Cultural Evolution Research Articles

Explore the ancient roots of the Huaxia people and Chinese civilization

Chinese civilization, which stands as a shining star in human civilizations, is distinct in its nature and development path. Although it suffered numerous turns of devastation in its 5,000 years of history, it has resiliently remained uninterrupted in its growth and radiance. Characterized by continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and longstanding commitment to peace, it also exhibits strong cohesion, vitality, flexibility, and adaptability. These characteristics emerged in the Paleolithic Period, indicating that the Chinese civilization did not emerge overnight. Its roots run deep with a long history, sprouting in the Paleolithic Period, breaking ground in the late Neolithic period, and gradually growing into the towering trees it is today. How did the ancient people in China evolve into today’s Chinese nation? How did the ancient culture of prehistoric times develop into the current Chinese civilization? What are the connections between the history buried underground and the society we see today? Obviously, there is no clear answer to these questions. There are still many gaps in prehistoric China that need to be filled, and the process of and reasons for the evolution of ethnic groups and cultures still need to be further interpreted. The author tries to trace the roots of the Chinese nation and its civilization back to the Paleolithic Period, using archaeological materials to connect the survival and reproduction process of ancestors and delve into studying the ancient roots of the Huaxia people and Chinese civilization.

Max Weber and the Cultural Evolution

Max Weber’s ambivalent view of evolutionary theory has sparked ongoing debate. While rejecting simplistic social Darwinism, his writings reveal an implicit evolutionary logic underlying broader cultural transformations. Across multiple works, Weber modeled cultural change through the interplay between charismatic innovation and institutional order. This paper argues Weber provides a sophisticated model of cultural evolution by elucidating the relationship between these two forces. The aim is to demonstrate how framing Weber’s dichotomy in evolutionary terms offers novel insight into his nuanced vision of social change.

The theory of cultural evolution by F. A. Hayek and evolutionary psychology (Part one)

The theory of cultural evolution by F. A. Hayek and evolutionary psychology (Part one)

Research trends in memes: insights from bibliometric analysis

Purpose The growth of social media globally has led to brands adopting memes as a tool for communication. They have influenced digital culture, politics and marketing. This study aims to highlight the research gap in meme literature by profiling and science mapping. Design/methodology/approach This study has performed a bibliometric analysis of research papers on memes from the Scopus database. The authors profiled the literature and found the most relevant journal, author and document. Science mapping techniques such as thematic analysis, thematic evolution and co-citation of papers with content analysis were used. Findings Profiling of literature revealed that the most relevant journal, based on a number of papers and citations, is New Media and Society. The top researcher on memes is Shiffman L (seven papers), and the most cited author is Menczer F (717 citations). The paper titled “Towards A Unified Science of Cultural Evolution” has the highest number of citations (402). Thematic mapping revealed “Social Movements” and “Twitter” are the currently trending themes. The co-citation analysis clustered the literature into two. The first cluster elucidates the theoretical underpinnings of memes, while the second cluster explicates the various contexts in which memes are studied. Practical implications This study will be vital to researchers hoping to study internet memes by providing directions for future research. Furthermore, the insights from this study will enable social media managers to use memes effectively. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study seems to be the first to use bibliometric analysis to profile and map meme literature. This study provides a new perspective for meme researchers to explore memes and suggests marketers implement novel meme-based strategies in their marketing communications.

Many Mickles Make a Muckle: Evidence That Gender Stereotypes Reemerge Spontaneously Via Cultural Evolution.

We explore whether societal gender stereotypes re-emerge as social information is repeatedly passed from person to person. We examined whether peoples' memories of personality attributes associated with female and male social targets became increasingly consistent with societal gender stereotypes as information was passed down social transmission chains. After passing through the memories of just four generations of participants, our initially gender-balanced micro-societies became rife with traditional gender stereotypes. While we found some evidence of the re-emergence of gender stereotypes in Experiment 1, we found the effects were stronger when targets appeared in a feminine-stereotyped occupational context (Experiment 2), and a masculine-stereotyped occupational context (Experiment 3); conversely, the re-emergence of gender stereotypes was attenuated when targets appeared in a single gender context (Experiment 4). The current findings demonstrate that gender schematic memory bias, if widely shared, might cause gender stereotypes to be maintained through cultural evolution.

Rethinking Sociality in Language Evolution: Enlanguagement as a Catalyst for Shifts in Developmental Pathways

Abstract A significant body of research on the roots of human language highlights the crucial role played by changes in ancestral sociality. Recent studies have revived the hypothesis of human self-domestication, arguing that it provides new insights into the development of human sociality, cultural evolution, and symbolic communication. While the concept of domestication offers an intriguing interpretation of the co-evolution of body, cognition, and behavior, its application to human evolution is controversial. This paper explores an alternative perspective, suggesting that the enlanguagement of interactions may have acted as a catalyst for evolutionary change. We propose that the consolidation of enlanguaged practices, underpinned by the amplification of social dispositions, set in motion an evolutionary spiral. We explore how this process may have reshaped ancestral developmental trajectories and niches, ultimately culminating in the distinctive mode of life that characterizes our species.

Reimagining Chinese Cultural Images: Historical and Contemporary Elements in Smartphone Case Design

This paper explores the historical evolution and contemporary representation of Chinese culture in mobile phone case design. The research aims to deepen our understanding of how traditional Chinese cultural elements are represented in mobile phone case design and how contemporary factors influence these designs. Through a historical review, the research revealed the major cultural elements and design trends of different periods, as well as the influence of historical background on mobile phone case design. The study also provides a detailed analysis of the representation of Chinese cultural elements such as dragons, phoenixes, and Chinese calligraphy in mobile phone case design, along with specific case studies. In the section on contemporary elements and influences, the study discuss the impact of contemporary Chinese social, political, economic, and technological factors on mobile phone case design, as well as how globalization and market demand shape the contemporary designs. The research focus on the ongoing importance of Chinese cultural imagery in mobile phone case design, which not only preserves traditional culture but also reflects the development and global influence of modern China. The significance of this study provide understanding on cultural representation and design trends in China’s mobile phone case design, and future research is recommended to further explore the potential of Chinese cultural elements in the particular product design.

Rethinking Justice: Unraveling the Tapestry of Justice in Islamic and Western Philosophies

Throughout human civilization, justice has been an enduring value, evolving through continuous advocacy. Fueled by human reason, individuals consistently elevate their standards, leading to the transformation of justice derived from natural law, societal changes, and religious doctrines. This dynamic process signifies that humanity, along with its cultures, laws, and justice perceptions, progresses rather than regresses—growing more intricate, sophisticated, and advanced. This article delves into the development of justice concepts in Islamic and Western cultures across classical, modern, postmodern, and contemporary eras. Utilizing a philosophical approach, it argues that justice undergoes a developmental evolution in both cultures—from discussions in the context of natural law to exploring religious justice and culminating in discussions of social justice. Despite epistemological differences, both Islamic and Western cultures remain inseparable from justice principles: enforcing justice, presupposing equality, aligning with truth, embodying equilibrium, and positioning things rightly.

Preparing for Value: Evaluating Organizational Culture in Health Care Transformation.

The health care industry is experiencing a transformative shift from traditional fee-for-service models to value-based care (VBC), emphasizing improved patient outcomes, enhanced quality, and reduced costs. While Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center models focus on financial and quality outcomes, a critical opportunity for reform lies in organizational culture. VBC signifies a cultural and systemic evolution aligned with the quintuple aim of enhancing equitable patient outcomes, improving quality, reducing costs, and prioritizing provider well-being. Cultural impacts play a pivotal role in this transformation.

Tracing the Pathways: The Geographical Evolution of Confucian Culture in East Asia

Confucianism emerged during significant social and political upheaval in ancient China, known as the Eastern Zhou period (770256 BCE). The teachings of Confucius (Kong Fuzi or Kongzi) laid the foundation for this philosophical tradition, emphasizing moral values, proper conduct, and cultivating virtues. Confucianism, a philosophical and ethical system originating from ancient China, has exerted a profound influence not only within China but also across East Asia. Since its inception, Confucianism has undergone various transformations and adaptations, influenced by historical events, cultural exchanges, and geographical conditions. The study investigates the geographical evolution of Confucian culture in East Asia to understand its regional dynamics over time better. This research aims to unravel the complex interplay between geographical factors and the development of Confucian thought in diverse regional contexts in East Asia. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on fields such as history, geography, anthropology, and philosophy, this study demonstrates that geographical features, such as terrain, climate, and proximity to other cultures, have shaped the adaptation and transformation of Confucianism in different regions. Additionally, the research examines how Confucian values and practices have been integrated into local cultures and societies, exploring the variations and commonalities across various geographical settings. Ultimately, this investigation contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between geography and cultural evolution, with implications for our understanding of Confucianism's enduring significance globally.

From Necessity to Obsession: The Evolution and Impact of Desire-Driven Societies and Consumerism

Consumption has evolved into the foundation for survival and sucess within the framework of our captalistic society. Understanding its profound significancies is imperative due to its pervasive influence in our lives. This research explores why society drives towards consumption, examining the push towards material possessions by investigating human behavior, societal structures, self-alienation, and the evolution of consumer culture. Firstly it introduces the history of consumerism delving into philosophical underpinnings from Aristotle and ancient Stoics, followed by an examination of economist Victor Lebow's ideology, wherein consumption becomes vital for economic growth. Furthermore, a significant focus is dedicated to Jean Baudrillard's theories, particularly his concept of "the code", where consumer behavior represents social status, alongside concepts like "the simulation", hyper-consumerism, and the production of desires. It also analyses how hyper-consumerism shapes identity formation, discussing the social coding of desires and consumption as a surrogate for fullfillment. Karl Marx's perspective on consumption as a distraction from labor-induced alienation is explored, highlighting how people seek solace in consumption rather than confronting thier disconnected realities. Ultimatly, the research examines how the fleeting satisfaction from material possessions perpetuates a cycle of discontentment, exarberating alienation and reliance on goods. It concludes that the urge to consume derives from the combinations of various factors engraved in modern society, particularly those molded by the persistent sense of alienation and societal pressures, where the quest for self-fullfillment interwines with social influences, fostering an addictive cycle of pursuing fleeting happiness through material possessions.

The Cultural Evolution of Games of Chance

Chance-based gambling has been a recurrent cultural activity throughout history and across many diverse human societies. In this paper, I combine quantitative and qualitative data and present a cultural evolutionary framework to explain why the odds in games of chance in premodern China appeared “designed” to ensure a moderate yet favorable house advantage. This is especially intriguing since extensive research in the history of probability has shown that, prior to the development of probability theory, people had very limited understanding of the nature of random events and were generally disinclined to think mathematically about the frequency of their occurrence. I argue that games of chance in the context of gambling may have culturally evolved into their documented forms via a process of selective imitation and retention, and neither the customers nor the gambling houses understood the probability calculus involved in these games.

Song and genetic divergence within a subspecies of white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli).

Animal culture evolves alongside genomes, and the two modes of inheritance-culture and genes-interact in myriad ways. For example, stable geographic variation in culture can act as a reproductive barrier, thereby facilitating genetic divergence between "cultural populations." White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are a well-established model species for bird song learning and cultural evolution, as they have distinct, geographically discrete, and culturally transmitted song types (i.e., song dialects). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that divergence between culturally transmitted songs drives genetic divergence within Nuttall's white-crowned sparrows (Z. l. nuttalli). In accordance with sexual selection theory, we hypothesized that cultural divergence between mating signals both preceded and generated genetic divergence. We characterized the population structure and song variation in the subspecies and found two genetically differentiated populations whose boundary coincides with a major song boundary at Monterey Bay, California. We then conducted a song playback experiment that demonstrated males discriminate between songs based on their degree of divergence from their local dialect. These results support the idea that discrimination against non-local songs is driving genetic divergence between the northern and southern populations. Altogether, this study provides evidence that culturally transmitted bird songs can act as the foundation for speciation by sexual selection.

Evolutionary–developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size

Brain size tripled in the human lineage over four million years, but why this occurred remains uncertain. Here, to study what caused this brain expansion, I mathematically model the evolutionary and developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size. The model recovers (1) the evolution of brain and body sizes of seven hominin species starting from brain and body sizes of the australopithecine scale, (2) the evolution of the hominin brain–body allometry and (3) major patterns of human development and evolution. I show that the brain expansion recovered is not caused by direct selection for brain size but by its genetic correlation with developmentally late preovulatory ovarian follicles. This correlation is generated over development if individuals experience a challenging ecology and seemingly cumulative culture, among other conditions. These findings show that the evolution of exceptionally adaptive traits may not be primarily caused by selection for them but by developmental constraints that divert selection.

Deep history of cultural and linguistic evolution among Central African hunter-gatherers

Human evolutionary history in Central Africa reflects a deep history of population connectivity. However, Central African hunter-gatherers (CAHGs) currently speak languages acquired from their neighbouring farmers. Hence it remains unclear which aspects of CAHG cultural diversity results from long-term evolution preceding agriculture and which reflect borrowing from farmers. On the basis of musical instruments, foraging tools, specialized vocabulary and genome-wide data from ten CAHG populations, we reveal evidence of large-scale cultural interconnectivity among CAHGs before and after the Bantu expansion. We also show that the distribution of hunter-gatherer musical instruments correlates with the oldest genomic segments in our sample predating farming. Music-related words are widely shared between western and eastern groups and likely precede the borrowing of Bantu languages. In contrast, subsistence tools are less frequently exchanged and may result from adaptation to local ecologies. We conclude that CAHG material culture and specialized lexicon reflect a long evolutionary history in Central Africa.

Nostalgia of Sound: The Social and Cultural Phenomenon of the “Soviet Wave” Music Community

Nostalgia for the late Soviet past takes various forms and is intertwined in complex ways with global trends to look to the past for inspiration in creating new examples of mass culture. New generations of those who were born and raised after the collapse of the Soviet system are being introduced to nostalgic reminiscences. The article analyzes the socio-cultural phenomenon of electronic music Soviet Wave, which combines the stylistics of the late Soviet popular culture and contemporary electronic music. This phenomenon can be understood as post-nostalgia for the late Soviet, since it involves members of the younger generation who know about the Soviet from the stories of their parents and the media. In addition, the “Soviet Wave” is also analyzed as part of the general trend of retromania described by S. Reynolds. Reynolds, where there is an endless reference to the musical styles of the past in the creation of new works. The main concept of the phenomenon of the Soviet Wave is the idea of “ersatz-nostalgia” by A. Appadurai, which suggests the contemporary experience of the past without a corresponding life experience and collective historical memory, but based on the popular patterns of mass culture, in the representations of which the past has already undergone profound transformation. Nostalgia for the late Soviet past takes various forms and is intertwined in complex ways with global trends to look to the past for inspiration in creating new examples of mass culture. The article presents a brief history of the formation and evolution of the musical culture of “Soviet Wave” in the Russian subcultural scene, shows the connection of the aesthetics of this trend with the nostalgic mood of the late Soviet period, reveals the elements of ersatz and techno nostalgia (T. Pinch, D. Reyneke), examines the relationship of this phenomenon with the broader trends in contemporary mass culture in the international context. “The Soviet Wave” is also considered as an element of cultural citizenship formation and transformational museumfication of the Soviet. The article is based on the results of the author’s empirical research, which included interviews with musicians working in the “Soviet Wave” genre.

Birth of the Cool Musical Quotes in Marty Paich Arrangements on Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley

In 1957, Miles Davis released Birth of the Cool (Davis, 1957) which featured Davis with a unique instrumental ensemble called a nonette. This ground-breaking collaboration between Davis and arranger Gil Evans featured works that had been released either in radio broadcast or as singles several years prior to the album’s release. In 1960, arranger Marty Paich collaborated with singer Mel Tormé and produced the album Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley (Tormé, 1960). This album, the fifth collaboration with Paich, featured Tormé with a 10-person ensemble. This group was inspired by the Miles Davis Nonette, and shared a common mellow vibe. Two songs that Paich arranged on Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley (Tormé, 1960) reference musical snippets, or quotes, from Miles Davis’ recording of “Godchild” on Birth of the Cool (Davis, 1957). This paper serves to illuminate and analyze the musical quotations from Birth of the Cool (Davis, 1957) used by Marty Paich on these two arrangements. This paper also places these works within the broader context of the evolution of American popular music and culture.

Cultural Evolution, Niche Construction and Ecological Inheritance

Cultural Evolution, Niche Construction and Ecological Inheritance

A Study of Youth's Engagement Behavior in Transnational Media in an Intercultural Context: Taking Volleyball in China and Japan as an Example

In the era of globalization, intercultural communication studies have emerged as a focal point of research. Analyzing interactions and exchanges across cultures offers deeper insights into the intricate dynamics of cultural and social evolution. Sports, especially volleyball, serve as a bridge between nations, facilitating mutual understanding and cooperation. The significance of volleyball exchanges between China and Japan is unmistakable, representing a crucial aspect of bilateral sports diplomacy. Against this background, it is imperative to delve into the identity sentiments of youth towards their engagement with Chinese and Japanese volleyball media in an intercultural context. This exploration not only provides insights into the values and cultural leanings of the younger generation but also clarifies the intricate influence of these factors on cultural dissemination. The findings reveal that youths' enthusiasm for sports and their individual attributes directly impact their participation in Japanese volleyball media. Moreover, this influence is modulated by a sense of intercultural identity, reflecting a complex interplay between personal attributes, cultural affiliations, and media engagement. Additionally, the widespread use of social media emerges as a key factor, intersecting with intercultural identity to shape youths' engagement with volleyball media. By exploring this topic, this paper can help gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationships between personal identity, cultural affiliations, and media consumption among young individuals, specifically within the realm of volleyball media in China and Japan.

The Continuation of Incense Worship: Exploring the Rituals of Ancestral Belief in the Incense Worship Culture from the Perspective of Chinese Transmission

Incense worship refers to the incense or candlelight used for worshipping ancestors or deities, which is an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. With the succession of generations and the evolution of culture, the term incense worship has gradually developed more connotations, among which the evolution based on clan implications is particularly characterized by localization. This paper will deeply explore the connotations of incense worship from the perspective of Chinese transmission, tracing its evolution in the context of ancestor worship and the localization of clan traditions. At the same time, from the perspective of communication studies, it analyzes its metaphor as a form of communication, glimpsing the rituals of ancestral belief in the incense worship culture through exploration of media, ceremonies, and space, and discussing its modern continuation and changes.