Information AboutExogamy |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT EXOGAMY | |
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BIOLOGICAL EXOGAMY In Biology, exogamy more generally refers to the mating of individuals who are relatively less related genetically, that is Outbreeding as opposed to inbreeding, this benefits the offspring by avoiding the chance of the offspring inheriting two copies of a defective gene and also by increasing the genetic diversity of the offspring, improving the chances that more of the offspring will have the required adaptations to survive. EXOGAMY IN HUMANS There may be a drive in humans as well as animals to engage in exogamy (outbreeding); this is because procreating with individuals who are more closely related means any children will be more likely to suffer from genetics defects caused by when a couple of primarily European genetics have children, another being Sickle-cell Anemia when a couple of primarily African genetics have children. Therefore, the drive to reproduce with individuals genetically different from oneself may derive from an innate drive to seek the healthiest combination of DNA possible for one's offspring by outbreeding. Conversely, exogamy can cause serious difficulties in modern medicine; for example, exogamous patients who require organ transplants may find it difficult to find matching donors. CULTURAL EXOGAMY Exogamy is the custom of Marry ing outside a specified group of people to which a person belongs. In addition to blood relatives, marriage to members of a specific Totem , clan(s) or other group(s) may be forbidden. The opposite of exogamy is Endogamy . Different theories have been proposed to account for the origin of exogamy. Edvard Westermarck said it arose in the aversion to marriage between blood relatives or near Kin , that is, in horror of Incest . From a genetic point of view, aversion to breeding with close relatives results in fewer congenital diseases, because, where one gene is faulty, there is a greater chance that the other - being from a different line - is of another ''functional'' type and can take over. Outbreeding thus favours the condition of Heterozygosity , that is having two non-identical copies of a given gene. Émile Durkheim derives exogamy from Totemism , and says it arose from a religious respect for the blood of a totemic clan, for the clan totem is a god and is especially in the blood. Claude Levi-Strauss introduced the "Alliance Theory" of exogamy, that is, that small groups must force their members to marry outside so as to build alliances with other groups. According to this theory, groups that engaged in exogamy would flourish, while those that didn't would die out, either literally or because they lacked ties for cultural and economic exchange, leaving them at a disadvantage. The exchange of men and/or women therefore served as a uniting force between groups. REFERENCES SEE ALSO |
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