Property and wealth inequality as cultural niche construction

Abstract

In contrast to other approaches, evolutionary perspectives on understanding the power and wealth inequalities in human societies view wealth and power not as ends in themselves but as proximate goals that contribute to the ultimate Darwinian goal of achieving reproductive success. The most successful means of achieving it in specific times and places depend on local conditions and these have changed in the course of human history, to such an extent that strategies focused on the maintenance and increase of wealth can even be more successful in reproductive terms than strategies directed at maximizing reproductive success in the short term. This paper argues that a major factor leading to such changes is a shift in the nature of inter-generational wealth transfers from relatively intangible to material property resources and the opportunities these provided for massively increased inequality. This shift can be seen as a process of niche construction related to the increasing importance of fixed and defensible resources in many societies after the end of the last Ice Age. It is suggested that, despite problems of inference, the evidence of the archaeological record can be used to throw light on these processes in specific places and times.

Human niche construction in interdisciplinary focus

“…Shennan [59] in this issue chooses to focus on the inheritance of material wealth, such as property, as a constructed niche or resource afforded by private property rights that develop with agriculturalist and pastoralist societies. Shennan explores the influence of this niche on variation and stratification of reproductive strategies, and in addition, uses McNamara & Houston's [60] model for non-genetic inheritance of phenotypic quality to bring insight to the importance of inter-generational transfers of land wealth on long-term reproductive success.…”

Complexity in models of cultural niche construction with selection and homophily

“…The two elements of cultural niche construction in that model-the levels of selection and assorting-were controlled by the same trait. One cultural trait affected both the fitness and mating preferences of individuals with variants of another cultural (or genetic) trait; for example, religious beliefs, intergenerational wealth transfer, number of children desired, and socioeconomic status may be linked to numerous other traits and may affect both mate choice and fertility (12,(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

“…The two elements of cultural niche construction in that model-the levels of selection and assorting-were controlled by the same trait. One cultural trait affected both the fitness and mating preferences of individuals with variants of another cultural (or genetic) trait; for example, religious beliefs, intergenerational wealth transfer, number of children desired, and socioeconomic status may be linked to numerous other traits and may affect both mate choice and fertility (12,(16)(17)(18)(19).Here, we use a model of vertical cultural transmission of three dichotomous traits to explore the evolutionary consequences of assortative mating and selection as independent culturally transmitted forces. In this model, separate culturally transmitted traits alter the strength of selection and level of assorting on the focal trait through cultural niche construction.…”

Origem e evolução da desigualdade material hereditária: uma abordagem dos Sistemas Adaptativos Complexos

“…Algumas delas buscaram as causas dessa transição nas características individuais do H. sapiens BLAKE, 1994;WEBSTER, 1990), enquanto outras se voltaram para as possíveis causas dessa transição no ambiente, na ecologia e no clima (CARNEIRO, 1970;SHENNAN, 2011;SMITH et al, 2010). Entre elas, podem ser citadas as teorias da pressão populacional (KENNETT et al, 2008;NAROLL, 1956), da busca por prestígio (HAYDEN, 1995) e do uso de tecnologias de estocagem (ALLEN, 1997;BOIX, 2010).…”

“…O surgimento da DMH pode estar associado às mudanças nas relações ecológicas, assim como às mudanças das relações entre indivíduos (SUMMERS, 2005). A partir da diferenciação material quantitativa dos indivíduos é que parecem surgir novas formas de estruturação social, que teriam permitido à espécie humana se reorganizar de diversas maneiras inovadoras (ARNOLD, 1993;CHILDE, 1950 Acredita-se que a maior diferença entre a busca de recursos presente no ambiente através do forrageio -ou caça e coleta -e a produção de alimentos cultivados e criados, seria provavelmente a previsibilidade do retorno do investimento energético (AMES, 1994;BAR-YOSEF, 1998;BLAKE;CLARK, 1999;HAYDEN, 1990;SHENNAN, 2011 A hipótese do controle dos meios de produção coloca em discussão a questão do controle sobre recursos, evidente ao longo de diversos trabalhos que tratam da emergência da DMH (AMES, 1994;CHILDE, 1950;HAYDEN, 1983;GRIER, 2000). …”