Edvard Westermarck
Encyclopedia
Edvard Alexander Westermarck (20 November 1862 – 3 September 1939) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish philosopher and sociologist. Among other subjects, he studied exogamy
and the incest taboo
.
The phenomenon of reverse sexual imprinting (when two people live in close domestic proximity during the first few years in the life of either one, both are desensitized to later close sexual attraction), now known as the Westermarck effect
, was first formally described by him in his book The History of Human Marriage (1891).
He has been described as "first Darwinian sociologist" or "the first sociobiologist
".
He helped found academic sociology
in the United Kingdom, becoming the first professor of sociology (with Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse
) in 1907 in the University of London
.
In the UK, his name is often spelled Edward.
Exogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
and the incest taboo
Incest taboo
An Incest taboo is any cultural rule or norm that prohibits practices of sexual relations between relatives. All human cultures have norms regarding who is considered suitable and unsuitable sexual and/or marriage partners, and usually certain close relatives are excluded as possible partners...
.
The phenomenon of reverse sexual imprinting (when two people live in close domestic proximity during the first few years in the life of either one, both are desensitized to later close sexual attraction), now known as the Westermarck effect
Westermarck effect
The Westermarck effect, or reverse sexual imprinting, is a hypothetical psychological effect through which people who live in close domestic proximity during the first few years of their lives become desensitized to later sexual attraction. This phenomenon was first hypothesized by Finnish...
, was first formally described by him in his book The History of Human Marriage (1891).
He has been described as "first Darwinian sociologist" or "the first sociobiologist
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
".
He helped found academic sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in the United Kingdom, becoming the first professor of sociology (with Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse
Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse
Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse was a British liberal politician and sociologist, who has been considered one of the leading and earliest proponents of social liberalism. His works, alongside that of writers such as T.H. Green and John A. Hobson, occupy a seminal position within the canon of New...
) in 1907 in the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
In the UK, his name is often spelled Edward.
Books
- 1906: The Origin and Development of Moral Ideas. 2 Vol, MacMillan, London
- 1907: Siveys ja kristinusko: Esitelmä. Ylioppilasyhdistys Prometheus, Helsinki.
- 1925: The History of Human Marriage. Macmillan, London. [1891.]
- 1926: Ritual and Belief in Morocco. 2 Vol.
- 1930: Wit and Wisdom in Morocco. Routledge, London.
- 1932: Ethical Relativity.
- 1932: Avioliiton historia. WSOY, Helsinki.
- 1933: Moraalin synty ja kehitys. WSOY, Helsinki.
- 1934: Three Essays on Sex and Marriage. Macmillan, London.
- 1934: Freuds teori on Oedipuskomplexen i sociologisk belysning. Vetenskap och bildning, 45. Bonnier, Stockholm.
- 1984: Kristinusko ja moraali. Otava, Helsinki.
- 1991: Tapojen historiaa: Kuusi akadeemista esitelmää: Pitänyt Turussa syksyllä 1911 Edward Westermarck. 2nd edition. Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura, Helsinki.
Literature
- Kirsti Suolinna, Catherine af Hällström & Tommy Lahtinen: Portraying Morocco: Edward Westermarck's fieldwork and photographs 1898-1913. Åbo: Akademis Förl, 2000; ISBN 951-765-046-9
- Juhani Ihanus: Multiple origins: Edward Westermarck in search of mankind. Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Lang, 1999 (Europäische Studien zur Ideen- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte; 6); ISBN 3-631-34455-4