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Market forces affect patterns of polygyny in Uganda
Thomas V Pollet1, Daniel Nettle
1Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands. t.v.pollet@rug.nl
Summary
Polygynous marriage benefits men more than women. A man
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Anthropology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Sociology
Background:
- Polygynous marriage systems, where one man marries multiple women, are common in many societies.
- While generally more advantageous for men, women may enter polygynous marriages if it represents their best available option.
- Understanding the factors influencing polygyny is crucial for comprehending social structures and mating strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test predictions derived from the biological markets theory regarding polygynous marriage.
- To investigate the influence of individual resources, local sex ratios, and peer competition on men's likelihood of polygynous marriage.
- To examine the evolutionary dynamics of polygyny in a large-scale human population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2002 Ugandan census, encompassing over 1 million men across 56 districts.
- Employed statistical analysis to correlate land ownership, sex ratios, and the prevalence of polygyny.
- Applied the principles of biological markets theory to interpret observed patterns in marriage systems.
Main Results:
- Polygynously married men were more likely to own land than monogamously married men.
- Polygyny increased in districts with a more female-biased sex ratio.
- Land ownership was particularly significant for polygyny when men were abundant, and its impact was greatest in districts with low male land ownership.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the biological markets theory's predictions regarding the resource-based determinants of polygyny.
- Individual male resources (land ownership) and local mating market conditions (sex ratio, male competition) significantly influence polygynous marriage patterns.
- These results contribute to models explaining the evolution and persistence of polygyny in human societies.
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