Early anthropologists explained incest as a reflection of "instinctive horror" of mating with close relatives. However, this explanation for societal bans has been rejected because formal incest restrictions would be unnecessary if humans really do have an instinctive aversion to incest.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument against the "instinctive horror" theory is that if an instinctive aversion to incest were strong enough, formal societal bans and restrictions would not be needed, as people would naturally avoid incestuous relationships without them.

Early Anthropologists Explained Incest as a Reflection of "Instinctive Horror