The role of the aged in primitive society

Yale University Press • New Haven • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Simmons, Leo W.

Hypothesis

Domination by old men over family affairs and a corresponding enhancement of their security are accompanied by more complex types of maintenance, a shift from matrilineal to patrilineal descent, and elaboration of government, laws, property rights, and religion (213)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Yule’s QSupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
DescentUNKNOWNRule Of Descent
Elaboration Of Government And LawsUNKNOWNGovernment Activities
Elaboration Of Property RightsUNKNOWNChanges In Property Rights
Elaboration Of ReligionUNKNOWNReligious Beliefs
Family Domination And Security Of Old MenUNKNOWNActivities Of The Aged
Types Of MaintenanceUNKNOWNFood Quest

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Simmons, Leo W.Aged women have tended to acquire property rights in simple societies and within matrilineal types of family organization. Aged men have tended to gain greatest control of property in more complex societies and within patrilineal family organization (49)
Simmons, Leo W.Prestige of the aged is negatively correlated with severe climate and impermanent residence. It is positively correlated for aged men and women where they have property rights and influence in government. Aged women enjoy more prestige in hunting-gathering and fishing societies and in societies where matrilineal family organization prevails. Aged men have high prestige where the food supply is constant, where family organization type is patrilineal, in herding and framing societies, and w...
Nimkoff, M. F.There will be a significant relationship between type of descent and mode of subsistence (40).
Bentzen, Jeanet Sinding Societies with more religious laws in the past are less democratic.
Rudmin, Floyd WebsterCertain characteristics of societies will be significantly correlated in the same direction with both Simmons' (137) and Murdock's (1967) measures of private property ownership.