Author:
Hames Raymond,Starkweather Kathrine
Abstract
Although polyandry is rare, it is not as rare as commonly believed, even though standard references claim it is permissible in about 0.7 to 1.1 percent of all societies in large cross‐cultural samples of preindustrial societies. However, it is found worldwide, most commonly in small‐scale societies. Given its prevalence among small‐scale societies, especially hunter‐gatherers, polyandry likely existed during early human history and should be examined from an evolutionary perspective. Analysis reveals that it may be a predictable response to a high operational sex ratio favoring males, as well as a variety of social factors that may make polyandry adaptive in a restricted set of circumstances.