Final answer:
The assertion that friendship bonds are absent in primitive foraging or herding cultures is false since strong social relationships, which likely included friendships, were essential for survival and maintaining community cohesion even in early human societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim that bonds based on friendship are absent in primitive foraging or herding cultures is false. Friendship, as a social bond, dates back to human societies' earliest formations, including foraging and herding communities. In these societies, relationships and social interactions were crucial for survival and community cohesion. Hunter-gatherer societies, for example, consisted of close-knit groups or bands where members had a constant exchange of information and a strong sense of responsibility to each other grounded in the social norms of their bands. Such societies typically exhibited egalitarian values, with decisions made through consensus, and friendship bonds likely played an important role in maintaining these cooperative dynamics.
Aristotle's concept of perfect friendships underscores the value placed on virtuous relationships for human fulfillment, irrespective of the societal structure. Attachment theories developed by psychologists like John Bowlby illustrate the inherent human need for strong bonds, which can extend to non-human entities and express itself through religious and cultural practices. Even in tribal societies, extended family structures provided significant social integration, hinting at the interpersonal connections that likely included friendships. Thus, friendships have always been an integral part of societies, whether described as primitive or complex.
With reference to Elman Service's classification, band societies lack formal political structure but operate on social cohesion through cooperation, which would be impossible without some form of friendship. Similarly, in tribal societies, with slightly more organized social structures, connections beyond just familial bonds are integral for social integration and conflict resolution.