Correlates of monogamy in human groups: tests of some sociobiological hypotheses

Behavior Science Research • Vol/Iss. 18 • Published In • Pages: 123-140 •
By Gray, J. Patrick, Wolfe, Linda D.

Abstract

This study re-examines the hypotheses offered by Kleiman (1977) linking monogamy in humans to monogamy in other animals. Of seven hypotheses, only two were weakly supported when using a cross-cultural analysis.

Samples

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

Hypotheses (7)

HypothesisSupported
The degree of monogamy is negatively associated with the degree of sexual dimorphism of stature among human societies (129).Not Supported
The degree of monogamy is negatively associated with the degree of sexual dimorphism of behavior and roles in human societies (130).Supported
The degree of monogamy is positively associated with the amount of father-child contact during infancy (132).Supported
The degree of monogamy is negatively associated with the amount of father-child contact during early childhood (132).Not Supported
The degree of female extramarital sexual activity is negatively associated with the degree of father-child contact during infancy (134).Not Supported
The degree of female extramarital sexual behavior is negatively associated with the degree of father-child contact during early childhood (134).Not Supported
"There is a 'functional cluster' of traits associated with monogamy in human societies" (134).UNKNOWN
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Megan Farrer