Westermarck Effect
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7078769 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Eran Shor (0009-0003-4861-0828) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Pages | 1-2 |
| Publication date | 2017-12-07 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | OTHER |
| Venue | The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/9781405165518.wbeos0947 |
| OpenAlex | W4245156006 |
| ISBN | 9781405165518 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 6 |
The Westermarck effect (also known as the Westermarck hypothesis) is the proposition that early close childhood association leads to sexual aversion, which is in turn the reason for incest avoidance. This proposition has received ample support from ethological research, as well as from a few natural experiments, most notably on “minor” marriage practices in Taiwan and on child socialization in the Israeli kibbutzim. However, several sociologists have questioned both the empirical evidence and the conclusions offered in support of the hypothesis. Some have also conducted studies that directly challenge the validity of the Westermarck effect and highlight the role of sociocultural and social psychological elements (such as group cohesion, social pressures, and habituation) in inbreeding avoidance
Cohesion (chemistry · Developmental psychology · Empirical research · Epistemology · Proposition · Socialization · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Cultural Differences and Values · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
The history of human marriage
The Westermarck Hypothesis and the Israeli Kibbutzim
Mate selection among second generation kibbutz adolescents and adults
Childhood Association and Sexual Attraction
Childhood Association, Sexual Attraction, and the Incest Taboo
Incest Avoidance, the Incest Taboo, and Social Cohesion
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |