Final answer:
A boy in a polygynous society is likely to experience competition and aggression towards other boys as a result of the social dynamics where men compete for status and the resources necessary to have multiple wives.
Step-by-step explanation:
A boy growing up in a polygynous society is likely to have a feeling of competition and aggression toward other boys. This is because in many polygynous communities, such as those found in parts of Africa and East Asia, there is often significant competition among men for status and resources which can lead to acquiring multiple wives. These societies are typically characterized by polygyny, where one man is married to multiple women, creating a family structure where husbands are often older and of higher status, with younger men needing to compete for social position and the resources needed to attract wives.
Studies such as Daniel Jordan Smith's work on masculinity in Igbo communities of southeast Nigeria suggest that the enactment of masculinity and the attainment of social status are complex and ongoing processes that start in childhood. The notion of competition and struggle for status is ingrained from an early age as boys learn to navigate social hierarchies, leading to the potential for competition and aggression. Additionally, in polygynous families, shared resources and cooperative child-rearing among the wives can sometimes lead to intrafamilial competition among children.