The study of kinship is a fundamental part of the study and the practice of social anthropology. This volume examines the work of three distinguished anthropologists that bear on kinship.

Part 1: Safety in numbers 1. Introduction 2. Data and disciplines 3. Culture or society? 4. Culture or Behaviour? 5. Time and process 6. Statistical techniques 7. Coding 8. The sampling unit 9. Independent instances and independent trials 10. Discrete or skinless cultures? 11. Assessment Part 2: Real models 1. Introduction 2. Objectives 3. Fundamental elements 4. Models, structures, and time 5. Kinship structures 6. Data for the model to explain 7. Restricted and generalized exchange 8. Filiation and residence 9. Limiting conditions 10. Validation Part 3: Irreducible principles 1. Scope and limits 2. Aims 3. Analytical armamentarium 4. Structure and organization 5. Descent 6. Filiation 7. Segmentation, incest, and exogamy 8. Assessment