Final answer:
The assertion that Marshall Sahlins highlighted delayed reciprocity as the most important form of reciprocity is false. He identified several types, with generalized reciprocity being especially influential in maintaining social structures and fulfilling roles without expectation of immediate return.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Marshall Sahlins suggested that delayed reciprocity may be the most important of the forms of reciprocity is False. Marshall Sahlins, an anthropologist, actually proposed three types of reciprocity in his work: generalized, balanced, and negative reciprocity. Generalized reciprocity occurs within close relationships where exchanges are made without an immediate or explicit expectation of return, much like altruism. Balanced reciprocity involves an anticipated exchange where the timing and value of the return gift is important, but not calculated with precision. This type of reciprocity often strengthens social ties. Delayed reciprocity is a subset of the balanced form, where the return is expected but at an unspecified future time. While all forms of exchange including market exchange found in contemporary capitalist societies play important roles, generalized reciprocity, especially among family and close friends, is a dominant form as it reinforces social structures and fulfills societal roles without immediate exchange.