1. In the Yanomamo culture, killing is much more normalized as an act named blood revenge is one of the most common causes of violence. Yanomamo culture differs from Western cultures due to the fact that when conflict arises many lead to death. In addition to this violence, death or murder in Yanomamo culture is often followed by more death in an act of revenge which is the consequence of this killing. In Western Culture, the consequences for murder include life in prison or the death penalty.
2. Revenge killings occur following a death, the kinsmen who were close to the victim conduct a raid on the community of the killer. Raiding parties consist of 10 to 20 men, some men participate in these raids, but not all men. Usually the village they plan on raiding can be 4 or 5 days of travel away which can lead to a number of obstacles. The victims of the raids are relatively small, usually one or two. The night prior to the raid the kinsmen make an effigy (no owa) planning for who they choose to kill. However, usually the one killed is the first man the group sees. At dawn, almost all the men begin shooting arrows at the victim and then retreat. Once they return every man who shot an arrow must participate in a purification ritual named unokaimou.
3. The term unokais means those who have killed. The benefit of obtaining this status is the ritual that takes place called unokaimou which is a purification process to keep away any harm that may come supernaturally by the soul of the victim. A benefit of non-unokais is the fact that their soul does not need to be purified and they do not have to participate in this ritual. One may become an unokais to gain status, or seek revenge for the killing of a close friend.
4. Identify and describe the relationship between revenge killings and these aspects of the Yanomamo culture. How do they influence and affect each other?
Political structure: Revenge killings can reinforce power within the culture, giving strength to certain individuals or groups.
Social Status/Social Organization: When one gains the title of unokais this can increase an individual's social status. Therefore, revenge killings can resurface social status as some seem superior to others due to their action of killing.
Kinship: Revenge killings can often strengthen kinship due to the fact that it occurs due to the fact that one's kinsman was killed. These killings happen to avenge a family member who is no longer here.
Marriage & Reproduction: Revenge killings can negatively affect marriage and reproduction rates as potential mates may be killed.
5. Laws are important as they set an expectation of behavior that is inappropriate vs. appropriate. After reading this article it is apparent to me that a lack of laws in these villages made certain behaviors like murder, normal. In our society where expectations are set and laws are enforced, murder is brutal, horrifying and has a serious consequence. Even though these acts are some that no one should want to do, laws can help deter those who may be tempted to commit such horrid acts.
Hi Cruz! I enjoyed reading how you explained the role of revenge killings within Yanomamo culture. While I understand your point about revenge killing creating negative affects on marriage and reproduction, my understanding is that Chagnon’s findings actually suggests that rather than harming reproduction, participation in revenge killings can increase a man’s social status and desirability as a marriage partner. While revenge killings do create danger and conflict, the authors data show that these risks are outweighed by the social and reproductive benefits for those who are successful. I appreciate your view from a different lens.
ReplyDeleteHello Cruz! I really liked how specific you were in describing the raid process, especially mentioning the 10–20 men, the long travel time, and the dawn attack with arrows. That helped me picture how much planning went into revenge killings instead of them being random. I also thought it was interesting that you included the effigy and how the group usually kills the first man they see. One thing you could maybe add is how being an unokai gives men more power in marriage and having children, since Chagnon talks a lot about that connection.
ReplyDeleteYour comparison between Western laws and Yanomamo customs was clear, especially how we use prisons and courts while they rely more on revenge between families. I also liked what you said about kinship being strengthened through revenge because that makes sense with how relatives are expected to respond to a death. In the marriage section, maybe you could also mention that some warriors actually benefit socially and reproductively, not just negatively, since unokais often had more wives and kids. Overall, your post explained the article well and was easy to understand.
Hi Madi, I like how you mentioned the fact that they typically kill the firt person they see rather than the intended person on the raids. I also have to agree with Jada, that becoming an Unokai makes one more desireable and offers one more marriage options.
ReplyDelete1. (3/5) - "In Western Culture, the consequences for murder include life in prison or the death penalty. "
ReplyDeleteYou very correctly note this at the end of your response here but then you don't continue with this very astute observation. Do you see any parallels with our use of the "death penalty" and the Yanomamo system of revenge killings?
Think about it... under certain conditions, our system of justice punishes murder with the killing of the criminal (the death penalty). How is that different from revenge killing, which punishes unsanctioned killings (i.e., "murder") by killing the criminal with revenge killings (effectively the death penalty).
2. (4/5) - "Revenge killings occur following a death"
Let's be very specific here. It is a death *outside of* the revenge killing system, correct?
And do women play any role in this system, other than as a victim?
3. (7/10) - Good description of the unokais but missing a response to the last important question in this prompt: "Why would a man choose to become an unokais instead of being a non-unokais?"
4.
Political structure (3/4): Can we draw a stronger connection between the revenge killing system and the political structure of a Yanomamo village? How is leadership determined in these communities?
Social status/organization (3/4): You are missing 50% of the population in this response! Can women influence their social status with this system?
Kinship (2/4): I think I need more explanation on how revenge killings can "strengthen" kin bonds. How does that happen? Let's review some more specific influences here. Kinship determines who are expected to kill and who they can kill, correct? And this system of killings works to give high status unokais a larger system of kin, through marriage, tying the population together. There is protection in numbers! Non-unokais will have the smallest kinship circle.
Marriage and reproduction (2/4): "Revenge killings can negatively affect marriage and reproduction rates as potential mates may be killed. "
Yes, there is risk to being a unokais, but the data charts actually indicate that being an unokais *increase* reproductive success. Unokais are more likely to marry, to marry polygynously, and they have more children than non-unokais. Check the article again to review.
5. (6/10) - " that a lack of laws in these villages "
No! They DO have laws in place. Just because their laws aren't written down and don't resemble ours doesn't mean they don't exist.
You aren't actually answering the key question here: If killing is recognized to be socially/morally bad, why do we need laws against it? Shouldn't people just not kill? The point here is to recognize that there is killing in all cultures, including both the Yanomamo and Western societies. Both cultures have systems of dealing with it. But the question remains... why do people kill if this behavior is so universally recognized as "bad"?
Both Western cultures and the Yanomamo have laws against these behaviors, not because they are bad but because people may gain some benefit from engaging in those laws to the detriment of those around them.
We are creatures of biology, regardless of how "civilized" we might want to think we are. Killing can benefit an organism if they gain resources or a mate or defend their offspring in the process, correct? So that benefit is still there in humans, whether we like it or not. Killing is an instinctive, biological reaction to a threat of some sort, to our lives, to our family (genes) or to our resources, but it can also be a strategy to advance your survival, such as (for example) killing off a rival. Understand that this isn't excusing the behavior. It just explains it. But we need laws against this behavior, not because no one wants to do it but because sometimes people can benefit from this behavior... i.e., they DO want to kill because it benefits them. Laws protect us from selfish actions of others, acting to their own benefit and the harm of others.
Hello Cruz, love the way you summarize the culture and how these revenge killings are practically normalized within this culture. It shows why we need laws in order to prevent something like this for example to keep happening. Although this is normal for them, it is very dangerous and even one of the young men of the Yanomamo culture left to learn about law and police and begged a governor to help enforce these laws to prevent anymore violence. This was an interesting read and it helps to keep our eyes open to different cultures and why things work they do within cultures. It is the whole reason for cultural anthropology. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHello Cruz! I think your post would really benefit from being a little more specific about the social structure of the Yanomamo and how revenge killings have an impact on that. For example, you could explain how Yanomamo society views the men who choose not to become unokai, or how women play a part in the revenge killings, or how unokais are likely to be more successful in marriage and reproduction as opposed to non-unokais. Alternatively, you could've emphasized the importance of kinship groups and how they affect different parts of the culture. Either way, I like how you explained the details of the raids and how they function. Nice work!
ReplyDelete