Dog-Human Coevolution: Cross-Cultural Analysis of Multiple Hypotheses

Journal of Ethnobiology • Vol/Iss. 40 (4) • BioOne • Washington, DC • Published In • Pages: 414-433 •
By Chambers, Jaime, Quinlan, Marsha B., Evans, Alexis, Quinlan, Robert J.

Abstract

In this article, the authors seek to understand dog-human coevolution by considering predictors of different aspects of dog-human relationships across cultures. In order to measure dog-human relationships, the researchers created three indexes: dogs' utility for humans (DUH), humans' utility for dogs (HUD), and the personhood of dogs (PD). Each of these indexes were tested against various pre-coded variables that were empirically and theoretically relevant to this subject.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)researcher's own and other researchers

Hypotheses (16)

HypothesisSupported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be negatively associated with hot environmentsSupported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be negatively associated with hot environmentsSupported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be negatively associated with pathogen stressNot Supported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be negatively associated with pathogen stressNot Supported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be positively associated with subsistence huntingSupported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be positively associated with subsistence huntingSupported
Personhood of dogs (PD) will be positively associated with subsistence huntingNot Supported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be associated with livestockPartially Supported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be associated with livestockSupported
Personhood of dogs (PD) will be associated with livestockSupported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be positively associated with intergroup violenceNot Supported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be positively associated with intergroup violenceNot Supported
Personhood of dogs (PD) will be positively associated with intergroup violencePartially Supported
Dogs' utility for humans (DUH) will be positively associated with theft/assault/homicideNot Supported
Humans' utility for dogs (HUD) will be positively associated with theft/assault/homicideNot Supported
Personhood of dogs (PD) will be positively associated with theft/assault/homicideNot Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: dmccloskey103  anj.droe  benkluga