PSYC 2740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Reciprocal Altruism, Hindu Law, Egalitarianism

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2740
• Professor: Stephen Lewis

Document Summary

Culture local within-group similarities and between group differences (cultural variation) Considers culture by focusing on phenomena that are triggered in different ways by different environments. Things we experience growing up is an example. Evoked culture contains universal underlying mechanism and environmental differences in how mechanism is activated. Example: sweating, people have greater tendency to sweat based on climate closer to the equator. Cultural differences in degree to which groups share. Society based on hunting; the likelihood of sharing may increase because they practice reciprocal altruism. Also allows larger animals to be killed to share with many. Degree of egalitarianism closely correlated with the variance of food supply. The more food available, more generous people are. Multiple partners, impulsivity + early reproduction harsh, inconsistent childcare, erratically provided resources, marital discord. Don"t really believe any relationship will last anyway. China lasting marriage, invest in children and higher value for virginity. Sweden divorce more common, children born outside marriage, lower virginity value.