This is a test of Hawkes (1991) claim that the main foraging goal of
Ache huters it to “show off” and be perceived as relatively fit (big fish in a
small pond), rather than to maximize food production. This study tested this
hypothesis and showed support for it, but only if the men are uncommitted and
have no dependent children. Otherwise, they prefer to maximize food production.
Hypothetical scenarios were posed to Ache hunters deciding which
band to join:
- Join Band A with better hunters (and maximize available
food) or
- Join Band B with worse hunters (and mazimize opportunity to “show off”
by being a better hunter).
Men with dependent offspring chose Band A (16/17). “I always
choose to live with the good hunters.”
Men without dependent offspring chose Band B (6/7). An older
man with adult children and independent said he would choose Band B because of
the unmarried young women. Both bands had equal numbers of available women, so
this choice reflects desire to outshine other males. Interaction with unmarried young man:
Interviewer: What is good about that group?
Man: The daregi.
Interviewer: What would you do in this group?
Man: I would go to hunt [implying that he would bring in a lot of meat].
“One interesting aspect of our results is that the men
without dependent offspring who chose the showing-off strategy included both
young unmarried men (4) and older men with spouses who had either not produced
children (1) or whose children were grown and indepen- dent (2). This finding
may reflect a scenario in which young men start their reproductive careers as
show-offs to acquire mates but once having produced offspring be- gin
strategizing to provision. Then, when their children are grown or their spouses
cannot produce children, they return to the mating effort of a showing-off
strategy.”
