Question

Identify the examples of the three degrees of kinship from the image shown below. Discuss each of the three degrees briefly.

Answer 1

The image shows the various ways in which an individual i.e., ego is related to his kin. The closeness of ego to his kin members is known as degree of kinship.

The image shows Mother and brother as the Primary kin.

Mother’s sister and grandma are the Secondary kin of ego. Tertiary kin, in this image, is the Cousin.

Hence, three major kinship bonds exist, that are, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.

1. Primary kin: Those members who are directly related to ego are primary kin. For example, father is one’s primary consanguine kin and one’s wife is one’s primary affinal kin. Siblings too are included in this.
2. Secondary kin: These are ego’s primary kin’s primary kin. For e.g. one’s father’s brother or one’s wife’s sister.
3. Tertiary kin: These are ego’s secondary kin’s primary kin, or ego’s primary kin’s secondary kin.