Underappreciated features of cultural evolution

Cultural evolution theory has long been inspired by evolutionary biology. Conceptual analogies between biological and cultural evolution have led to the adoption of a range of formal theoretical approaches from population dynamics and genetics. However, this has resulted in a research programme with a strong focus on cultural transmission. Here, we contrast biological with cultural evolution, and highlight aspects of cultural evolution that have not received sufficient attention previously. We outline possible implications for evolutionary dynamics and argue that not taking them into account will limit our understanding of cultural systems. We propose twelve key questions for future research, among which are calls to improve our understanding of the combinatorial properties of cultural innovation, and the role of development and life history in cultural dynamics. Finally, we discuss how this vibrant research field can make progress by embracing its multidisciplinary nature.

NATURVETENSKAP Matematik Annan matematik hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Mathematics Other Mathematics hsv//eng
NATURVETENSKAP Biologi Evolutionsbiologi hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Biological Sciences Evolutionary Biology hsv//eng
SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP Annan samhällsvetenskap Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap hsv//swe
SOCIAL SCIENCES Other Social Sciences Social Sciences Interdisciplinary hsv//eng
anthropology
cultural evolution
cultural systems
developmental psychology
evolutionary biology
social sciences
antropologi
kulturell evolution
kulturella system
utvecklingspsykologi
evolutionär biologi
samhällsvetenskap
Mathematics/Applied Mathematics
matematik/tillämpad matematik

Jansson, FredrikMälardalens högskola,Utbildningsvetenskap och Matematik,MAM(Swepub:mdh)fjn05 (author)
Lehmann, LaurentUniversity of Lausanne, France (author)
Houkes, WyboEindhoven University of Technology; The Nederlands (author)
Weissing, FranjoNetherlands Institute for Advanced Study, The Nederlands (author)
Hammerstein, PeterHumboldt University Berlin, Germany (author)
Dall, Sasha R. X.University of Exeter, United Kingdom (author)
Kuijper, BramUniversity of Exeter, United Kingdom (author)
Enquist, MagnusStockholms universitet (author)
University of Pennsylvania, USAUtbildningsvetenskap och Matematik (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Smolla, Marco; Jansson, Fredrik; Lehmann, Laurent; Houkes, Wybo; Weissing, Franjo; Hammerstein, Pet ...; show more...; Dall, Sasha R. X ...; Kuijper, Bram; Enquist, Magnus; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Mathematics; and Other Mathematic ...

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Biological Scien ...; and Evolutionary Bio ...

SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL SCIENCES; and Other Social Sci ...; and Social Sciences ...

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.