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Cited by 216Family Dynamics and RelationshipsEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorIndigenous Cultures and Socio-Education

Demography and childcare in preindustrial societies

Hewlett, Barry S.·1991·Journal of Anthropological Research
DOI 10.1086/jar.47.1.3630579
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Abstract

This article considers the relationships between selected demographic structures (total fertility, infant and child mortality, sex-age distribution, divorce rate, causes of death) and childcare patterns among hunter-gatherers, horticulturalists, and pastoralists. Demographic data from fifty-seven preindustrial societies indicate that the demographic structure of a population can be useful for understanding intercultural variability in caregiving practices identified in "traditional" characterizations of childcare in these populations (e.g., indulgent care, multiple caregivers, multiage play groups). Analysis of demographic structures also identifies two "emergent" features of childcare in preindustrial populations that are infrequently mentioned in socialization studies of these populations: stepparent-stepchild relations and differential investment in sons and daughters.

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  • Hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists display similar age-schedules of survivorship and fertility.

    “yet hunter-gatherers and horticulturalists display similar age-schedules of survivorship [20], [21] and fertility [22], [23].”

    From Physical Activity and Modernization among Bolivian Amerindians (2013) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Hewlett, B. S.
Corresponding author
Hewlett, Barry S.
ORCID
Hewlett, Barry S.
Venue
Journal of Anthropological Research
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Published
1991-04
Volume
47
Issue
1
Pages
1-37
ISSN
  • 0038-4801 (ISSN-L)
  • 0091-7710
  • 2153-3806
DOI
10.1086/jar.47.1.3630579
OpenAlex
W1601344902
Cited by
216
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
FWCI
3.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Anthropological Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Indigenous Cultures and Socio-Education
Keywords
child care, pre-industrial societies, hunter-gatherers, horticulturists, pastoralists, total fertility rate, infant mortality, child mortality, divorce rates, causes of death, caregiving practices, multiple caregivers
MeSH terms
Anthropology, Anthropology, Cultural, Behavior, Birth Rate, Child Care, Child Rearing, Culture, Demography, Developing Countries, Family Characteristics, Family Relations, Fertility, Foster Home Care, Geography, Infant Mortality, Mortality, Nuclear Family, Population, Population Characteristics, Population Dynamics, Psychology, Research, Sex, Sex Factors, Sex Ratio, Social Sciences, Social Values, Sex Distribution

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