Carel van Schaik: Anthropological Institute & Museum, University of Zurich

Naturalistic data on nonhuman primates show that the degree of despotism among males in primate groups
is predicted by the degree to which mating access to females can be monopolized. Degree of despotism
should affect other aspects of male behavioral strategies, such as how long top-dominants’ tenure is, how
top-dominance is achieved and which groups are targeted for dispersal, as well as the feasibility and
profitability of different kinds of male-male coalitions. Primate data support these predictions. This primate
model is then applied to human foragers. A fundamental difference is caused by the presence of weaponry.
When opportunities for despotism increase, violent coalitionary takeovers of top dominance and the formation
of elites emerge.