In this paper a causal ethological theory of the incest taboo and exogamy is developed. Some arguments are given for this theory from animal and human behaviour. Claude lévi-strauss explores the distinction between nature and culture through the incest taboo, which he argues is both a universal rule and a cultural norm, marking the transition from instinctual …

If we define ture by universality and culture by the existence of relative and ticular norms, … Levi-strauss proposed that the initial motivation for the exchange of women was the incest taboo, which he deemed to be the beginning and essence of culture, as it was the first rule to check natural … L6vi-strauss goes on to argue that of rules of cross-cousin marriage-as secon- cross cousins are the prescribed or preferred dary aspects of different sorts of systems of spouses for the same reason …