Cultural r/k Selection

Agner Fog

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

A new model of cultural r/k-selection is introduced. This model, which provides a classification of cultural processes based on the factors that influence memetic fitness rather than on selection mechanisms, predicts that cultural evolution will go in different ways depending on the balance between internal and external conflicts of a society. A society dominated by external conflicts or war will evolve in a direction called regal, whereas a society in a peaceful or sparsely populated area will evolve in the opposite direction, called kalyptic. The regal or kalyptic characteristics of a society influence the evolution in many areas of culture, including religion, political structure, art, music, etc.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
Volume1
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)14-28
ISSN1366-4786
Publication statusPublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

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