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An Introduction
Tutorial
Helpful Links
Terms
Why Kinship?
Terminology & Descent
The relationships present in kin groups and within small family groups effect social interaction in possibly every culture of the world.
Think of your own family. The special bond between parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, aunt/uncle and niece/nephew, and those between siblings and cousins, create a unique atmosphere which allows for certain behaviors and disallows others.
For example, within your family, in the comfort of your home, you are free to be more casual at the dinner table. You may be allowed to put your elbows on the table, talk with your mouth full or watch TV while you eat. You may be able to discuss things which would not be polite to say in public. There is an understanding that it's all right to be yourself when you're with family. These types of behaviors are tolerated because of the intimacy of the family atmosphere.
But at the same time, family intimacy can increase the behavioral expectations placed on each member of the group. A grandchild is expected to respect and obey their grandparent more than they would be expected to respect or obey a stranger at the bus stop. An older child may have to help regularly with household duties, or take care of younger siblings. Obligations to family members can be numerous. As you can see, family relationships have a role in determining the behaviors of the individual.
This web site will introduce you to the concept of kinship as an influence on human behavior, and as the cornerstone of human civilization. We will see how the relationships between kin groups and families effect public policy, subsistence patterns, marriage and other anthropological topics.