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Is this typical in bands and tribes (using humility to keep people humble)

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Final answer:

In gatherer-hunter societies and tribes, using humility to maintain an egalitarian social structure is indeed typical. Generosity is valued, resources are shared, and behaviors that contradict these values are discouraged. There are no formal leadership roles and decisions are made through group consensus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Is this typical in bands and tribes (using humility to keep people humble)? In the context of gatherer-hunters and egalitarianism, this question touches on the social dynamics of such groups. Bands and tribes are often marked by an egalitarian social structure. Among these peoples, such as the Hadza, generosity is praised, and all resources are shared equally, with any attempts to elevate one's status through greed or pride being met with social sanctions like gossip and ostracism. Maintaining social harmony involves practices that discourage the accumulation of power by any one individual and emphasize the importance of humility and sharing. Extended family structures and consensus-based decision-making are common in tribal societies where no single person holds a formal leadership position.

Contrastingly, mortal conflict among bands was not continuous but certain conflicts and skirmishes did sometimes occur. Bands were mobile, moving through territories and maintaining friendly connections with other bands, facilitating the sharing of resources during times of scarcity through established friendships and marriages. Such societies had mechanisms to integrate new members and were open to cross-cultural exchanges through marriage or adoption, invoking humility and willingness to share cultural practices.

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