Warfare and reproductive success in a tribal population #MMPMID25548190
Glowacki L; Wrangham R
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015[Jan]; 112 (2): 348-53 PMID25548190show ga
The reasons why warriors in small-scale societies participate in war are poorly understood. Evolutionary anthropologists have argued that individuals can benefit from participating in warfare despite the risks they face. Unfortunately, field data to evaluate this hypothesis are exceedingly rare. Here we present the first quantitative study on warfare and reproductive success among a pastoralist population. Participation in warfare for elders is associated with a greater number of wives and children. Ethnography suggests this result is because greater warriorship gives men increased access to bridewealth over the life course. Our results appear to apply to similar pastoralist populations and provide support for the expectation that warriors in small-scale societies benefit from participating in warfare.