structuralism

n. method of sociological analysis of human behavior and cognition and experience in a system of binary opposition; structural linguistics, classification of permanent structures and formations in a language

For the use of structuralism in biology, see Structuralism (biology) Structuralism as a term refers to various theories across the humanities, social sciences and economics many of which share the assumption that structural relationships between concepts vary between different cultures/languages and that these relationships can be usefully exposed and explored.
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Noun
1. linguistics defined as the analysis of formal structures in a text or discourse
(synonym) structural linguistics
(hypernym) linguistics
2. an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena
(synonym) structural anthropology
(hypernym) theory
(part-holonym) anthropology
3. a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals
(synonym) structural sociology
(hypernym) theory
(part-holonym) sociology

The term is used differently in different circles, but in the postmodern circle it generally refers to the theories influenced by Saussure .  According to these schools of thought, learning a particular langauge lays down a firm and resistant way of understanding.  Structuralism studies these resistant ways of understanding.

structuralism