Renee Hagen, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Anthropology, UCLA
Title: Common behaviors and moral codes: Applying cultural evolution and sexual conflict theory to model the dynamics of social norms
Abstract:
How do new social norms spread in social groups, and how are norms maintained or change over time? I will present two studies that investigate these questions by using evolutionary perspectives to understand cultural change. In one study I apply the framework of cultural evolution theory to examine what drives change in perinatal care norms among Himba women in the Kunene region of Namibia. Access to formal medical care is on the rise in this region, and medical workers regularly visit communities to promote WHO-recommended perinatal care practices. Based on interviews with one hundred Himba mothers, we examine how perceptions of group preferences, prestige ascribed to outgroup conformers, interaction with the outgroup and access to resources affect norm adoption. Here I found that women who perceive medical recommendations as common in their group prefer, plan and practice these recommendations more often themselves. The observed shift toward medical recommendations regarding birth location and contraception use that was in line with conformity bias predictions. In another study, I look at gender norms from a fitness perspective and ask why people sometimes support norms that seem to be against their own self-interest. Specifically I examine women’s support of patriarchal gender norms in China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and test whether their anticipated inclusive fitness benefits are reflected in their stated attitudes. I find that that part of the variation in attitudes towards gender norms can be explained through varying interests in such norms depending on gender and age. In contrast with previous studies, I find little evidence that having more sons leads to higher support for patriarchal norms; only in China and South Korea is having more sons linked with a stronger son-preference, but having more sons is unrelated to other gender norms. Higher social status correlates with egalitarian attitudes more so for women than for men. I suggest that higher social status might decrease the costs for women to contest the dominant gender ideology of their community.
This talk will be presented live as well as via Zoom.
Zoom link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/92826436236?pwd=SytQNTNPSWdwaDNlTm05d2srdXNHUT09
Meeting ID: 928 2643 6236
Passcode: BEC