Illegitimacy and social structures: cross-cultural perspectives on nonmarital birth

Bergin & Garvey • Westport, CT • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Hendrix, Lewellyn

Abstract

This book investigates sanctions for nonmarital conceptions or birth. The author conducts cross-cultural tests for hypotheses derived from a variety of theories. Results do not support one theory over another, but suggest that variables such as sociocultural complexity, family structure, descent, fraternal interest groups, sexual inequality, and child-parent relationships all affect the consequences of illegitimacy.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Combination

Hypotheses (13)

HypothesisSupported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with technological complexity (78).Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with population density (78).Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with fixity of residence (78).Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with political centralization (79).Partially Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with specialization and organization of police forces (79).Partially Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with social stratification (79).Partially Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with presence of extended families (85).Not Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with the presence of real property inheritance (85).Not Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with patrilineal descent (94).Not Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with patrilocal residence (95).Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are positively associated with frequency of internal warfare (95).Not Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are negatively associated with female economic and political power (108).Not Supported
Sanctions regarding illegitimacy are associated with parent-child closeness (124).Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Amelia Piazza