Human responses to environmental extremeness and uncertainty: a cross-cultural perspective

Low, Bobbi S.

Human responses to environmental extremeness and uncertainty: a cross-cultural perspective

Risk and Uncertainty in Tribal and Peasant Economies • Westview Press • Boulder, CO • Published In 1988 • Pages: 229-255 •

By Low, Bobbi S.

Abstract

This article focuses on the effect of environmental extremes and unpredictability on human behavior and reproductive strategies. Significant correlations were found between environmental extremes and unpredictability and several variables, including mobility, subsistence mode, and degree of polygyny.

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

Hypotheses (5)
Hypothesis	Supported
Environmental extremeness and range of variation will influence population density, mobility, and subsistence mode (238).	Supported
Unpredictability in climatic variables, particularly rainfall, will influence primary productivity, presence of herbivores, and availability of food (238).	Supported
Patterns of food storage and trade will be related to rainfall predictability (238).	Not Supported
The degree of polygyny will be greatest in fluctuating environments and least in predictably constant environments (238).	Supported
Degree of polygyny, as well as the degree of non-sororal polygyny, will be positively related to pathogen stress (239).	Supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings Megan Farrer

Human responses to environmental extremeness and uncertainty: a cross-cultural perspective

Risk and Uncertainty in Tribal and Peasant Economies • Westview Press • Boulder, CO • Published In 1988 • Pages: 229-255 • Cite

By Low, Bobbi S.

Abstract

Samples

Hypotheses (5)

Risk and Uncertainty in Tribal and Peasant Economies • Westview Press • Boulder, CO • Published In 1988 • Pages: 229-255 •