describe the means of social control in simpler societies and compare the legal system of simple and complex societies. (1993)
Describe the nature, scope and methods of new ethnography. (1994)
Write a note on New ethnography (1995)
Critically assess the role of ethnography in the development of anthropological theories. (1997)
Elucidate the salient differences between tribal social system and caste system giving suitable examples in support of your answer. (1997)
Write a note on Caste mobility (1998)
‘Primitive society is governed by the traditional customary law.’ Do you agree with this statement ? Explain (l998)
Write a note on Social structure (1999)
Write a note on Social stratification (2000)
Write a note on Folk-Urban Continuum (2003)
Discuss mechanisms of social control in simple societies citing suitable examples. (2007)
Write a detailed note on polyandrous societies, citing Indian examples.(2009)
Discuss different modes of exchange in simple societies with suitable examples. (2011)
Explain the concept of ‘Status’ and ‘Role’ in Anthropology. (2012)
What are the bases of social stratification? Discuss with examples. (2012)
Define Status and Role. Distinguish between Ascribed and Achieved Status. (2014)
Write a note in 150 words on Society and Culture. (2015)
Define ethnography and present a brief history of ethnographic studies. (2018)
Discuss social stratification according to any three major approaches. (2019)
Discuss Erving Goffman’s concept of total institutions and its relevance in contemporary society. (2020)
Critically evaluate different types of social stratification with suitable examples (2021)
Write notes on: Household and domestic group. (2022)
Write notes on: Radcliffe-Brown’s ideas on status, role and institution. (2022)
Write notes on: William Ogburn and Cultural lag. (2023)
Examine critically the concept of social stratification as a basis for sustaining social inequality. (2024)

2.3 Marriage:

Definition and Universality; Laws of marriage (endogamy, exogamy, hypergamy, hypogamy, incest taboo); Types of marriage (monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, group marriage). Functions of marriage; Marriage regulations (preferential, prescriptive and proscriptive); Marriage payments (bride wealth and dowry)

“Marriage payments are an example of reciprocity between two social groups.” Elaborate. (200 words) (1981)
Marriage institution is found in all societies and at all times. Discuss. (1982)
Incest is universally the basis of enduring family. Comment. (1983)
Endogamy and preferential marriage are characteristic of closed societies. Discuss. (1983)
Define Marriage. Describe its different forms with suitable examples as prevalent among the tribal people of India. Point out the functions of marriage. (1989)
Describe the problems of universal definition of marriage. Describe the different forms of marriage among the tribal people of India. (1991)
Write a note on Incest Taboos (2006)
Write a note in 150 words on Ways of acquiring a spouse in simpler societies (2012)
Where do you situate ‘live-in relationship’ within the institution of marriage ? (250 words) (2013)
Define marriage and describe the various types of marriages in human societies. (2014)
Write a note in 150 words on Incest Taboos. (2015)
Discuss the different forms of preferential marriage with suitable examples from tribal societies in India. (2017)
Write a note in 150 words on Ways of Acquiring Mate in Tribal Society (2018)
Write notes on “Marriage Regulations and Alliance Theory” in about words. (2020)
Discuss the role of marriage regulations in traditional societies in India for strengthening social solidarity. (2023)
How the study of variation in forms of marriage led to rethinking on the concepts of social reproduction, kinship and family? (2025)

2.4 Family:

Definition and universality; Family, household and domestic groups; functions of family; Types of family (from the perspectives of structure, blood relation, marriage, residence and succession); Impact of urbanization, industrialization and feminist movements on family.

Is family universally the cornerstone of human society? Discuss. (1981)
Account for the universality of the nuclear family and1describe its functions (1984)
What are the major functions of the family? Indicate the recent changes that have taken place in its types and functions with special reference to India. (1985)
Give a comparative account of the different types of family in tribal and non-tribal societies of India. (1987)
Write a note on Universality of family. (1988)
Give a comparative account of different types of family in the tribes of India. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples. (1990)
Write a note ,m Matrilineal society (1991)
Is family a Universal Social Group ? Critically examine this with examples. (1993)
Examine family both as a social group and as an institution. Describe the functions of family and household, indicating therein the recent changes. (1996)
Do you agree with the view that family is a ‘universal association’ ? Critically examine the above statement. (1998)
Critically comment on the forces and factors that have brought about changes in the family structure in recent times.(1999)
What do you understand by Feminist movements ? Discuss their impact on family. (2002)
Write a note in 150 words on : Is family a social institution ? (2012)
Discuss the impact of urbanization and feminist movement on family. (250 words) (2013)
Define family and critically examine the universality of family. (2015)
Discuss the impact of urbanization and feminist movements on family in India. (2016)
Explain the impact of feminist movement on universality of marriage and family structure. (2020)
Define urbanization and discuss its impact on family in India with examples. (2024)
How the study of variation in forms of marriage led to rethinking on the concepts of social reproduction, kinship and family? (2025)

2.5 Kinship:

Consanguinity and Affinity; Principles and types of descent (Unilineal, Double, Bilateral, Ambilineal); Forms of descent groups (lineage, clan, phratry, moiety and kindred); Kinship terminology (descriptive and classificatory); Descent, Filiation and Complimentary Filiation; Descent and Alliance.

“Unilineal kinship is more characteristic of segmentary society than bilateral kinship.” Discuss. (1981)
The modern State has taken over many functions of the family and kin groups. Discuss. (1982)
Extended family and kinship ties are incompatible with an industrial society. Critically examine the view. (1983)
Distinguish between: Double descent and bilateral descent. (1984)
Descent is a cultural rule. Discuss. (1984)
Evaluate the role of kinship in regulating sex and marriage. (1984)
Write a note on Differences between clan and lineage in primitive society. (1986)
What are incest regulation? Bring out their socio-cultural functions in the context of stability in the institutions marriage, family and kinship. (1988)
What is kinship system? Discuss its relevance in understanding the social structure of society. (1991)
Write a note on Kinship terms and kinship behaviour (1994)
Write a note on Lineage and clan (1994)
What is kinship system? Describe the changing roles of the system in the context of westernization in India. (1995)
Discuss the distinguishing features of unilineal, bilineal and bilateral kin groups with suitable examples. (1997)
Now we live more in a class than a caste. Discuss foe role of kinship in this changed situation. (1998)
Explain the salient features of Descent and Alliance theories. Discuss the relevance to the analysis and understanding of Social Structure. (2001)
Define Kinship and throw light on the functional importance of Kinship in Anthropology. (2003)
Write a note on Forms of descent groups (2008)
Write a note in 150 words on. Segmentary lineage and territoriality (2010)
What factors are responsible for bringing about variation in residence of different societies ? Explain how kinship influences man’s social life. (2010)
Describe the types of kinship groups formed on the basis of different principles. (2012)
Write a note in 150 words on Various types of descent (2013)
Write a note in 150 words on Double Descent (2014)
Write a note in 150 words on Lineage and Clan (2016)
Describe the cardinal points of descent and alliance theories. (2016)
Write a note in 150 words on Bilineal and Bilateral descent (2017)
Elucidate the determinants of Kinship terminology. (2017)
Write a note in 150 words on Kinship Terminology. (2018)
Write notes on : Descent Groups. (in about 150 words) (2021)
Discuss how the rules of descent contradict the principles of residence in matrilineal society, mentioning suitable examples. (2022)
Critically discuss A. L. Kroeber’s contribution to kinship studies. (2023)
Write notes on: Critical perspective on avoidance and joking relationship. (2024)
Write notes on: Theoretical significance of Purum kinship-system. (2025)
How the study of variation in forms of marriage led to rethinking on the concepts of social reproduction, kinship and family? (2025)