Adult-Male/Juvenile Association as a Species-Characteristic Human Trait: A Comparative Field Approach

Abstract

The adult-male/juvenile1 relationship reflects patterns of behavior that have been found in all human societies that have been studied. The systematic availability of a stable adult male to the offspring of mothers appears to be a universal event (Barry and Paxson, 1971; Levinson and Malone, 1980; Mackey, 1985; Murdock, 1957; Murdock, 1967; Murdock and Provost, 1973; Stephens, 1963). The biological father is usually the adult male who is readily available to his offspring, but occasionally the mother’s brother fulfills this role (Alexander and Noonan, 1979; Schlegel, 1972; Van den Berghe, 1979). The purpose of this chapter is to explore, in a systematic manner, the character, trends, and variations of the association between adult males and juveniles across a wide array of societies.