Size, complexity, and organizational variation: a comparative approach

Cross-Cultural Research • Vol/Iss. 45 • Published In • Pages: 37-58 •
By Feinman, Gary M.

Hypothesis

The scale of human groups (particularly community size) is associated with hierarchical complexity (49)

Note

Hypotheses are supported by a review of previous literature. Relationship is weaker in narrower demographic ranges.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
No Formal TestUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Hierarchical ComplexityDependentTerritorial Hierarchy
Scale Of Human GroupsIndependentCommunity Structure

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Betzig, Laura L.As groups increase in size and hierarchical complexity, individuals in power will exploit their positions to resolve conflicts of interest within the group asymmetrically (210).
Betzig, Laura L.As groups increase in size and hierarchical complexity, individuals in power will use their asymmetrical advantage to collect perquisites as third parties and a proportionate amount of polygynous relationships (210).
Turchin, PeterSocial complexity variables will cluster into two categories (scale and nonscale), resulting in two significant principal components of variation.
Winkelman, Michael JamesPopulation density, population pressure, internal and external war for land and resources, and a low hierarchical focus of religion will be positively associated with human sacrifice (285, 294).
Collard, MarkThe relationship between population size and toolkit diversity and complexity will be greater among food-producing (i.e. pastoralist, horticulturalist, and agriculturalist) groups than among hunter-gatherers, whereas relationship between risk of resource failure and toolkit diversity and complexity will be greater among hunter-gatherers than among food-producers (253).