Ethnographic Atlas Terminology

This guide provides information on the database nomenclature, specifically the Descriptors, Subject Codes, Cross-References to Descriptors, and Lists of Societies included in Ethnographic Atlas databases.

                Descriptors, general                            
                Subject Codes and Descriptors 
                        for Human Sexuality                    
                Cross-References to Descriptors
                        for Human Sexuality                   
                Subject Codes and Descriptors
                        for Marriage                            
                Cross-References to Descriptors
                        for Marriage                           
                Societies in Cross-Cultural CD

All text in Ethnographic Atlas databases is indexed according to the Outline of Cultural Materials (OCM) subject codes used in the Human Relations Area Files Archives. These descriptor terms are entered in the descriptor (DE) field in their full form, with hyphens inserted between the words of multiple-word descriptors.

For example, the descriptor General Sex Restrictions would appear in the DE field as General-Sex-Restrictions. The numeric equivalents of these terms (referred to as OCM numbers) are listed in the OCM field. They are limit terms, and must either be searched with the in operator or with the = sign (e.g. 831 in ocm or ocm=831). These numeric values provide the most efficient method of retrieval for users familiar with the OCM controlled vocabulary.

The following lists represents the OCM subject codes, corresponding descriptor phrases, and cross-references to descriptors used in the Ethnographic Atlas databases covering Human Sexuality and Marriage

OCM Numbers and Descriptors for Human Sexuality

            304                 Body Alteration          
            548                 Organized Vice
            588                 Irregular Sexual Relationships
            589                 Celibacy
            684                 Sex Offenses and Crimes
            786                 Orgies
            831                 Ideas About Sexuality
            832                 Sexual Stimulation
            833                 Sexual Intercourse
            834                 General Sex Restrictions
            835                 Kinship Regulation of Sex
            836                 Premarital Sex
            837                 Extramarital Sex
            838                 Homosexuality
            839                 Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
            864                 Sex Education

Cross-References to the Descriptors for Human Sexuality

Cross-references link synonyms, quasi-synonyms, more specific terms, or more general terms to the controlled-vocabulary descriptor(s) assigned by indexers to represent the subject content of a document.

     Adultery -- use Extramarital Sex
     Affection -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Afterplay -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Aphrodisiacs -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Appeal -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Attitudes Toward Sex -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Assignation -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Attractiveness -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Bacchanalia -- use Orgies
     Bachelors -- use Celibacy                                  
     Beauty -- use Sexual Stimulation                          
     Bestiality -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Caresses -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Castration -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Chastity --use Ideas About Sexuality; Premarital Sex
     Circumcision -- use Body Alteration
     Clitoridectomy -- use Body Alteration
     Cloistering of Women -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Extramarital Sex
     Coitus -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Concubinage -- use Extramarital Sex
     Copulation -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Coyness -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Dating Behavior -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Sexual Stimulation; 
                Intercourse; General Sex Restrictions; Premarital Sex; 
                Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Decorum -- use General Sex Restrictions                    
     Defloration -- use Sexual Intercourse                
     Double Standard -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Extramarital Sex
     Erection -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Eroticism -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Sexual Stimulation
     Erotic Overtures -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Eunuchs -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Exhibitionism in Children -- use Sex Education
     Exhibitionism -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Fidelity -- use Extramarital Sex
     Foreplay -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Fornication -- use Premarital Sex; for information on 
                Punishment for Fornication, use Sex Offenses And Crimes
     Frequency of Sex -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Frigidity -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Ideals of Beauty -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Ideas About Proper Behavior Between Sexes -- use General 
                 Sex Restrictions
     Ideas About Sex Organs -- use Ideas About Sexuality      
     Ideas About Sexual Physiology -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Impotence -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Incest -- use Kinship Regulation of Sex; Irregular Sexual 
                Relationships; for information on Punishment for Incest, 
                use Sex Offenses and Crimes
     Incest Taboos -- use Kinship Regulation of Sex
     Infibulation -- use Body Alteration
     Initiation -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Intercourse -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Kissing -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Lesbianism -- use Homosexuality
     Love Charms -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Love -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Love Magic -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Masochism -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Massage -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Masturbation in Children -- use Sex Education              
     Masturbation -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Mechanical Aids -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Mistresses -- use Extramarital Sex
     Modesty -- use General Sex Restrictions
     Necrophilia -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Nocturnal Emissions -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Nymphomania -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Miscellaneous Sexual 
                Behavior 
     Obscenity -- use Ideas About Sexuality; for information on
                Punishment for Obscenity, use Sex Offenses And Crimes 
     Orgasm -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Sexual Intercourse
     Petting -- use Sexual Stimulation; Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Phallic Rites -- use Orgies
     Phallicism -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Orgies
     Pimps -- use Organized Vice                                        
     Pornography -- use Ideas About Sexuality; for 
                information on Punishment for Pornography, use Sex Offenses 
                And Crimes
     Positions -- use Sexual Intercourse
     Privileged Sexual Relationships -- use Kinship Regulation of Sex
     Promiscuity -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Premarital Sex; 
                Extramarital Sex
     Prostitution -- use Organized Vice; Orgies; for information on 
                Punishment for Prostitution, use Sex Offenses And Crimes
     Punishment -- use Sex Offenses And Crimes
     Rape -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior; for information on 
                the punishment of rape, use Sex Offenses And Crimes
     Sadism -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Satyriasis -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Scarification -- use Body Alteration                       
     Seduction -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Premarital Sex; Sexual 
                Stimulation
     Serenades -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Sexual Appetite -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Sexual Continence -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Celibacy
     Sexual Hospitality -- use Extramarital Sex
     Sexual Incontinence -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Sexuality -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Subincision -- use Body Alteration
     Suggestive Gestures -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Superincision -- use Body Alteration
     Symbolism -- use Ideas About Sexuality
     Taboos -- use General Sex Restrictions
     Tattooing -- use Body Alteration
     Training of Children About Sex -- use Sex Education
     Techniques of Sexual Approach -- use Sexual Stimulation
     Terms of Endearment -- use Sexual Stimulation              
     Transvestism -- use Homosexuality
     Virginity -- use Ideas About Sexuality; Premarital Sex
     Voyeurism -- use Miscellaneous Sexual Behavior
     Wife Lending -- use Extramarital Sex

OCM Numbers and Descriptors for Marriage

      OCM Number                Descriptor Phrase

                581                     Ideas About Marriage
                582                     Regulation of Marriage
                583                     Economics of Marriage
                584                     Courtship
                585                     Wedding Ceremonies
                586                     Separation and Divorce
                587                     Remarriage
                588                     Unusual Unions
                589                     Celibacy

Cross-References to the Descriptors for Marriage

     Abduction of Brides -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Adultery -- use Separation And Divorce
     Agamy -- use Regulation Of Marriage; Celibacy
     Age at Marriage -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Alimony -- use Separation And Divorce
     Annulment -- use Separation And Divorce
     Arrangement of Marriage -- use Courtship
     Bachelors -- use Celibacy
     Banns -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Basis of Marriage -- use Ideas About Marriage
     Betrothal -- use Courtship
     Bride-Service -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Child Marriage -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Common-Law Marriage -- use Unusual Unions
     Consummation Of Marriage -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Cross-Cousin Marriage -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Dating Behavior -- use Courtship
     Defloration Rites -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Desertion -- use Separation And Divorce
     Divorce -- use Separation And Divorce
     Dowry -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Elopement -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Endogamy -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Engagement -- use Courtship
     Exogamy -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Gift of Exchange in Marriage -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Go-Betweens -- use Courtship
     Homosexual Marriage -- use Unusual Unions
     Honeymoon -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Hypergamy -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Incestuous Unions -- use Unusual Unions
     Infant Betrothal -- use Courtship
     Laws -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Levirate -- use Remarriage
     Love -- use Ideas About Marriage
     Marriage Brokers -- use Courtship
     Marriage by Exchange -- use Economics of Marriage
     Marriage Classes -- use Regulation Of Marriage
     Marriage Counselling -- use Ideas About Marriage
     Marriage License -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Marriage of the Dead -- use Unusual Unions
     Mode of Marriage -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Newlyweds -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Nuptials -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Posthumous Marriage -- use Unusual Unions
     Proposals -- use Courtship
     Secondary Marriage -- use Remarriage
     Sororate -- use Remarriage
     Spinsters -- use Celibacy
     Status of the Divorced -- use Separation And Divorce; Celibacy
     Temporary Marriage -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Trousseau -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Virginity -- use Wedding Ceremonies
     Widows and Widowers -- use Celibacy
     Wife Capture -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Wife Purchase -- use Economics Of Marriage
     Witness at Marriage -- use Wedding Ceremonies

SOCIETIES INCLUDED IN CROSS-CULTURAL CD

     Africa                  Somali                     Khasi
                             Tiv                        Korea
     Amhara                  Twi (Ashanti)              Santal
     Azande                  Wolof                      Sinhalese
     Bemba                                              Taiwan Hokkien
     Dogon                   Asia                       Toradja
     Ganda                                              Yakut
     Hausa                   Andamans               
     Kanuri                  Central Thai               Europe
     Lozi                    Chukchee                       
     Masai                   Garo                       Highland Scots
     Pygmies                 Iban                       Lapps
     Shluh                   Ifugao                     Serbs