L3 - Ev/Ecological Roots of Human Social Organization Flashcards
1
Q
Human Life History
A
- large brain compared to body size
- long life span
- long juvenile period
- post-reproductive period
2
Q
Chimpanzees vs Forager Social Organization
A
- Considerable intergenerational resource transfers
- Male support of reproduction
- Food sharing between kin and non-kin
- Relative egalitarianism
3
Q
What favors evolution of monogamy?
A
- specialized skill-intensive foraging niche leads to specialization of the sexes
- mothering not compatible with hunting
- long juvenile dependence
4
Q
Why are foragers relatively egalitarian?
A
- lack of economically defensible resources = difficult to monopolize
- due to harsh environment, difficult for men to provide for multiple women
- cooperation very important because food acquisition is variable
5
Q
Resource Control Polygyny
A
males control important resource in order to maintain access to females
6
Q
Harem Polygyny
A
mating system where individual males control access to group of females by defending a resource of preventing other males from mating with females
7
Q
Bride Service
A
- when husband has to perform service to wife’s family
- when women less common than men
8
Q
Brideprice
A
-requires man to transfer portion of wealth to wife’s family
9
Q
Dowry
A
- bride’s family required to transfer portion of wealth to husband’s family
- happens when male quality is extremely varied so bride has to offer more than just fertility
- used as a way of heightening daughter’s social status by married higher status man
10
Q
Paternal Confidence
A
-degree of certainty that a man’s children are his own
11
Q
What leads to polygyny?
A
- male inequality
- defensible wealth
