AVOIDANCE RELATIONSHIP

in human societies, the institutionalized, formal avoidance of one individual by another, usually involving persons of opposite sexes standing in definite kinship relationship to one another. A classic exampleand one found in numerous and diverse societiesis the culturally prescribed avoidance of a mother-in-law by her son-in-law. Similar patterns of avoidance have been noted in brothersister, fatherdaughter, and father-in-lawdaughter-in-law relations. Formal rules for avoidance have generally been interpreted by anthropologists as a sign of respect rather than of bad feelings. Where the potential for strain is evident, however, the avoidance of contact serves to prevent, or at least to minimize, socially undesirable events or situations. Thus, in many groups, avoidance relationships are practiced by persons of the opposite sex between whom marital or sexual relations are forbidden. See also joking relationship.