Which evolutionary model best explains the culture of honour?

Biology & Philosophy Vol/Iss. 31 Springer Nature Published In Pages: 213-235
By Linquist, Stefan

Abstract

This article focuses on the culture of honor hypothesis, which suggests the distinctive selective pressures of horticultural and pastoral subsistences on culture. The authors explore which cultural evolution model best explains the variations suggested by the culture of honor hypothesis: the memetic, evolutionary psychological, dual inheritance, or niche construction model. The authors use the eHRAF database to test these rival models and explore how human psychology has adapted to pastoral and horticultural environments. The results support that it is more common for pastoral societies to show a reactive psychological phenotype. After considering their analysis and the distinct cases, the authors conclude that the niche construction is the best model to explain their results. They also emphasize the importance of continuing empirical analyses to test these models.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesResearchers' own18 pastoralist, horticultural or intensive agricultural societies

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By:stefania.becerralavado