Social complexity is not strongly predictive of indiscriminate killing of wartime enemies in a cross-cultural sample

Evolutionary Human Sciences • Vol/Iss. 8 • Cambridge University Press • • Published In • Pages: 1-18 •
By Basava, Kiran

Abstract

The link between wartime violence and social complexity has been debated through a variety of lenses. Using a cross-cultural sample, this researcher finds no evidence for increased or decreased indiscriminate killing as a result of social complexity. In this study, war is defined as “lethal violence between social groups” (2). While there was no relationship between these variables, this researcher suggests a potential link between territorial/political expansion and indiscriminate killing.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
eHRAF World CulturesCombinationMajority of societies coded from archaeological, ethnographic, and historical sources in eHRAF World Cultures
Seshat: Global History DatabankCombinationAlso used data and sources from Seshat

Hypotheses (1)

HypothesisSupported
Measures of sociopolitical complexity are correlated with indiscriminate killing of enemies during warNot Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: hattie.berke