Indices of sociocultural development and cultural accumulation: an exponential cultural growth law and a "cultural surgency" factor

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 71 • Published In 1969 • Pages: 1112-1115 •

By Bowden, Edgar

Abstract

This article investigates a broad hypothesis that cultural traits diversify with sociocultural development. Results suggest that sociocultual development is associated with certain aspects of aesthetic and ritual culture, and that cultural elaboration may be correlated with some sexual norms and tendency toward cannibalism, human sacrifice, and slavery.

Samples
Sample Used	Coded Data	Comment
Other	Other Researchers
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)

Hypotheses (3)
Hypothesis	Supported
"The aggression implicit in cannibalism, human sacrifice, sacrificial grave escort, and slavery are also associated with cultural elaboration" (1114)	Supported
"Freedom of postpartum sexual activity is correlated with cultural elaboration" (1114)	Supported
"Index of Sociocultural Development scores do in fact correlate with elaborateness of certain aspects of the aesthetic and ritual elements of culture" (1114)	Supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas Amelia Piazza

Indices of sociocultural development and cultural accumulation: an exponential cultural growth law and a "cultural surgency" factor

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 71 • Published In 1969 • Pages: 1112-1115 • Cite

By Bowden, Edgar

Abstract

Samples

Hypotheses (3)

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 71 • Published In 1969 • Pages: 1112-1115 •