The influence of self-interested behavior on sociopolitical change: the evolution of the Chaco Anasazi in the prehistoric American Southwest (original) (raw)

The dissertation presents a model of sociopolitical change that challenges traditional views emphasizing group decision-making in response to environmental changes. Through the lens of self-interested behavior, it explores the development of the Chaco Anasazi in the American Southwest, focusing on their complex social structures characterized by inequality and differentiation. Utilizing ceramic compositional and stylistic analyses, the research tests the model's expectations and concludes that sociopolitical evolution in this context can be attributed to context-dependent individual behaviors.