The Westermarck effect, also known as reverse sexual imprinting, is a psychological hypothesis that people tend not to be attracted to peers with whom they lived like siblings before age six. This hypothesis was first proposed by Finnish anthropologist Edvard Westermarck in his book The History of Human Marriage (1891) as one explanation for the incest taboo.[1]
The child rearing practices of the kibbutz system is sometimes cited as an example of the Westermarck effect. Seen here are a group of children in Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, circa 1935–40.
The Westermarck effect has achieved some empirical support.[2] Proponents point to evidence from the Israeli kibbutz system, from the Chinese Shim-pua marriage customs, and from closely related families.
In the case of the Israeli kibbutzim (collective farms), children were reared somewhat communally in peer groups, based on age, not biological relations. A study of the marriage patterns of these children later in life revealed that out of the nearly 3,000 marriages that occurred across the kibbutz system, only 14 were between children from the same peer group. Of those 14, none had been reared together during the first six years of life. This result suggests that the Westermarck effect operates during the period from birth to the age of six.[3]
In Shim-pua marriages, a girl would be adopted into a family as the future wife of a son, often an infant at that time. These marriages often failed, as would be expected according to the Westermarck hypothesis.[4]
Studies show that cousin-marriage in Lebanon has a lower success rate if the cousins were raised in sibling-like conditions, first-cousin unions being more successful in Pakistan if there was a substantial age difference, as well as reduced marital appeal for cousins who grew up sleeping in the same room in Morocco. Evidence also indicates that siblings separated for extended periods of time since childhood were more likely to report having engaged in sexual activity with one another.[5]
Criticism
Eran Shor and Dalit Simchai revisited the kibbutzim results and found sexual attraction where it hadn't been acted on. They conclude that any innate aversion needs to be backed up by social pressures and norms.[6]
^Hou, Bowen; Wang, Yan (2021-04-21). "Westermarck Effect and Imprinting". Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science: 8496–8498. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-19650-3_3618. ISBN978-3-319-19650-3. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
^Inbreeding, Incest, and the Incest Taboo: The State of Knowledge at the Turn of the Century, Arthur P. Wolf and William H. Durham (Editors), Stanford University Press, 2004, ISBN978-0804751414. Introduction
^Wilson, Margo; Daly, Martin (1992). "Chapter 7: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Chattel". In Barkow, J.H.; Cosmides, L.; Tooby, J. (eds.). The Adapted Mind. Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-510107-2. p. 190
^Scheidel, Walter. "Evolutionary psychology and the historian." The American Historical Review 119, no. 5 (2014): 1563-1575.
^Shor, Eran; Simchai, Dalit (2009). "Incest Avoidance, the Incest Taboo, and Social Cohesion: Revisiting Westermarck and the Case of the Israeli Kibbutzim". American Journal of Sociology. 114 (6): 1803–1842. doi:10.1086/597178. PMID 19852254. S2CID 27854996.
Further reading
Lieberman, D.; Tooby, J.; Cosmides, L. (15 February 2007). "The Architecture of Human Kin Detection". Nature. 445 (7129): 727–731. Bibcode:2007Natur.445..727L. doi:10.1038/nature05510. PMC3581061. PMID 17301784.
Paul, Robert A. (Winter 1988). "Psychoanalysis and the Propinquity Theory of Incest Avoidance". The Journal of Psychohistory. 15 (3): 255–261.
Spain, David H. (December 1987). "The Westermarck–Freud Incest-Theory Debate: An Evaluation and Reformation". Current Anthropology. 28 (55): 623–635, 643–645. doi:10.1086/203603. JSTOR 2743359. S2CID 145420633.
Westermarck, Edvard A. (1921). The History of Human Marriage (5th ed.). London: Macmillan. Vol. 1; Vol. 2; Vol. 3.
January 07, 2023
westermarck, effect, also, known, reverse, sexual, imprinting, psychological, hypothesis, that, people, tend, attracted, peers, with, whom, they, lived, like, siblings, before, this, hypothesis, first, proposed, finnish, anthropologist, edvard, westermarck, bo. The Westermarck effect also known as reverse sexual imprinting is a psychological hypothesis that people tend not to be attracted to peers with whom they lived like siblings before age six This hypothesis was first proposed by Finnish anthropologist Edvard Westermarck in his book The History of Human Marriage 1891 as one explanation for the incest taboo 1 The child rearing practices of the kibbutz system is sometimes cited as an example of the Westermarck effect Seen here are a group of children in Kibbutz Gan Shmuel circa 1935 40 Contents 1 Research since Westermarck 2 Criticism 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingResearch since Westermarck EditThe Westermarck effect has achieved some empirical support 2 Proponents point to evidence from the Israeli kibbutz system from the Chinese Shim pua marriage customs and from closely related families In the case of the Israeli kibbutzim collective farms children were reared somewhat communally in peer groups based on age not biological relations A study of the marriage patterns of these children later in life revealed that out of the nearly 3 000 marriages that occurred across the kibbutz system only 14 were between children from the same peer group Of those 14 none had been reared together during the first six years of life This result suggests that the Westermarck effect operates during the period from birth to the age of six 3 In Shim pua marriages a girl would be adopted into a family as the future wife of a son often an infant at that time These marriages often failed as would be expected according to the Westermarck hypothesis 4 Studies show that cousin marriage in Lebanon has a lower success rate if the cousins were raised in sibling like conditions first cousin unions being more successful in Pakistan if there was a substantial age difference as well as reduced marital appeal for cousins who grew up sleeping in the same room in Morocco Evidence also indicates that siblings separated for extended periods of time since childhood were more likely to report having engaged in sexual activity with one another 5 Criticism EditEran Shor and Dalit Simchai revisited the kibbutzim results and found sexual attraction where it hadn t been acted on They conclude that any innate aversion needs to be backed up by social pressures and norms 6 See also EditAccidental incest Genetic sexual attraction Kibbutz communal child rearing and collective education Oedipus complexReferences Edit Hou Bowen Wang Yan 2021 04 21 Westermarck Effect and Imprinting Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science 8496 8498 doi 10 1007 978 3 319 19650 3 3618 ISBN 978 3 319 19650 3 Retrieved 2022 11 13 Inbreeding Incest and the Incest Taboo The State of Knowledge at the Turn of the Century Arthur P Wolf and William H Durham Editors Stanford University Press 2004 ISBN 978 0804751414 Introduction Shepher Joseph 1983 Incest A Biosocial View Studies in anthropology New York Academic Press ISBN 0 12 639460 1 LCCN 81006552 Wilson Margo Daly Martin 1992 Chapter 7 The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Chattel In Barkow J H Cosmides L Tooby J eds The Adapted Mind Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 510107 2 p 190 Scheidel Walter Evolutionary psychology and the historian The American Historical Review 119 no 5 2014 1563 1575 Shor Eran Simchai Dalit 2009 Incest Avoidance the Incest Taboo and Social Cohesion Revisiting Westermarck and the Case of the Israeli Kibbutzim American Journal of Sociology 114 6 1803 1842 doi 10 1086 597178 PMID 19852254 S2CID 27854996 Further reading EditLieberman D Tooby J Cosmides L 15 February 2007 The Architecture of Human Kin Detection Nature 445 7129 727 731 Bibcode 2007Natur 445 727L doi 10 1038 nature05510 PMC 3581061 PMID 17301784 Paul Robert A Winter 1988 Psychoanalysis and the Propinquity Theory of Incest Avoidance The Journal of Psychohistory 15 3 255 261 Spain David H December 1987 The Westermarck Freud Incest Theory Debate An Evaluation and Reformation Current Anthropology 28 55 623 635 643 645 doi 10 1086 203603 JSTOR 2743359 S2CID 145420633 Westermarck Edvard A 1921 The History of Human Marriage 5th ed London Macmillan Vol 1 Vol 2 Vol 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Westermarck effect amp oldid 1129097585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
