Politics and Violence

Rules or Laws:


One of the main differences between the Yanomamo and Western cultures in regard to killing involves the idea of revenge. While the idea of taking the life of the person who killed a family member in the United States or other western culture is frowned upon, as well as illegal, in the Yanomamo culture it can raise a person's status. If a member of their kin group is killed, it is up to them to take the life of the person who did the killing. Western cultures are dependent on laws, courts, judges and juries to punish the perpetrator. If a westerner killed their kin's killer, they too would be processed through the justice system.

Revenge Killings:


If a dispute occurs within a village it is typically handled with yelling, aggressive body language, slapping, fighting with clubs, axes and machetes. It sometimes escalates to utilizing the use of a bow and arrow. If a death occurs the village will divide and raiding between the two groups in the name of "revenge" will commence. These fights typically begin with an argument over an issue with a woman. (infidelity, jealousy etc.) The raiding party's women will consume some of the ashes of the deceased and the men will go off to the other group. The target is the perpetrator of the death, but any other member will suffice. They will often kill the first person they come across and then run back to their village, but may kill more if opportunity arises.

Unokais vs. Non-Unokais:

The benefits of being a Unokais are numerous. The first is that they have greater status or esteem within their village and outer community. This can help them procure wives and even increase their reproductivity. A man could choose to participate in a revenge killing for the fact that his culture values that ideal. In Chagnon's study most men who killed only did so once.
 Because aggression or fierceness is prized in Yanomamo culture, it might be extrapolated that there were not any benefits to being a non-Unokais, a man who has not killed during a raid. One of the benefits though is the stopping of the revenge-killing cycle. Since it is highly possible that a man is related to a member of another village or community, this could escalate the cycle if his kin is killed.

Influence of Revenge Killing:


Political Structure: Revenge killings help to maintain the political structure of the culture. It unites the village in a common cause against a shared enemy. When they are acting as a group it is strengthening the ties that hold their village together. It does become more complex when the raids involve villages that have a shared kinship with some of the men. There may be divided loyalties, and that may cause an individual to not participate in the raid. If this occurs too frequently, the political structure of the village could be weakened.
Social Status & Organization: When a member of the village is killed, usually a kin member, the social structure of the group can be negatively impacted since they have lost a member of their family. If the dispute began within the village and then split, the group now has fewer members to participate in the subsistence of the village. Those who participate in the revenge killings gain status which can propel them to a higher position in the village.
Kinship: Since outside villages frequently contain family members, both immediate and more distant, revenge killings can negatively impact the familial relationships. Connections within the village can also be diminished when an individual does not participate in a raid on a village that has close kin of his. His status may go down within the village because of his refusal to participate.
Marriage & Reproduction: Revenge killings can elevate a man's status to the point where he is seen as excellent marriage material. The Yanomamo practice polygyny, so he may procure multiple wives which will increase the amount of children that he fathers. Having multiple wives and children will also increase his standing in the village.


Response to Article: 
In Western culture killing another person, except for legitimate war or in self defense, is considered an abomination. We need laws against it because it happens anyways and for many of the same reasons that are the motive for revenge killing raids seen in the Yanomamo. Western society focuses on punitive punishment to dissuade members from committing "anti-social" acts. It utilizes laws against murder as "taking the law into ones own hands" is negatively looked upon. It is interesting, though, that many times capital punishment, which could be described as sanctioned revenge killing, is used as a punishment method in cases of murder. The notions of vengeance or retribution are universal. It is the laws and belief in the system of justice in Western culture that keeps most people from committing a revenge killing when a loved one is harmed.