Solidarity, stratification and sentiment: the unilateral cross-cousin marriage according to the theories of levi-strauss, leach, and homans and schneider

Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde • Vol/Iss. 116 • Published In • Pages: 55-80 •
By Berting, J., Philipsen, H.

Abstract

This article tests differing theories of why a man's marriage of his mother's brother's daughter is often encouraged while marriage of the father's sister's daughter is discouraged. Maintenance of relationships between bride-givers and bride takers is considered, as are the role of childhood sentiments in choosing a spouse.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Reports
compendium of coded data

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
"We can expect more marriages with mBd in societies with prescriptive unilateral cross-cousin marriages than in societies with preferential unilateral cross-cousin marriages" (59)Supported
"When mBd [mother's brother's daughter] marriage is found, there will probably be a status differentiation between the bride-taking and the bride-giving group" (60)Not Supported
"There appears to exist a statistically significant relation between linearity and unilateral cross-cousin marriage" (66)Supported
"There appeared to be a statistically significant association between patrilinearity and instrumental leadership of the father and father's sister and expressive leadership of mother's brother" (66)Marginally supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas  Amelia Piazza