A Theory of Everyone with behavioral researcher Dr. Michael Muthukrishna
A Bit of Optimism
00:00
The Impact of the Catholic Church on Marriage and Kinship Bonds
The Catholic church prohibits cousin marriage and imposes restrictions on marrying goddaughters and divorce. This alters family structures and prevents the formation of powerful kinship bonds that could challenge the authority of the church. In societies where cousin marriage is prevalent, kin selection and inclusive fitness lead to stronger cooperation and the formation of interconnected family webs, fostering tribal relationships that could undermine centralized authority.
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