Cultural evolution of hinoeuma superstition controlling human mate choice: The role of half-believer.
In this study, we used a cultural dynamic model to explain the persistence of the hinoeuma superstition in traditional Japan. Men with this superstition avoid marrying women born in a hinoeuma year (or hinoeuma-women). Parents avoided childbirth during the last hinoeuma year out of the concern that their daughter would have trouble finding a husband in the future, and this resulted in a large drop in the number of babies born in 1966. A previous theoretical analysis of the hinoeuma superstition considered two alternative cultural factors: believers and nonbelievers. In the present study, we considered a third cultural factor, the half-believer. A man that is a half-believer accepts a hinoeuma-woman as his wife, but parents that are half-believers avoid childbirth during hinoeuma years. With these three cultural factors, there are two possible outcomes for the population. In the first outcome, [1] non-believers become extinct, with the population consisting of believers and half-believers; some men refuse hinoeuma-women as their mate choice, and most parents attempt to avoid childbirth during hinoeuma years. In the second outcome, [2] believers become extinct, and the remaining population consists of non-believers and half-believers; no man refuses hinoeuma-women, and some parents avoid childbirth in hinoeuma years to prevent potential harm to their daughters. If birth control fails at a steady rate, believers will become extinct eventually. The superstition is more likely to be maintained if the mother has a stronger influence on the beliefs of her children than the father.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Makoto
M
Hara
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Center for Decision Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Joung-Hun
JH
Lee
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. Electronic address: yohiwasa@kyudai.jp.
Yoh
Y
Iwasa
D002755:Choice Behavior; D003267:Contraception; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013483:Superstitions
Actively practiced superstition; Control of childbirth year; Ghost of past belief; Matrilineal transmission; Persistence of the superstition