School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402;
Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Dec 22;117(51):32320-32328. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2014759117. Epub 2020 Dec 7.
Cultural norms are key to cooperation in human societies. How they are regulated, maintained, and adapted to the change remains a matter of debate. Humans have dispositions for both retributive and restorative justice; recent focus has been on third-party punishment, punitive sanctions by those not directly harmed, as key for norm enforcement. However, punishment does not engage the essential proficiencies and emotions critical to cooperation in small-scale societies with high dependence on collective action, sharing, and exchange. Third-party participation in norm enforcement is examined with data from a 10-y study among the Enga of Papua New Guinea. The Enga have a plural justice system with formal courts practicing retributive justice and customary courts applying restorative measures. Most cases are brought to customary courts. Drawing on observations from 333 village customary court cases concerning assault, marriage, land, and property violations, third-party engagement outside of and during customary court hearings is analyzed. Results show that all sides are heard, restoration is prioritized, and third-party punishment is rare; rather, third parties help with compensation to reintegrate wrongdoers and resolve conflicts. Repeated offenders and free riders receive ever less community support. Third parties contribute substantially both during and outside of customary court sessions to help kin, pursue economic agendas, or gain reputation. They also act generously to build a strong community. Emphasis is on amends to the victim for fairness, not punishment of the offender. Broad third-party participation is maintained throughout times of rapid change to adapt while supporting essential structures of society.
文化规范是人类社会合作的关键。它们是如何被调节、维持和适应变化的，仍然是一个争论的问题。人类既有报复性正义也有恢复性正义的倾向；最近的焦点是第三方惩罚，即那些没有直接受到伤害的人对规范执行的惩罚性制裁。然而，在依赖于集体行动、分享和交换的小规模社会中，惩罚并不能涉及到合作所必需的基本能力和情感。第三方参与规范执行的情况，通过对巴布亚新几内亚恩加人的 10 年研究数据进行了检验。恩加人有一个多元化的司法系统，正式法庭实行报复性正义，习惯法庭适用恢复性措施。大多数案件都提交给习惯法庭。本研究利用对 333 起涉及袭击、婚姻、土地和财产违规的村庄习惯法庭案件的观察，分析了习惯法庭内外第三方的参与情况。结果表明，所有各方都有机会发言，恢复是优先考虑的，第三方惩罚很少见；相反，第三方会帮助赔偿，以使违法者重新融入社会并解决冲突。惯犯和搭便车者会越来越得不到社区的支持。第三方在习惯法庭内外都做出了实质性的贡献，以帮助亲属、追求经济目标或获得声誉。他们也慷慨解囊，建立一个强大的社区。重点是为了公平向受害者道歉，而不是惩罚违法者。在快速变化的时代，广泛的第三方参与得以维持，以适应社会的基本结构，同时提供支持。
