Dogs Across Cultures: Using eHRAF data
The special relationship between dogs and humans is endlessly fascinating. For many of us, dogs are at the center of our homes and hearts. However, most of what we know about dog-human bonds, dog behavior,…
Category Archives: Feature
Welcome to our newest HRAF members 2023
As we reflect on 2023 and look forward to a new year, HRAF would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to our newest member institutions. We are especially pleased by the diversity and global reach…
A Cross-Cultural Study of Uniformity in Dress
Why do people in some societies dress in uniform or standardized ways, whereas in other societies individuals display considerable variability in dress? Tentative answers to this question will appear as an article titled “Uniformity in…
New and Forthcoming Cultures and Traditions in eHRAF World Cultures & Archaeology (2023-2024)
Culture collections in the eHRAF databases are updated up to several times a year. Below is a brief summary of what cultures and traditions we have added or updated in eHRAF World Cultures and eHRAF…
NPR Article Features ‘Alloparenting’ Across Cultures
In an article for National Public Radio (NPR) titled Bringing up a baby can be a tough and lonely job. Here’s a solution: alloparents, Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD looks at the practice of alloparenting across cultures. Doucleff…
Ethnographic Data Science and eHRAF: inferring cultural patterns from ethnographic writing
What can artificial intelligence and machine learning contribute to anthropology, the most human of disciplines? Ethnography combines elements of science and humanities, with ethnographic writing mediating exposition and science. Data science techniques such as Natural…
Announcing HRAF Global Scholars for 2024
HRAF is pleased to announce the recipients of the HRAF Global Scholars Program for 2024. This program provides scholars around the world with one year of complimentary access to our research databases, eHRAF World Cultures…
Romantic or disgusting? Passionate kissing is not a human universal
By Francine Barone From pop culture to evolutionary psychology, we have come to take kissing for granted as universally desirable among humans and inseparable from other aspects of affection and intimacy. However, a recent article…
The Social Life of Cheese
By Francine Barone There are few signifiers of culture more potent and recognizable than food. Nourishment and cultural identity share a deep-seated connection. Food, and especially our preferences for preparing, cooking and eating it, are…
Residence and Kinship – A New Topical Summary for Explaining Human Culture
A new topical summary on Residence and Kinship is now available in Explaining Human Culture, our open access database that summarizes the results of over 1,100 cross-cultural studies. This EHC summary is co-authored by HRAF President…