RUTH BENEDICT

About Benedict

Ruth Benedict was an American anthropologist and folklorist who is best known for her contributions to the fieldofculturalanthropology.

Culture According To Benedict

In Benedict's view, she conceived of cultures as total constructs of intellectual, religious, and aesthetic elements. Culture encompasses the collective patterns of behavior, beliefs, values, customs, and artifacts that define a specific group or society. It is acquired through socialization and cultural learning rather than being biologically predetermined. Culture constitutes a sophisticated system of symbols and meanings that individuals use to interpret and comprehend their surroundings

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Benedict made a distinct contribution to anthropology with her theory that culture can be seen as an expanded version of personality. She strongly advocated for the practical application of cultural relativism, the idea that a culture or group should be studied within its own context.

This principle drove her work in "Patterns of Culture" (1934), a book praised by The New York Times for its

“expertly conceived and brilliantly developed” combination of “a quartet of sciences, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy.

Benedict’s first book, Tales of the Cochiti Indians (1931), and her twovolume Zuñi Mythology (1935) were based on 11 years of fieldwork among and research into the religion and folklore of Native Americans, predominantly the Pueblo, Apache, Blackfoot, and Serrano peoples. Patterns of Culture (1934), Benedict’s major contribution to anthropology, compares Zuñi, Dobu, and Kwakiutl cultures in order to demonstrate how small a portion of the possible range of human behavior is incorporated into any one culture; she argues that it is the "personality, " the particular complex of traits and attitudes, of a culture that defines the individuals within it as successes, misfits, or outcasts. Six years later, with the publication of Race: Science and Politics, she refuted the racist theory. From 1925 to 1940 she edited the Journal of American Folklore.

Criticisms

Benedict's theory, while influential, has not been without criticism. Scholars have pointed out that her approach may oversimplify intricate cultural phenomena by condensing them into predetermined patterns. Furthermore, some have raised doubts about the feasibility and desirability of categorizing cultures into distinct and rigid categories. These critiques highlight ongoing debates within the field of anthropology regarding the complexities and fluidity of cultural dynamics. Despite the criticism, Benedict's work remains significant in shaping discussions on cultural relativism and understanding the multifaceted nature of human societies.

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

ABOUT MEAD

Mead, who turned the study of primitive cultures into a vehicle for criticizing her own, was born in Philadelphia on December 16, 1901. Both her father, Edward Mead, an economist at the Wharton School, and her mother, Emily Mead, a sociologist of immigrant family life and a feminist, were devoted to intellectual achievement and democraticideals.