Secret Societies

Associated Documents (2)

Main AuthorPublished YearTitle
Simmons, Leo W.The role of the aged in primitive society
Precourt, WalterInitiation ceremonies and secret societies as educational institutions

Associated Hypotheses (4)

Main AuthorHypothesis
Simmons, Leo W."Finally, with advancing economy, greater complexity and integration of social organization, and with a general improvement in societal stability the aged have tended to enjoy a steadily rising enhancement of status in civil and political affairs" (130)
Simmons, Leo W.Prestige of the aged is negatively correlated with severe climate and impermanent residence. It is positively correlated for aged men and women where they have property rights and influence in government. Aged women enjoy more prestige in hunting-gathering and fishing societies and in societies where matrilineal family organization prevails. Aged men have high prestige where the food supply is constant, where family organization type is patrilineal, in herding and framing societies, and w...
Precourt, Walter"Initiation ceremonies will exist at the tribal level of socio-cultural complexity while secret societies will exist in chiefdoms" (239)
Precourt, Walter"initiation ceremonies will emphasize equality among the initiates, while secret societies will emphasize differentiation" (239)

Associated OCMs

  1. sodalities