The transition from childhood to adolescence: cross-cultural studies of initiation ceremonies, legal systems, and incest taboos

Aldine • Chicago • Published In • Pages: 254 •
By Cohen, Yehudi A.

Abstract

The theoretical concern of this work is with different types of liability that societies emphasize in their legal systems and how that plays out in understanding the transition from childhood to adolescence as well as variation in incest taboos.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Reports

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
"If parents in a society try to bring up their children so that they will be anchored in the larger kin group instead of only within the family, . . . the rearing is shared by members of the children's descent group. . . . If the parents in a society try to bring up their children to be anchored within the family . . . these parents will have to insure that their children's upbringing remains principally in their own hands" (66-67)Supported
"[There is a] relationship between the agents of socialization and the presence or absence of unilineal descent groups and between [the latter] and experiences at the first stage of puberty [that is extrusion and/or brother-sister avoidance]" (71)Supported
"[Where] children are brought up . . . for sociological interdependence they will be brought up and taught by members of their descent group [and] parents and during the 2nd stage of puberty there may be a further disruption of [the family relationship by an initiation ceremony]" (113)Supported
"[Where] children are brought up by their parents and members of their descent group, and children are subjected to extrusion or brother-sister avoidance at first stage of puberty, joint [rather than several] liability will be found" (141)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas