Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions

• Kinship


  Relationship or affinity
• Kinship by Blood


  • Unilineal - descent through either the maternal or paternal line only
  • Matrilineal - descent through the female line
  • Patrilineal - descent through the male line
  • Bilateral - descent through both the mother and father
• Lineal


  Having a direct family relationship or affinity
• Monogamy


  Being married to one spouse
• Polygamy


  The practice of having more than one spouse
• Types of Household


  • One-person - An arrangement in which one person makes provision for his/her own food or other essentials for living without combining with any other person
  • Multi-person - A group of two or more persons living together who make common provision for food or other essentials for living
• Family


  • Refers to the members of the household who are related, to a specified degree, through blood, adoption or marriage
  • Consists of at least two members
  • Members of a family must be related
  • Cannot comprise more than one household
• Household


  • May consist of only one person
  • Members of a multi-person household need not be related to each other
  • Can contain more than one family; or one or more families together with one or more non-related persons; or it can consist entirely of non-related persons
• Types of Political Organization


  • Bands - These are most often found in foraging societies, and associated with low population densities, distribution systems based on reciprocity, and egalitarian social relations
  • Tribes - These are found among horticulturists and pastoralists societies, has larger and more sedentary populations, lack centralized political leadership, and egalitarian in nature
  • Chiefdoms - These involve a more formal and permanent political structure, political authority rests with individuals, and rely on feasting and tribute