Will
evolvingmoloch.bsky.social
Will
@evolvingmoloch.bsky.social
traditionsofconflict.com
Reposted by Will
“The idea that humans evolved to be protective & sensitive to harm directed towards women appears increasingly popular in evolutionary psych [but] ethnographic evidence conflict with this perspective, [which seems] rooted in contemporary WEIRD values rather than an evolved psychological mechanism”
Did humans evolve to 'protect' women?
Ethnography complicates a convenient narrative
open.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Reposted by Will
Evolutionary psychologists have claimed that "humans evolved heightened sensitivity to harm directed at women." This excellent (albeit at times gruesome) post makes the point that the ethnographic evidence does not really support this narrative.
Did humans evolve to 'protect' women?
Ethnography complicates a convenient narrative
traditionsofconflict.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Ritualized treatment of the umbilical cord after birth is common across hunter-gatherer societies traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/cutting-th...
April 23, 2025 at 6:28 AM
In many societies, after a child is born, the father is under a variety of restrictions, such as food and work taboos, under the belief that if he undertakes certain kinds of labor or consumes certain foods it would harm the child via sympathetic magic traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/couvade
Couvade
After a child is born among the Kalinago of the West Indies, the mother is quick to get back to regular household work.
traditionsofconflict.substack.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Independent hunter-gatherer societies from all over the world have used diss songs in the midst of their conflicts. traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/diss-songs
April 22, 2025 at 9:02 AM
"Considering its common use across nomadic hunter-gatherer societies, and what it represents—as a tool to enable the carrying of more tools—the belt may be a bit of an unsung hero of human history." traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/handy-man
Handy man
In praise of the humble tool belt!
traditionsofconflict.substack.com
April 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
While most primates do not build sleeping nests, all the great apes do traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/millions-o...
Millions of years of a good night's sleep
An ancient tradition that unites all hominids
traditionsofconflict.substack.com
April 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“when a man is publicly accused of being a sorcerer he normally denies that he is. Nevertheless, some men have confided to me that they have successfully performed sorcery and they have told me whom they killed, how they did it, and why…They have even offered to teach me how to perform sorcery…”
April 20, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Will
Importantly though, he adds, “we must not forget that Baruya women have their own secrets, protecting them from men and constantly reminding them that women have powers too.” - @Evolving_Moloch

traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/womens-secre…
Women's secrets
Male cult secrecy offers something of a paradox, as it lays the foundation for performances that are often consciously ostentatious and attention-grabbing.
traditionsofconflict.substack.com
March 18, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Reposted by Will
Toy, ritual tool, religious symbol, sound maker for hunting and herding?

Quite an interesting survey by @Evolving_Moloch on the ethnographic and historic function and use of #bullroarers:

https://traditionsofconflict.com/blog/2019/12/3/the-bullroarer
The Bullroarer — Traditions of Conflict
This insignificant toy is perhaps the most ancient, widel...
traditionsofconflict.com
December 2, 2024 at 12:36 AM
"Such elaborate designs often take as long as five hours to execute, but are considered necessary to disguise the close relatives of a deceased Tiwi from his ghost as they approach the grave to carry out the final rituals" traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/appeasing-...
April 19, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Traditional Methods of Black Magic traditionsofconflict.substack.com/p/traditiona...
Traditional Methods of Black Magic
Spooky action at a distance
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM