title: Patterns of characterization in folktales across geographic regions and levels of cultural complexity : Literature as a neglected source of quantitative data.
abstract: Literary scholars are generally suspicious of the concept of universals: there are presently no candidates for literary universals that a high proportion of literary scholars would accept as valid. This paper reports results from a content analysis of patterns of characterization in folktales from 48 culture areas, aimed at identifying patterns of characterization that apply across regions of the world and levels of cultural complexity. The search for these patterns was guided by evolutionary theory and the findings are consistent with previous research on patterns of altruism, sex differences in mate preferences, sex differences in reproductive strategy, and differing emphases on male and female physical attractiveness. World literature, especially originally oral literature, represents a vast and neglected repository of information that researchers can use to more precisely map the contours of human nature.
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY. jgottschall@stlawu.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gottschall
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berkey
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cawson
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drown
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleischner
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glotzbecker
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kernan
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muse
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ogburn
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skeels
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Stephanie St
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Shawna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.affiliation: First Year Program, c/o English Department, St. Lawrence University, 13617, Canton, NY.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Welch
keywords: Content analysis; Evolution; Folktales; Literary Studies; Literary Universals; Sex Differences; Universals