The establishment of identity in a social nexus: the special case of initiation ceremonies and their relation to value and legal systems

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 66 • Published In • Pages: 529-552 •
By Cohen, Yehudi A.

Abstract

The author presents an approach to understanding initiation ceremonies that differs from the approach of Whiting (1962). Cohen looks at the association between legal and kinship systems and childrens' experiences growing up. Several significant association are found between these variables.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherComplete ethnographic reports (p.537-8)

Hypotheses (7)

HypothesisSupported
Socialization by parents and members of child's descent group (vs. by parents and nondescent group members) will be positively associated with extrusion and/or brother-sister avoidanceSupported
Socialization by parents and members of the child's descent group will be positively associated with unilineal descent groups.Supported
Socialization by parents and members of descent group will be positively associated with presence of initiation ceremonies.Supported
Socialization by parents and non-members of child's descent group are negatively associated with factors disrupting the child's relationship with family.Supported
Socialization by parents and descent group members in addition to extrusion and/or brother-sister avoidance will be positively associated with the concept of joint liability.Supported
Socialization by parents and non-members of a child's descent group in addition to no extrusion or brother-sister avoidance or rites of passage are positively associated with the concept of several liabilitySupported
Unilinear descent groups will be positively associated with extrusion or brother-sister avoidance (539)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Megan Farrer