Statistical Mechanics of Social Hierarchies: A Mathematical Model for the Evolution of Human Societal Structures

Physics • Vol/Iss. 6(2) • MDPI • • Published In • Pages: 629-644 •
By Caticha, Nestor, Calsaverini, Rafael S., Vincente, Renato

Hypothesis

While social organization among humans and our evolutionary ancestors has tended to shift towards more egalitarian modes as encephalization occurred over the last few million years, it has generally been shifting back towards more hierarchical modes in the last several thousand years following the global population explosions of the Holocene.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Agent Based ModelsSupportedNAUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Group SizeIndependentPopulation
EncephalizationIndependentAnthropometry, Genetics
Social structure (hierarchical to egalitarian)DependentClasses, Territorial Hierarchy

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Hickson, Letitia"Apology is an important dispute management mechanism in societies…in which hierarchical relationships and a hierarchical ethos take precedence over egalitarian relationships" (285).
Caticha, Nestor, Calsaverini, Rafael S., Vincente, RenatoModern non-literate humans tend to exhibit an intermediate degree of social hierarchy in mild climates, while in harsher climates the degree of social hierarchy tends to be correlated to the group size (with groups of less than 100 people tending to be more egalitarian, and those with more than 1000 members tending to be more hierarchical).
Fischer, J. L. "Design repetitive of a number of rather simple elements should characterize egalitarian societies; design integrating a number of unlike elements should . . . characterize hierarchical societies" (81)
Fischer, J. L. "Design with a large amount of empty or irrelevant space should characterize egalitarian societies; design with little irrelevant (empty) space should characterize hierarchical societies" (81)
Fischer, J. L. "Symmetrical design (a special case of repetition) should characterize egalitarian societies; asymmetrical design should characterize hierarchical societies" (81)