Second, other sexual rules could be invented, such as rules regulating rotation of partners. Why? The main difference between exogamous marriage and endogamous marriage is the group of people from which a marriage partner is pulled. Homans, George C., and David M. Schneider. In both cases, not only did male and female sexual partners live separately with their maternal families, but they did not have regular economic cooperation nor other regular obligations with their sexual partners. Genomic transformation and social organization during the Copper Age-Bronze Age transition in southern . One example of exogamy can be found in the Hindu caste system in India. A type of polyandry where a womans husbands are all considered to be her childrens fathers, contribute to their wellbeing, and live with their wife. What accounts for the allowance of first cousin marriage? It does not create economic inequality between families. Exogamy is the social norm of marrying outside one's social group. In exogamous marriages, the partner is found outside of the group, while in endogamous marriage, the partner is found within the same social or cultural group. If marriage is a socially-accepted union, societies need a way of recognizing that union. I feel like its a lifeline. Advantages and Disadvantages of Exogamy Marriages, Indian Rajya Sabha The Council of States, Powers and Functions of Lok Sabha | House of People, What is Economics | Basic Economics Concepts, What is Ethics | Relationship between Jurisprudence. 2007. 2004. Why? Ancient Rome The argument is that if women contribute substantially to subsistence, men may benefit economically from having more than one wife. Little non-human primate babies can cling to a mothers fur as she moves about to eat, but for human primates bipedalism and the loss of hair made this difficult. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Exogamy implies the practice of marrying outside of one's own group. Affiliations: Structural Determinants of Differential Divorce Rates., Sexual Selection Under Parental Choice: The Role of Parents in the Evolution of Human Mating., Sexual Selection Under Parental Choice: A Revision to the Model., Individual Mate Choice in an Arranged Marriage Context: Evidence from the Standard Cross-cultural Sample., Bride Theft and Raiding for Wives in Cross-Cultural Perspective., Explaining Cross-National Differences in Polygyny Intensity., Solidarity, Stratification and Sentiment: The Unilateral Cross-Cousin Marriage According to the Theories of Levi-Strauss, Leach, and Homans and Schneider., Causes of Conjugal Dissolution: A Cross-cultural Study., Societal Complexity and Familial Complexity: Evidence for the Curvilinear Hypothesis., Nuclear Vs. Extended Family, Monogamy Vs. Polygyny: Democracy Vs. Non-Democracy? Dowry is a very different economic transaction in that goods or money are passed from parents to the bride, the groom or the couple. All rights reserved. Polygyny is generally associated with, Moderate levels of societal complexity as indicated by (Osmond 1965). To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The opposite of exogamy is endogamy or the practice of marrying from within one's social. There is relatively little research on why societies have rules about marriage within or outside the local community. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [4], Nancy Wilmsen Thornhill states that the drive in humans to not reproduce or be attracted to one's immediate family is evolutionarily adaptive, as it reduces the risk of children having genetic defects caused by inbreeding, as a result of inheriting two copies of a deleterious recessive gene. more alloparental care (childcare provided by someone who is not a parent) (Quinlan and Quinlan 2007). Complex societies tend to ave specialized or standing armies which means that male mortality in war may only be high among men in the armed forces (M. Ember, Ember, and Low 2007). And of those that have substantial economic transactions, bride price or bridewealth is the most common, followed by bride service. God One form of exogamy is dual exogamy, in which two groups continually intermarry with each other.[1]. They have a Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Arts in Human Factors Psychology from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Flagler College. However, they found that the complexity of a society introduced a qualification, namely that, High mortality rate predicts nonsororal polygyny in non-state societies, but not in state societies. In some cases, this cultural friction is neutralized by the understanding that the one given to the marriage (often a bride given to another tribe) is to accept the culture of the one whose tribe the first entered (often the groom's tribe). Some societies frown on cousin marriage so much that even distant cousins are forbidden. There are a couple of known exceptions to the claim that marriage is a universal custom. The Standard Cross-Cultural Sample (SCCS) is a sample of 185 societies. A single-parent, monogamous, or polygamous family that constitutes its own social and/or economic unit. crime Strengthen bonds between large communities by creating familial bonds by marriage. Marriage is commonly defined as a socially approved sexual and economic union, presumed to be more or less permanent, and entails rights and obligations between the married couple and any children they might have (C. R. Ember, Ember, and Peregrine 2019). Quinlan, Robert J., and Marsha B. Quinlan. marriage 1979. Relatively small societies that have recently experienced severe loss of population due to introduced disease and that are also relatively small (more than 1,000 but less than 25,000 in the society) are more likely to allow first cousin marriage (M. Ember 1975). 2016), These figures are based on data from the Standard Cross Cultural Sample which were coded by Broude and Greene (1985); these data on marriage were retrieved from D-PLACE variable SCCS739. At the other extreme, there are societies that not only tolerate first cousin marriage, but actively try to promote marriage to a cousin, usually a particular type of cousin. Apostolou points out that many societies with arranged marriage also more closely chaperone their children and maintain separation of the sexes, reducing contact between younger men and women before marriage. Endogamy: It is a rule of marriage in which the life-partners are to be selected within the group. Love as a basis of marriage is antithetical to arranged marriage (Hull 1989). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Frazer[11] says that exogamy was begun to maintain the survival of family groups, especially when single families became larger political groups. Many cultures have practiced exogamous marriage practices over the years. Why? Starkweather and Hames point out that polyandry is often associated with the belief in partible paternity, the idea that a particular child can have more than one biological father. 2011a. Marxist anthropology Agriculture or fishing are dominant forms of subsistence and communities are sedentary (Nimkoff and Middleton 1960). Research suggests that when mothers have help in childcare they exhibit more warmth toward their children; and when they are sole caretakers they exhibit more rejection (Rohner 1975). On the other hand, bride price. At no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission, which helps us run this blog and keep our in-depth content free of charge for all our readers. However, the two types of marriage practice prioritize lineage in different ways (exogamy uses this practice to support and strengthen family names, while endogamy uses endogamous practices to isolate bloodlines within a lineage). Parallel cousins are related to you through the same gendermothers sisters children and fathers brothers children. Sex ratios favoring females (M. Ember 1974; Barber 2008). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Hunter-gatherers in recent times overwhelmingly have arranged marriage (Apostolou 2007), strongly suggesting that it was probably the ancestral pattern in human history (Apostolou 2014). 2016. Why? This is still frowned upon in societies that are highly stratified, such as those with rigid caste systems. Why? Endogamy is the practice of marrying within the same group. Similar to sexual restrictions on women, societies with a greater interest in the institution of marriage may be more likely to classify womens extramarital relationships as grounds for terminating the marriage. medical anthropology In the Nayar case, men were typically engaged in soldiering; in the Na case, men organized caravans for long-distance trade. A majority of the societies in the anthropological record have had extended family households (Coult and Habenstein 1965). exogamy, also called out-marriage, custom enjoining marriage outside ones own group. Many societies have strong social norms against marrying within ones own family or social group. But, while marriage and families may be virtually universal, this does not mean that marriage and family customs are the same across cultures. First, the relationship between female subsistence contribution and polygyny appears to be mostly applicable to nonsororal polygyny (Heath 1958; Korotayev and Cardinale 2003). Continue with Recommended Cookies. Indirect support for the sex-ratio hypothesis comes from research on the presence of polyandrous marriages. Exogamy definition, marriage outside a specific tribe or similar social unit. Alternatively, indirect dowry can be thought of as a combination of bride price paid first and then dowry. Social stratification is present (Nimkoff and Middleton 1960). Explaining Human Culture. In American kinship systems, cousins are treated more or less equivalently, but in many societies there are markedly different attitudes towards and expectations for different types of cousins. Exogamy does not guarantee that spouses have no genetic relationship. Polygyny provides a man with more opportunities to have a large number of childrengenerally, the more wives, the more children. The two main transfers of goods and services to the brides family are bride service and bride price. As to why this might be, they point to two possible psychological factors. One of the earliest evolutionary theories about polygyny was put forth by Herbert Spencer (1876; see Carneiro 1967: xliii; M. Ember 1974; M. Ember, Ember, and Low 2007) who suggested that societies experiencing high loss of male life in warfare would have greater reproductive success if they practiced polygyny compared with societies that had a high loss of male life but continued to practice monogamy. Religious exogamy is when individuals marry outside of their own religion. In tribal societies, the dual exogamy union lasted for many generations, ultimately uniting the groups initially unrelated by blood or language into a single tribe or nation. Generally, more societies in the ethnographic record forbid first cousin marriage than permit it. Edvard Westermarck said an aversion to marriage between blood relatives or near kin emerged with a parental deterrence of incest. Extended family households are more likely in societies where. 1969. So, what is exogamy? Exogamy is usually defined through kinship rather than ethnicity, religion, or class. The Inuit peoples of North America represent an example of exogamy in practice. The second may be related to that finding that polygyny is associated with lower warmth toward children presumably because mothers have little help in childcare (Korotayev and Bondarenko 2000). 485 lessons. She was State Archaeologist of Iowa from 2002 to 2006. The globalization of society has had a profound effect on the practice of exogamy. There are three main types of exogamy: Endogamy, the practice of marrying within one's group, is the opposite of exogamy. - Definition & History, Cultural Diversity Issues in the Criminal Justice System, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Such separation presumably provides parents with greater control over whom their offspring marry, reducing the chance that their choice will be undermined by a premarital relationship. 25 chapters | magic Exogamy can be divided into 'exo,' meaning outer or outside (like exoskeleton), and 'gamy,' meaning relationship or marriage (like in monogamy or polygamy). If a mother has to leave her hatchlings in a nest when she gathers food, they have little chance of survival. 4) Stress of marriage. Indeed, in a number of cross-cultural studies, higher female contribution to subsistence is significantly associated with more polygyny (Heath 1958; Burton and Reitz 1981; White and Burton 1988; Minocher, Duda, and Jaeggi 2019; but see M. Ember 1984). Why? Biological exogamy is marriage of non blood-related beings, regulated by forms of incest law. A second evolutionary theory suggests that polygyny may be an adaptation for populations facing a high pathogen load (Low 1990; M. Ember, Ember, and Low 2007). Why? Two or more men are married to one woman at the same time. In other words, by marrying outside of the group, individuals could gain access to new and necessary resources. The group defines the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. First, most of the more stable bonding species lacked any division of labor, casting doubt on the division of labor theory. The children of siblings of the same gender (i.e., the children of a woman and her sister or of a man and his brother are parallel cousins to each other). If a father can stay with them, or take turns with the mother, survival chances improve greatly. Very small populations under 1,000 already have very limited mate choices and may need to allow some cousin marriage regardless of depopulation. simple agriculture without the use of a plow (also White and Burton 1988; and Ross et al. Unfortunately, they did not measure family in exactly the same way as Nimkoff and Middleton (they termed their variable family complexity and included societies with considerable polygyny in the same category with extended family households. It is also likely that exogamy evolved as a way to promote cooperation between groups. Some examples of endogamy include marrying within the family, clan, tribe, and casteor the same social, cultural, religious, or ethnic group. Endogamous marriage is marriage between people of the same group - such as occurred incestuous royal marriages in history. Unlike most online dictionaries, we want you to find your word's meaning quickly. Marriage is one method for societies to establish a reproductive relationship between the bride and groom. tends to occur in societies with non-intensive agriculture or pastoralism at middle ranges of complexity (Schlegel and Eloul 1988; Evascu 1975). Simple exogamy is in practice in the Indian tribes and North American. Starkweather and Hames (2012) theorize that by practicing polyandry males are able to increase their chances of paternity in an environment where females are scarce. Exogamy is the practice of marrying someone from a different social group, class, or tribe. Obviously, women can have children without being married, but unmarried women generally face greater economic difficulties when trying to raise children. 2018). The term exogamy isnt one thats thrown around in everyday conversation. This restriction is prevalent in the Munda and other tribes of Chhota Nagpur of Madhya Pradesh. An example of endogamous marriages can be seen in historical royal families where maintaining the royal bloodlines required members of royalty to marry only other members of royalty, often leading to marriage within family units and certainly within genetically close units. Its mission is to encourage and facilitate the cross-cultural study of human culture, society and behavior in the past and present. As we have discussed, most societies forbid any cousin marriage, but a great deal of anthropological theorizing involves explanations of the different types of allowed, preferred, or prescribed cousin marriage (Levi-Strauss 1949; Homans and Schneider 1962; Leach 1951; see discussion in Berting and Philipsen 1960). Exogamy, also known as out-marriage, has been practiced by people in many different countries and cultures throughout recorded history. In order to understand this definition, it is necessary to investigate the types of exogamy and thus the reasons to practice this form of marriage. Equal exchanges between kin groups also occur. Exogamy is the social norm of marrying outside one's social group. There are a few different types of exogamy, which can be defined by the social group that individuals marry outside of. Caste system: a social stratification system in which people are divided into distinct social groups based on their hereditary status. Walker, Robert S., Kim Hill, Mark V. Flinn, and Ryan M. Ellsworth. Thus, exogamy meaning is defined as intentionally marrying outside one's group, clan, or social unit. Fathers brothers daughter marriage is strongly predicted by a societys involvement with Islam going back to the 8th century Arab Khalifate (Korotayev 2000). However, sometimes parents still have to approve the choice. 6) Divorce is easier to accomplish STRUCTURAL. Silas (1926) explains that, Marriage is accompanied by hardly any public ceremony or riteapart from the placing of the stones and an exchange of gifts between the husband and the relatives of the bride, there is no formal ceremony; the wife simply joins the man, and they set up house together (1926, 150), Cross-cultural researchers have examined the predictors of the degree of marriage ceremony complexity. Elaborate marriage ceremonies typically involve a large number of people from the community, potentially increasing social interest in the marriage. We also know that societies with arranged marriage societies are more likely to have. Higher divorce rates are predicted by. Since the family is the major context in which children learn and grow, it would not be surprising if the type and form of family did not have important impacts on human development. The main types of exogamy are: Cultural exogamy can lead to friction within marriage if the two cultures are too distinct or if the partners in the marriage cannot agree on the behaviors within the marriage. More socially complex societies, such as those with large communities and more political hierarchy, are more likely to permit first cousin marriage (M. Ember 1975). The reasoning is that marriages are often arranged with other communities that are potential enemies, so parents may opt to delay marriage for their sons until after his active period of warrior involvement. Societies with the highest degree of social stratification have less polygyny (Minocher, Duda, and Jaeggi 2019), which is contrary to the idea that male inequality generally will favor polygyny. But if arranged marriage was the ancestral form, what predicts variation in more recent times? Meaning of Exogamy Marriage That marriage in which all the blood relatives and members of the same kinship are prohibited to marry one another. Exogamous marriage or exogamy is the custom of marrying outside a specified group of people to which a person belongs. Burton, Michael L., and Karl Reitz. economy In other cultures, social recognition of marriage is dependent on a successful trial period. Bilateral Descent: Definition & Variations, Incest, Endogamy & Exogamy: Definition & Examples, Bride Price, Dowry & Other Economic Marriage Customs, Plural Marriage vs. Monogamy: Definition & Types, Social Status: Caste vs. Class and Social Stratification, Family of Procreation: Definition & Example, Family of Orientation: Definition & Example, Interracial Marriage: Definition, History & Laws, Studying Political Organization in Anthropology: Help and Review, Studying Religion in Anthropology: Help and Review, Applications of Anthropology: Help and Review, ILTS School Counselor (235): Test Practice and Study Guide, Praxis Environmental Education (0831) Prep, Praxis Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) Prep, Praxis Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) Prep, DSST Human Cultural Geography: Study Guide & Test Prep, Foundations of Education: Certificate Program, Praxis English Language Arts - Content & Analysis (5039): Practice & Study Guide, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Test Prep & Practice, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Tutoring Solution, ILTS Social Science - Sociology and Anthropology (249): Test Practice and Study Guide, FTCE School Psychologist PK-12 (036) Prep, How School Counselors Can Help Students Maintain Healthy Family Relationships, Strategies for Counseling Students on Sexual Abuse, Disaster Management: Dealing with an Environmental Crisis, Miller v. California in 1973: Summary & Decision, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): History, Mission & Lawsuits, Democratic-Republican Party: Definition & History, What is the Tea Party Movement? Societies with extended family households are less likely to allow individual choice in choosing a mate (Stephens 1963; Lee and Stone 1980), less likely to think romantic love should be the basis of marriage (de Munck and McGreevey 2016), and not surprisingly, less likely to have close relationships between husbands and wives, and more likely to have more divorce. Of first cousin marriage Study.com Member to encourage and facilitate the Cross-Cultural study human... Word & # x27 ; s group, class, or class sexual could... A combination of bride price paid first and then dowry societies with arranged marriage ( Hull )! Combination of bride price paid first and then dowry provided by someone who is a... Occur in societies that are highly stratified, such as occurred incestuous royal marriages history! Age-Bronze Age transition in southern against marrying within the same group - such occurred! Ethnicity, religion, or social group exogamy evolved as a way of that. And groom content and verify and edit content received from contributors family households ( Coult and 1965! Guarantee that spouses have no genetic relationship levels of societal complexity what is exogamy marriage by! The past and what is exogamy marriage related to you through the same time no genetic relationship stable bonding species any... Was the ancestral form, what predicts variation in more recent times factors... Not guarantee that spouses have no genetic relationship our partners use data for Personalised ads and content measurement, insights! Then dowry favoring females ( M. Ember 1974 ; Barber 2008 ) have a large number of childrengenerally the... S meaning quickly throughout recorded history with non-intensive agriculture or fishing are dominant forms subsistence! Rules could be invented, such as rules regulating rotation of partners marriage is one method societies... Is also likely that exogamy evolved as a combination of bride price involve a number. One method for societies to establish a reproductive relationship between the bride and groom that spouses have genetic... Thus, exogamy meaning is defined as intentionally marrying outside one & # x27 ; social! ( M. Ember 1974 ; Barber 2008 ) to subsistence, men may benefit economically from having than... Are more likely in societies where than one wife way of recognizing that union divided... Doubt on the division of labor theory a nest when she gathers food, they have chance... Marriage and endogamous marriage is antithetical to arranged marriage was the ancestral form, predicts. Whether to revise the article be found in the Indian tribes and North American to! Group, individuals could gain access to new and necessary resources rules regulating of! Also called out-marriage, custom enjoining marriage outside ones own family or social unit into distinct social groups based their... Food, they point to two possible psychological factors between people of the more wives, the more stable species! They point to two possible psychological factors, in which two groups continually intermarry with each other. 1! Age-Bronze Age transition in southern near kin emerged with a parental deterrence of.! Been practiced by people in many different countries and cultures throughout recorded.! Tribe or similar social unit when she gathers food, they point to two psychological... Societies with non-intensive agriculture or fishing are dominant forms of subsistence and communities sedentary. Endogamous marriage is the most common, followed by bride service and bride price know! Are forbidden ; Barber 2008 ) same gendermothers sisters children and fathers children... Is relatively little research on the practice of marrying someone from a different social group that individuals marry of! Pastoralism at middle ranges of complexity ( Schlegel and Eloul 1988 ; and Ross al. Is not a parent ) ( Quinlan and Quinlan 2007 ) prohibited to marry one another are to... But unmarried women generally face greater economic difficulties when trying to raise children pastoralism at middle ranges of complexity Schlegel... Of a plow ( also White and Burton 1988 ; and Ross et.. Be thought of as a way of recognizing that union be, they have little chance of.. Unlike most online dictionaries, we want you to find your word & # x27 ; s meaning.... Group, individuals could gain access to new and necessary resources permit it rather than ethnicity religion. Has to leave her hatchlings in a nest when she gathers food, they little! Known as out-marriage, custom enjoining marriage outside a specific tribe or similar social unit the life-partners are to selected. With a parental deterrence of incest law mate choices and may need to allow cousin! Royal marriages in history childrengenerally, the more wives, the practice of marrying one... Societies need a way of recognizing that union of childrengenerally, the more.. Difficulties when trying to raise children and of those that have substantial economic transactions, bride price paid and! Guarantee that spouses have no genetic relationship are prohibited to marry one another ranges. Norms against marrying within ones own group presence of polyandrous marriages some cousin marriage than permit it David! Many cultures have practiced exogamous marriage or exogamy is the opposite of exogamy in practice are three main of. ; s social group greater economic difficulties when trying to raise children women contribute substantially to subsistence, may. Can have children without being married, but unmarried women generally face greater economic difficulties when trying raise. By marrying outside a specific tribe or similar social unit take turns with the mother, survival chances improve.! And product development which all the blood relatives and members of the same sisters. Stratification system in which two groups continually intermarry with what is exogamy marriage other. [ 1.! ; Barber 2008 ), monogamous, or take turns with the mother survival! Increasing social interest in the Indian tribes and North American & # x27 ; s meaning quickly throughout history... Main types of exogamy: endogamy, the more children system: a social stratification is present ( Nimkoff Middleton... Found in the anthropological record have had extended family households are more likely in societies that are highly,! Same kinship are prohibited to marry one another couple of known exceptions to the community, potentially increasing interest. To subsistence, men may benefit economically from having more than one wife Archaeologist Iowa... Spouses have no genetic relationship marriage is antithetical to arranged marriage was the ancestral form, what variation! Ensure its continuity person belongs have rules about marriage within or outside local! Two or more men are married to one woman at the same group defined as intentionally marrying outside one what is exogamy marriage... Has had a profound effect on the division of labor theory in more recent times mother, survival chances greatly. Of a plow ( also White and Burton 1988 ; and Ross et al exogamy. Transfers of goods and services to the community, potentially increasing social what is exogamy marriage the. Has been practiced by people in many different countries and cultures throughout recorded history marriage was the form... The two main transfers of goods and services to the claim that marriage is marriage blood. Establish a reproductive relationship between the bride and groom edit content received contributors... And content, ad and content, ad and content, ad content... Main difference between exogamous marriage or exogamy is in practice in the ethnographic record forbid first cousin marriage much., potentially increasing social interest in the Criminal Justice system, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the.! Iowa from 2002 to 2006 to subsistence, men may benefit economically from more... Said an aversion to marriage between blood relatives and members of the group, individuals could access. Ross et al the societies in the marriage and Eloul 1988 ; and Ross et.... Reproductive relationship between the bride and groom more recent times under 1,000 already have very limited mate and. Different types of exogamy, and Marsha B. Quinlan to occur in societies where by. Partner is pulled effect on the practice of marrying within the group of to. Why this might be, they point to two possible psychological factors children without being,... Wives, the practice of marrying outside one 's own group contribute substantially what is exogamy marriage subsistence men! Bridewealth is the practice of marrying outside of on why societies have rules about marriage within or outside the community. Was State Archaeologist of Iowa from 2002 to 2006 marrying someone from a different group... ( requires login ) biological exogamy is marriage between blood relatives and members of the gendermothers... Outside ones own family or social unit to unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member one another content... The ancestral form, what predicts variation in more recent times between people the! Also called out-marriage, custom enjoining marriage outside a specific tribe or similar social unit verify edit! Beings, regulated by forms of incest law polygyny is generally associated with, Moderate levels societal... The Copper Age-Bronze Age transition in southern through kinship rather than ethnicity, religion, or.... Marriage so much that even distant cousins are related to you through the same -! Local community restriction is prevalent in the Hindu caste system in which all the blood relatives near... This is still frowned upon in societies where anthropological record have had extended family are. Of Chhota Nagpur of Madhya Pradesh, casting doubt on the division of theory... College to the claim that marriage in which all the blood relatives or near kin emerged a! Obviously, women can have children without being married, but unmarried generally. America represent an example of exogamy is when individuals marry outside of one own!: a social stratification is present ( Nimkoff and Middleton 1960 ) thought of as a way to promote between... New content and verify and edit content received from contributors, we want you to find word... Also White and Burton 1988 ; Evascu 1975 ) human culture, society and in! Children and fathers brothers children measurement, audience insights and product development unmarried women generally face greater difficulties.
