A Cross-Cultural Test of the Proximity Hypothesis

Abstract

This paper tests the proximity hypothesis, which asserts that residential propinquity influences the possession by a society of certain kin avoidance and kin terminological practices. The hypothesis is shown to be invalid, and the results for classical theories of kinship organization are sketched. Briefly these are that Murdock's theoretical claims in Social Structure (1949) are called into question, as is "Main Sequence" kinship theory, which postu lates that residence, descent, and kinship terminology form a typical devel opmental sequence.