Evidence for third-party mediation but not punishment in Mentawai justice

Researchers argue that third parties help sustain human cooperation, yet how they contribute remains unclear, especially in small-scale, politically decentralized societies. Studying justice among Mentawai horticulturalists in Indonesia, we examined evidence for punishment and mediation by third parties. Across a sample of 444 transgressions, we find no evidence of direct third-party punishment. Most victims and aggrieved parties demanded payment, and if a transgressor faced punishment, this was never imposed by third parties. We find little evidence of indirect sanctions by third parties. Nearly 20% of transgressions were followed by no payment, and as predicted by dyadic models of sanctions, payments were less likely when transgressions were among related individuals. Approximately 75% of non-governmental mediators called were third parties, especially shamans and elders, and mediators were called more as cooperation was threatened. Our findings suggest that, among the Mentawai, institutionalized penalties function more to restore dyadic cooperation than to enforce norms. Singh and Garfield studied 444 transgressions among the Mentawai (Indonesia) and find evidence of third-party mediation but not punishment. They suggest that, for the Mentawai, penalties serve to restore cooperation more than enforce norms.

Automated summary

The study finds evidence of third-party mediation but not punishment among the Mentawai people in Indonesia. The researchers suggest that penalties serve to restore cooperation more than to enforce norms for this group.