Of course, it would be ridiculous and naïve of us to think that hunter-gatherer societies were without problems.
There is some debate on the intensity of the reverse dominance mentioned above – that is, the methods by which egalitarianism are imposed. Shunning is mentioned already – but if shunning doesn’t work expulsion can be imposed, and the final sanction is assassination of the upstart or the person who is causing discord in the Group.
This can sometimes be undertaken by people in his extended family – they are convinced to do it by the wider group and by doing it in this way non-retaliation is guaranteed.
Another aspect of such societies appears to be male dominance of women – and incidence of violence within the family – though as stated above, some anthropologists contend that detailed studies revealed that they had come into contact with settled humans – and that in untouched hunter-gatherer societies, non-violence and respect for women is the norm.
Of course, all this fits with the paradox of being human – after all, in modern society great kindness and compassion is also matched by harshness and cruelty in human relationships.
And anyway, if, in some kind of real-life Day After Tomorrow scenario, most of the human race was wiped out and all that were left were a few hunter gatherer tribes, the smart money is on the likelihood that we would evolve again into farming/agricultural and then technological societies – because that is what happened before – so it probably is in our nature!