Functionalism and structural-functionalism are foundational theoretical frameworks in social and cultural anthropology that focus on understanding how societies maintain stability, cohesion, and continuity. Both approaches emphasize the interrelatedness of social institutions and cultural practices, yet they differ in scope, emphasis, and analytical methods. Functionalism, as an anthropological approach, originated primarily through the works of Bronislaw Malinowski and Alfred Radcliffe-Brown, while structural-functionalism represents a refinement and expansion of functionalist thought, particularly associated with Radcliffe-Brown. Functionalism, in its classical form, is concerned with the role that cultural practices, social institutions, and norms play in meeting the needs of individuals within a society. Bronislaw Malinowski, often regarded as the father of modern anthropological functionalism, focused on understanding culture as a system that satisfies the basic biological, psychological, and social needs of individuals. He proposed that social institutions exist to fulfill essential human requirements such as nutrition, reproduction, security, and social interaction. For example, in his ethnographic work among the Trobriand Islanders, Malinowski demonstrated how kinship, magic, and ritual practices were not merely traditional or symbolic acts but served concrete functions for maintaining social cohesion and individual well-being. Marriage regulated sexual relations and inheritance, magic ensured successful fishing expeditions, and religious rituals provided psychological reassurance, demonstrating the functional integration of cultural elements. Functionalism, therefore, emphasizes the practical purpose and utility of social practices and institutions. It interprets seemingly disparate cultural traits in terms of their contribution to individual and societal needs, often highlighting how traditions and customs solve practical problems. This approach assumes a kind of social harmony, where institutions exist because they fulfill necessary functions, reducing the likelihood of systemic conflict. Critics, however, have argued that this perspective tends to underplay the role of social change, conflict, and power dynamics, as functionalism often portrays societies as stable and self-regulating entities. Structural-functionalism, while closely related to functionalism, shifts the focus from the individual to the society as a whole. Developed largely by Radcliffe-Brown, structural-functionalism examines the social structures that organize society and the functions these structures perform in maintaining social order. According to structural-functionalists, society is an integrated system composed of interdependent parts, each of which contributes to the stability and continuity of the whole. Whereas Malinowski concentrated on individual needs, Radcliffe-Brown emphasized social structures such as