An Ethological Theory of the Incest Taboo and Exogamy: With Special Reference to the Views of Claude Lévi-Strauss

In this paper a causal ethological theory of the incest taboo and exogamy is developed. Some arguments are given for this theory from animal and human behaviour. Because the theory seems to be incompatible with Claude Lévi-Strauss' views on this subject, his theory is briefly reviewed and criti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current anthropology 1968-12, Vol.9 (5), p.437-449
Main Author: Kortmulder, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cultural anthropology
Ethology
Geese
Human aggression
Humans
Incest
Mothers
Primates
Taboos
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Summary:In this paper a causal ethological theory of the incest taboo and exogamy is developed. Some arguments are given for this theory from animal and human behaviour. Because the theory seems to be incompatible with Claude Lévi-Strauss' views on this subject, his theory is briefly reviewed and criticised on some points. An attempt is made at a synthesis of Lévi-Strauss' principles of redistribution and gift-giving and the author's theory of incest avoidance. It is shown that counterparts for the mechanisms of redistribution and gift-giving can be found in animal behaviour.
ISSN:0011-3204
1537-5382
DOI:10.1086/200926