Politics and Violence

1. Rules or laws against killing are essentially a cultural universal, meaning all cultures have rules regarding the killing other people and the punishments for breaking these rules. How do the Yanomamo rules regarding killing and the consequences for breaking these rules differ from the rules in Western cultures in general?

“The Yanomamo have no written language, precise number system, formal laws, or institutionalized adjudicators such as chiefs or judges.  Although there are customs and general rules about proper behavior, individuals violate them regularly when it seems in their interests to do so.” In contrast, Western cultures have a judicial system that strictly enforces rules against killing, but consequences differ depending on the circumstance - whether it be homicide, self-defense, drunk driving, etc. Unlike Yanomamo rules, laws in the United States, for example, are formal, written, and therefore punishments are rendered accordingly based on what has been devised by officials. Individuals don't violate such laws on a regular basis perse, and in the case of involuntary manslaughter, the criminal kills without the intention - this differs from the Yanomamo in which revenge killings occur with the exact purpose of killing in retaliation.

  

2. Describe the process of revenge killings as it is expressed in Yanomamo populations.

Revenge killings occur in raiding parties of typically 10-20 among villages. Warfare is often commonly initiated by conflicts with women or the death of a kinsmen. The day before they raid, they create an effigy to represent the target victim of the enemy village, even though they usually shoot the first man they come in contact with. Most of the times, victims are shot by more than one member of the raiding party.

3. Revenge killings are a dangerous for those who take part. What are the benefits of obtaining the status of unokais? How do they compare to the benefits of being a non-unokais? Why would a man choose to become an unokais instead of being a non-unokais?

High reproductive success is associated with unokais status. Revenge killings are highly valued and viewed as "cultural successes," being regarded with valor. Specifically, Yanomamo culture upholds the importance of ambition as being an attractive quality of the unokais. Such benefits/advantages are not observed in non-unokais.  

4. Identify and describe the relationship between revenge killings and these aspects of the Yanomamo culture. How do they influence and affect each other?
a. Political structure
Political structure is organized by kinship, in which the headmen of the village serves as the leader of the largest descent group. He is the political leader who makes the ultimate decision whether or not revenge killings should be in order.
b. Social Status/Social Organization
Social status is affected by revenge killings. For example, political power is awarded to unokais in the form of positions in public offices. Men who engage in violence and partake in violence are revered with high esteem, particularly desirable traits that deem them responsible and hard-working.
c. Kinship
Members of the village are organized by kinship. However, there is not a static definition of who belongs to which village since they all are connected in different ways. Groups function to collaborate and protect members in a collective effort. Kin groups are significant, in which a common reason for revenge killings is the bereavement of a close kin. Even after fission, members possess a sense of loyalty and alliance to their kin and express their unwillingness to raid. - However, this seems to be a mutual understanding and is generally understood/accepted by all members. At the same time, this could lead to animosity towards the resident group, causing one to rejoin the original group and retaliate against the current group that was responsible for the killing of his kin. Kinship density influences revenge killings since retaliation is provoked by the strength of relatedness.
d. Marriage & Reproduction
Headmen have multiple wives, and therefore several children, which leads to various families. A village can consist of kin groups that are interrrelated, so revenge killings and bereavement become complex with increasing kinship density since they have close kin across villages who they have established relationships with. Also, data reveals that compared to non-unokais, unokais have better chances in attracting mates (with qualities such as risk-taking, aggressiveness, ambition), and therefore more likely to get marrried, and successfully reproduce.

5. Behaviors that are usually labeled as “anti-social”, such as killing other people, are generally thought to be a bad thing to do under most circumstances, other than defense. Why do we need laws against something that no one should want to do? Use your reading of the article to help you explain your answer.

Although cultural assumptions often lead to the idea that killing is a socially unacceptable behavior, laws are necessary to prevent instinctive drives/urges that compel people to make rash decisions in which the individual sees legitimacy in his/her actions in the heat of the moment. Even if no one should want to behave in this manner, people still do, and a society must devise rules in how to deal with it. Terms of legitimacy/justification differs according to cultural values.