In the field of sociology, the concept of an "acephalous society" refers to a social structure that lacks a centralized authority or a formal leadership hierarchy. The term "acephalous" is derived from the Greek words "a" meaning "without" and "kephalē" meaning "head." In such societies, decision-making processes, social organization, and power distribution are often decentralized and rely on informal mechanisms.

Characteristics of Acephalous Societies

Acephalous societies are typically small-scale and are often found in hunter-gatherer or pastoralist communities. These societies exhibit several key characteristics: