JCJC Sociology Practice Test

The incest taboo is the cultural rule that prohibits sexual relations and marriage between designated relatives. This prohibition exists in nearly all societies, though the specific relatives it covers can vary. It’s not about whether people marry within a group (endogamy) or outside a group (exogamy), nor about a woman having multiple husbands (polyandry). The essential idea is the prohibition itself—keeping certain close kin from marrying or engaging in sexual relationships to define family boundaries and regulate social connections.