ABSTRACT

Figure 13.6 portrays all of the various transitions in what we call a 'flow' diagram (Pagel 1997). Transitions in either direction between brideprice/ monogamy (0,1) and brideprice/polygyny (0,0) are slow and further analyses of the dependent model suggest that these rates may even be zero. The most probable intermediate state between the ancestral condition of dowry/ monogamy was dowry/polygyny, which rapidly evolves to brideprice/ polygyny. Further analyses of expanded cultural datasets are needed to test this idea, and it must be borne in mind that some of the cultures pay a brideprice while others merely lack a dowry. But if our speculation is correct, it may suggest that changes to a culture's marriage system happen first and alter the value of women, leading to changes in patterns of wealth transfer. Once polygyny evolves and men compete for women, families can ask men to pay for the right of marriage or at least avoid paying a dowry.