Honour Culture

Malcolm Gladwell mentions in one of his books the 'southern culture of honour' that is apparently still measurable in university studies with undergraduates- where their reaction to a stimuli is more aggressive than those from the north. This apparently is due to the founders having migrated from areas of the British Isles where this type of culture existed for survival value.


What is honour?
Honour is how you are esteemed by others? Your position in society or your worth is determined by others?
Dignity on the other hand is determined by your own sense of self-worth?

What is the Culture of Honour though?
Honour cultures could be characterised as cultures where you self-image is largely determined by the way others see you, rather than the way you see yourself. This would mean that if someone did something that would make you lesser in the eyes of the community, then you would be bound to act to restore your 'honour'. This would account for the practice of 'duelling', and other retributive acts on others if they slurred someone in the community. An honour culture often exists in nomadic tribes and in the modern world in gangs.

How could this have arisen?
It seems that the honour culture arises mainly in areas where humans live in relatively isolation from others- such as hunter-gatherers, or goat herders - where resources are relatively scarce. Outsiders or neighbours are not well known thus seen as a threat or at the very least, treated with suspicion. Survival in these circumstances requires one to rely on the strength of ones own hand or family. To protect  oneself and family, one has to react aggressively and decisively and show no weakness in the face of a possible threat, so that one would not be seen as a weak target. The aim would be to discourage future threats. Any act that would diminish the standing of the individual or family would then be just cause for retribution.

An honour culture is also often characterised by a loose form of loyalty to the 'clan', 'family', tribe or gang. Strength comes in numbers, and other members may be expected to band together when facing an external threat. However the loyalty doesn't always go beyond this, as internal honour killings, or punishment to restore honour.

An honour culture is said to exist amongst middle eastern herders, and historically in the Scottish highlands.