The article examines whether cultural groups tend to use supernatural beliefs more to explain natural phenomena or social phenomena. Analysis of ethnographic text from 114 diverse societies reveals that supernatural explanations are more common for natural phenomena, consistent with the theory that humans tend to perceive intent and agency in the natural world. However, supernatural explanations of social phenomena were more prevalent in urbanized societies with greater social complexity and anonymity. The study highlights how people use supernatural beliefs to explain their world and how this varies across small-scale and urbanized communities.

This article focuses on the relationship between premarital sexual behavior in childhood and adolescence. New measures and ratings of sexual behavior are presented. Findings supp ort the prediction that sexual behavior in childhood correlates with sexual behavior in adolescence in societies where there is an emphasis on continuity from childhood to adolescence.

This study provides a cross-cultural examination of the definitions of old age. Further research on these definitions and their implications is suggested.

This article suggests a theory of the relationship between rules of descent and polity structure. The author suggests that “polity structure in stateless societies is a consequence of the presence or absence of cohesive factions based on lineage or family” (301). Two types of kinship ties produce different polity structures: cross-cutting ties, common in matrilineal societies, lead to political consensus; overlapping ties, common in patrilineal societies, lead to factionalism. Empirical tests support this theory.

Textor summarizes cross-cultural findings of female initiation rites pertaining to cultural, environmental, social, and psychological phenomena.

Textor summarizes cross-cultural findings on adolescence gender separation pertaining to cultural, environmental, psychological, and social phenomena.