The author attempts to evaluate a model adaptive ritual in a sample of sub-Saharan African groups in which ritual cosmetic decoration acts as a costly signal of coalition membership and sexual fitness. The prediction is that, according to sexual selection theory, male ritual signalling will be more extreme in societies with more inter-male competition, while severity of female ritual signalling will be associated with greater need to establish costs that protect against the danger of free riders. The prediction is supported by two tests which proxy inter-male competition by degree of polygny, and threat of free riders by population density.

This article re-examines Abernethy's (1974) hypothesis that female power within a marriage negatively affects male sexual functioning. Results do not support this hypothesis.

This article uses signaling theory and tests for a relationship between costly male rites and frequency of warfare.

This article uses signaling theory and tests for a relationship between costly male rites and frequency of warfare.

Theories about the relationship between warfare, militarism, male dominance and authoritarianism are tested.

This article uses signaling theory and tests for a relationship between costly male rites and frequency of warfare.

This article tests Randall Collin's 1975 theory that political-economic factors, rather than family/kinship factors, predict the degree of sexual stratification in a given society. A multivariate model is tested and findings contradict the theory.

This article tests Randall Collin's 1975 theory that political-economic factors, rather than family/kinship factors, predict the degree of sexual stratification in a given society. A multivariate model is tested and findings contradict the theory.

This article uses signaling theory and tests for a relationship between costly male rites and frequency of warfare.

This study tests a common theory that predicts a positive relationship between exogamy and cross-allegiances between social units. Results did not support this prediction. Cross-allegiances were only weakly related to cross-cousin marriage.