Group size and cultural complexity

• A decade ago, Henrich1 proposed group size as a driver of cultural complexity. Derex et al now present experimental results they say support this ‘group size hypothesis’ by seemingly showing that larger groups perform better than smaller groups under imitation-based cultural evolution. Our reanalysis of their experimental data, however, shows that larger groups actually perform worse than smaller groups. Thus, contrary to their claim, their data are consistent with empirical evidence discounting the group size hypothesis for non-food producing societies.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cultural evolution

hunter-gatherers

group size

cultural complexity

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)