Western Culture

The influence of Western culture on traditional culture can be both beneficial and negative for the traditional culture. Usually the traditional cultures maintain their non-material values and norms, but adopt material changes. Material and technological changes are helpful and can bring great improvements and make life more efficient, for example, communication. Although there are many constructive changes caused by western culture, when two cultures make contact it can cause conflict. Even though some traditional cultures try to maintain their traditional ways and values, it is impossible to remain unchanged after contact with western culture. This is all caused by the two cultures merging which is known as diffusion.

To study change, it is essential to study culture. Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, especially their origins, their behaviour and their physical, social and cultural development. Cultural anthropology is the study of human behaviour that is learned. The study of learned behaviours and symbols that allow people to live in groups provides an understanding of human experience. (Nanda + Warms, 2013)

A young Bronsilaw Malinowski is a British anthropologist who studied change and economics. He set sail to the Trobriand Islands to study their culture and way of living. He first rose to prominent notice through his studies of the Trobriand Islanders whose marriage, trade and religious customs he studied extensively. In 1916 he began his signature work of the Trobriand Islanders, studying kinship, trade, the practical purposes of the ritual and religion, as well as the intersection between cultural ideals and actual daily behaviours. Malinowski embraced the value of studying everyday life in all its mundane aspects, however it was not enough to simply record what tribal members said about their religious beliefs, sexual practices, marriage customs, or trade relationships but it was important to also study how this measured up to what they did in everyday life.

Furthermore, Malinowski discovered through his work that the so-called "superstitious savages" were actually far more rational and pragmatic than white colonialists and missionaries had given them credit for. For example, tribal marriage and religious practices, no matter how strange or exotic, revealed themselves to be an integral part of the healthy functioning of the community, playing vital roles in trade, community cohesion, and social stability. Even "magic rituals", once derided as the height of ignorance and irrationality, were from Malinowski's functionalist viewpoint, highly sensible and effective. It became apparent for example, that when Trobriand Islanders went fishing in a lagoon, it was a straightforward matter. But when they had to go beyond the reefs, out into the deep ocean -- with all the vagaries and dangers of accidental injury, freak waves and sudden storms, as well as sharks, unpredictable hauls, and other difficulties - they then resorted to magic ritual to help them assuage their fear and get on with the job required of them. To Malinowski, it mattered not that such rituals had no basis in science (that they would not actually calm waves or ensure a worthwhile catch); what mattered was that they empowered the islanders to do what needed to be done - in a situation where events were beyond their material control. Thus they maintained the psychological well-being of tribal members, and allowed members to better participate in the necessary social and economic functions of the community.

But despite all of these contributions and their considerable scientific influence and ramifications, Malinowski is primarily acknowledged as the father of that branch of anthropology