What outdated theory does Anthropology include regarding cultural progression?

The focus on evolutionism in anthropology highlights a historical framework that suggested human cultures develop in a linear progression from "primitive" to "civilized." This paradigm was rooted in the ideas of early anthropologists who claimed that all societies evolve through similar stages of development. Evolutionism typically categorized cultures into hierarchies, implying a sequential advancement in technology, social organization, and belief systems.

While evolutionism played a significant role in the establishment of anthropology as a discipline, it has since been criticized for its overly simplistic views and Eurocentric biases. This theory does not account for the complex, varied, and non-linear trajectories that cultures can take due to a multitude of factors, including environment, historical context, and interaction with other cultures.

The alternative theories of cultural relativism, postmodernism, and sociolinguistics have emerged as more nuanced frameworks that recognize the richness and diversity of cultural expressions without imposing a hierarchy or a singular narrative of progression. Cultural relativism emphasizes understanding cultures on their own terms, postmodernism challenges established narratives and embraces multiplicity, and sociolinguistics explores the relationship between language and culture. These perspectives collectively move away from the outdated notions of evolutionism to better reflect the complexity of human societies.