Toward a Unified Theory of Ancestor Worship: A Cross-Cultural Study

Social Forces • Vol/Iss. 54(2) • Oxford University Press • • Published In • Pages: 427-440 •
By Sheils, Dean

Hypothesis

There will be an association between agricultural level and conjugal formation. Advanced horticulturalists will have more complex conjugal formation than hunter-gatherers, simple horticulturalists, simple agrarians, and advanced agrarians.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Chi-squareSupportedp = .01C = .65UNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Conjugal FormationDependentHousehold, Lineages
Agricultural Level IndependentAgriculture, Tillage

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Sheils, DeanThere will be an association between agricultural level and polygyny. The incidence of polygyny will be most common amid simple agrarians, simple horticulturalists, and advanced horticulturalists than among hunter-gatherers and advanced agrarians.
Sheils, DeanThere will be an association between agricultural level and descent type. Cognatic descent will be more customary among hunter-gatherers and advanced agrarians than amid simple agrarians and simple and advanced horticulturalists.
Sheils, DeanThere will be an association between conjugal formation and ancestor worship. Societies with more complex conjugal formation will be more likely to practice ancestor worship.
Paige, Jeffery M.Circumcision is positively associated with dichotomized 'high-value' (agricultural, pastoral, & advanced horticultural) vs. 'low-value' (hunting-gathering, fishing, mounted hunting, & simple horticultural) subsistence strategies (76).
Paige, Jeffery M.Fraternal interest group strength is positively associated with dichotomized 'high-value' (agricultural, pastoral, & advanced horticultural) vs. 'low-value' (hunting-gathering, fishing, mounted hunting, & simple horticultural) subsistence strategies (76).