Matrilineal descent in cross-cultural perspective

Matrilineal Kinship • University of California Press • Berkeley • Published In • Pages: 655-727 •
By Aberle, David F.

Hypothesis

"Matrilineal systems are relatively more frequent in the 'dominant horticulture' category than either bilateral or patrilineal systems, at high levels of stratification. They are more commonly in the 'dominant horticulture' category than patrilineal systems at low levels; there is no significant difference between matrilineal and bilateral systems at this level" (698)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Comparison of raw scoresSupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Rules Of DescentDependentRule Of Descent
StratificationUNKNOWNSocial Stratification, Classes
Subsistence TypeUNKNOWNProduction And Supply

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Aberle, David F."If we compare 'dominant horticulture' with all [other subsistence types], we find that matrilineal systems tend to be found significantly more often in this category than either patrilineal or bilateral systems" (676)
Aberle, David F.[Descent is related] ". . . to stratification. . . . Matrilineal systems tend to have hereditary, rather than complex stratification to a greater degree than . . . patrilineal and bilateral systems" (698)
Rácz, PéterBilateral or ambilineal descent systems are likely to have less complex kinship systems than patrilineal or matrilineal ones (11).
Aberle, David F."Both matrilineal and patrilineal systems tend to cluster at the 'minimal state' level by comparison with bilateral systems, which tend to appear at the extremes of political scope" (684)
Aberle, David F.". . . stratification is closely connected with subsistence type. . . . 'Plough agriculture' shows the highest stratification, 'African horticulture' next, 'dominant horticulture' next, and 'other horticulture' next, in the agricultural series. 'Pastoralism' shows a level intermediate between 'plough agriculture' and 'African horticulture,' somewhat similar to its position in table 17-5. 'New World pastoralism' and 'extraction' bring up the bottom of the list" (694, 698)