Effects of climate on certain cultural practices

Explorations in Cultural Anthropology: Essays in Honor of George Peter Murdock • McGraw-Hill • New York • Published In • Pages: 511-544 •
By Whiting, John W.M.

Hypothesis

Circumcision occurs frequently in tropical climates. Author shows exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangements occur in warm climates, while previous studies report a strong association between exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangements and male circumcision (515)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Chi squareSupportedp<.001UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Sleeping ArrangementsDependentSleeping, Infant Care
TemperatureIndependentClimate

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Munroe, Robert L.Exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangements, matrilocal residence, and “protest masculinity” will be positively associated with the couvade (730-731).
Whiting, John W.M.". . . the control of sexual impulses during childhood and adolescence [are] . . . a major problem [in polygynous mother-child households with exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangements]" (182)
Paige, Jeffery M.Patrilocality, polygyny, postpartum taboo, and exclusive mother-child sleeping arrangements are positively associated with sex segregation practices (243).
Munroe, Robert L."The prediction . . . was that the couvade would be found in association with mother-infant sleeping arrangements, and/or matri-residence. . . . Relatively low male salience, as experienced by male children in societies characterized by a form of matri-residence [or] . . . in the presence of exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangements . . . might lead to cross-sex identity and to a particular projective system outcome--the couvade" (40, 39)
Brown, Judith K."In societies practicing patrilocal residence, in which there is also an exclusive mother-infant sleeping arrangement, female initiation rites will subject the initiate to extreme pain in the form of a genital operation or extensive tattooing" (843)