Despotism and differential reproduction: a cross-cultural correlation of conflict asymmetry, hierarchy, and degree of polygyny

Betzig, Laura L.

Despotism and differential reproduction: a cross-cultural correlation of conflict asymmetry, hierarchy, and degree of polygyny

Ethnology and Sociobiology • Vol/Iss. 3 • Published In 1982 • Pages: 209-221 •

By Betzig, Laura L.

Hypothesis

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).

Test
Test Name	Support	Significance	Coefficient	Tail
Correlation	Supported	p<.001	`UNKNOWN`	`UNKNOWN`

Variables
Variable Name	Variable Type	OCM Term(s)
Asymmetrical Conflict Of Interest Resolution, Increase In	Dependent	Social Control, Informal In-group Justice
Group Size, Increase In	Independent	Territorial Hierarchy
Hierarchical Complexity, Increase In	Independent	Territorial Hierarchy

Related Hypotheses

Main Author	Published Year	Hypothesis	Supported	Variables Tested
Betzig, Laura L.	1982	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).	Supported	4	Cite Related Hypotheses More By Author
Feinman, Gary M.	2010	The scale of human groups (particularly community size) is associated with hierarchical complexity (49)	`UNKNOWN`	2	Cite Related Hypotheses More By Author
Ross, Marc Howard	1986	Female political activity will be positively associated with internal conflict and warm/affectionate socialization practices and negatively associated with external conflict and fraternal interest group strength (843, 848-9).	Supported	5	Cite Related Hypotheses More By Author
Low, Bobbi S.	1989	Larger social group size will be associated with training that reduces intra-group conflict (p. 313).	Supported	2	Cite Related Hypotheses More By Author
Caticha, Nestor, Calsaverini, Rafael S., Vincente, Renato	2024	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).	Supported	3	Cite Related Hypotheses More By Author

Despotism and differential reproduction: a cross-cultural correlation of conflict asymmetry, hierarchy, and degree of polygyny

Ethnology and Sociobiology • Vol/Iss. 3 • Published In 1982 • Pages: 209-221 • Cite

By Betzig, Laura L.

Hypothesis

Test

Variables

Related Hypotheses

Ethnology and Sociobiology • Vol/Iss. 3 • Published In 1982 • Pages: 209-221 •