POLYETHISM
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2580 ▶ |
| Object type | Discipline oriented, Human sciences |
The presence of different classes of ethological roles in social insects.
This term has been introduced by J. WEIR in 1958. According to E.O. WILSON, polyethism is one of the main factor explaining the considerable success of social insects (1971).
In social insects, it leads to polymorphism (sometimes reversible).
Polyethism is still more obvious and important in human societies. It may be interpreted as a kind of collective internalization of adaptation to environmental necessities.
It is doubtless a condition for socialization, as it connects the need for social variety with individual differentiation.
B. CORBARA and A. DROGOUL observe that polyethism is more or less correlated to age, and can be considered as an emerging phenomenon (1992, p.832-834). Polyethism is more differentiated in more complex societies.