From a cross-cultural study, Jack Goody learned that bridewealth occurs more frequently in horticultural societies, whereas the dowry system is most frequently found in agricultural states. He hypothesized that one function of the dowry system was to ____

A. consolidate property in the hands of elite groups, thus increasing their wealth and status
B. spread wealth out over a larger area so that everyone in the society had about the same level of affluence
C. counteract the practice of bridewealth, which was non-adaptive in an agricultural state because it allowed certain families to accumulate too much wealth by selling their daughters to the highest bidder
D. create an egalitarian society


Answer: A

Anthropology & Archaeology

You might also like to view...

Social scientists estimate that there are, in reality, some six classes in the United States

a. True b. False

Anthropology & Archaeology

To assert that a man from a different society dressed in ceremonial attire looks odd is an ethnocentric fallacy

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Anthropology & Archaeology

Displacement is a key feature of nonhuman primate communication

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Anthropology & Archaeology

In contrast to linguistic anthropology, the primary focus of theoretical linguistics is on form and structure, with little or no attention to the social contexts in which language is used

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Anthropology & Archaeology