Statistical Mechanics of Social Hierarchies: A Mathematical Model for the Evolution of Human Societal Structures

Physics • Vol/Iss. 6(2) • MDPI • • Published In • Pages: 629-644 •
By Caticha, Nestor, Calsaverini, Rafael S., Vincente, Renato

Hypothesis

Modern non-literate humans tend to exhibit an intermediate degree of social hierarchy in mild climates, while in harsher climates the degree of social hierarchy tends to be correlated to the group size (with groups of less than 100 people tending to be more egalitarian, and those with more than 1000 members tending to be more hierarchical).

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Agent Based ModelsSupportedNAUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
ClimateIndependentClimate
Group SizeIndependentPopulation
Social structure (hierarchical to egalitarian)DependentClasses, Territorial Hierarchy

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
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).
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).
Caticha, Nestor, Calsaverini, Rafael S., Vincente, RenatoWhile social organization among humans and our evolutionary ancestors has tended to shift towards more egalitarian modes as encephalization occurred over the last few million years, it has generally been shifting back towards more hierarchical modes in the last several thousand years following the global population explosions of the Holocene.
Atkinson, Quentin D.Emotional arousal in ritual will be negatively associated with group size, group hierarchy, and reliance on agriculture (52, 55).
Hickson, Letitia"Apology is an important dispute management mechanism in societies…in which hierarchical relationships and a hierarchical ethos take precedence over egalitarian relationships" (285).