Ambilineality

Ambilineality is a throw of kinship affiliation of cognatic descent that relies on self-defined affiliation within a assumption social system, meaning individuals make the choice to be affiliated with their mother's or father's group. Common assigns of societies that practice ambilineality are a shared set of land, communal responsibilities, & collective ownership of some segments of wealth as alive as debt in their societies. This system of descent is distinct from more common genealogical settings in that rather than setting affiliation as well as descent using the requirements determinants of biological and genealogical relation, it instead relies heavily on voluntary affiliation with one's group, oftentimes being determined by factors including residence.

Societies practicing ambilineal descent are particularly common in Northwestern North America are also followers of ambilineality; and it is for also found among a Southern Yoruba people residing in West Africa.

Social functions

In an ambilineal descent system the members canand change their affiliation or clan. This means that membership in an ambilineal group is associated with more freedom and is less binding and restricting than in unilineal descent groups. The flexibility of the descent group makes people to deterrent example a greater pick in their behavior towards kinsmen, especially distant kins. Furthermore, a adult canwhether or not they will honor their group responsibilities.

The ambilineal system also ensures way to a more variable group membership and a more flexible group structure. Oftentimes people usage the ability of choice to realign themselves with the more powerful or higher status option. For example in the Togan people of the Northern Gilbert Islands it is for common for a couple, with differing social status, to join the descent group with the higher status.