Documents
- Language structure is partly determined by social structureLupyan, Gary - PLoS ONE, 2010 - 1 Hypotheses
This article explores the relationship between language structure and social environment, positing that linguistic factors such as morphological complexity are associated with demographic/socio-historical factors such as number of speakers, geographic spread, and degree of language contact. Data support such an association. The authors further propose a Linguistic Niche Hypothesis suggesting that “the level of morphological specialization is a product of languages adapting to the learning constraints and the unique communicative needs of the speaker population” (7).
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Social structure and games: a cross-cultural analysis of the structural correlates of game complexitySilver, Burton B. - Pacific Sociological Review, 1978 - 3 Hypotheses
This article examines the evolution of games, particularly the way the complexity of games is affected by political organization, demographics, social differentiation, and religious differentiation.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Political and demographic-ecological determinants of institutionalised human sacrificeWinkelman, Michael James - Anthropological Forum: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Comparative Sociology, 2014 - 1 Hypotheses
The author builds upon previous research (Winkelman 1998) to further elucidate the cross-cultural predictors of institutionalized human sacrifice. The author considers a range of ecological factors and political variables, particularly geopolitical dynamics and intra- and inter-group relations. Other factors were explored, including social complexity and social structures. The author identifies the lack of an effective superordinate political authority as a main determinant in similar behaviors contemporarily (e.g. suicide bombers, beheadings, public brutality in civil war).
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Despotism and differential reproduction: a cross-cultural correlation of conflict asymmetry, hierarchy, and degree of polygynyBetzig, Laura L. - Ethnology and Sociobiology, 1982 - 2 Hypotheses
This article uses a Darwinian approach, predicting that hierarchies persist and increase in social evolution because they increase fitness for individuals at higher levels within the hierarchy who choose to further social assymetry and benefit their fitness at the expense of the greater group. Polygyny is used as the indicator of fitness. Correlations tested support the hypothesis.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - A preliminary index of social developmentNaroll, Raoul - American Anthropologist, 1956 - 1 Hypotheses
This article reviews literature on social evolution, urbanization, and their interrelationships before empirically examining the relationship between settlement size and organizational complexity. An index of social development composed of three indicators is introduced, critiqued, and compared to other classification systems.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Correlates of political complexityAbrahamson, Mark - American Sociological Review, 1969 - 3 Hypotheses
It is suggested that the degree of political complexity is more strongly related to degree of social differentiation than to size and concentration of population.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Political institutionalization in primitive societies: a hologeistic analysisHill, Kim - Cross-Cultural Research, 1979 - 1 Hypotheses
This study examines socio-economic predictors of political complexity. Findings suggest that class stratification is the most significant predictor of political complexity.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Oaths, autonomic ordeals, and powerRoberts, John M. - Cross-Cultural Approaches: Readings in Comparative Research, 1967 - 14 Hypotheses
This chapter examines the presence of oaths and autonomic ordeals in relation to various socioeconomic variables. Several hypotheses are presented, all are supported.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Societal complexity and familial complexity: evidence for the curvilinear hypothesisBlumberg, Rae Lesser - American Journal of Sociology, 1972 - 5 Hypotheses
This study investigates the relationship between societal complexity and familial complexity. Results suggest that the relationship is somewhat curvilinear; that is, in simpler societies more societal complexity is associated with a larger familial system, but the most developed societies have smaller familial systems. The demographic, economic, and politcal correlates of maximum family size are discussed.
Related Documents Cite More By Author - Cross-cultural study of the use of elections for selection of the village headmanGreenbaum, Lenora - Behavior Science Research, 1977 - 3 Hypotheses
This study examines variation in economy, political form, social complexity and family relationships between societies using election/consensus decision making for determining leadership and societies that do not use election/consensus decision making. Findings do not show a pattern of variance based on leader selection type.
Related Documents Cite More By Author