Random copying, frequency-dependent copying and culture change☆ Export

@article{citeulike:5492781, abstract = {Previous evolutionary analyses of human culture have found that a simple model of random copying, analogous to neutral genetic drift, can generate the distinct power-law frequency distribution of cultural traits that is typical of various real-world cultural datasets, such as first names, patent citations and prehistoric pottery types. Here, we use agent-based simulations to explore the effects of frequency-dependent copying (e.g., conformity and anti-conformity) on this power-law distribution. We find that when traits are actively selected on the basis of their frequency, then the power-law distribution is severely disrupted. Conformity generates a ” winner-takes-all” distribution in which popular traits dominate, while anti-conformity generates a ” humped” distribution in which traits of intermediate frequency are favoured. However, a more passive frequency-dependent ” trimming”, in which traits are selectively ignored on the basis of their frequency, generates reasonable approximations to the power-law distribution. This frequency-dependent trimming may therefore be difficult to distinguish from genuine random copying using population-level data alone. Implications for the study of both human and nonhuman culture are discussed.}, author = {Mesoudi, A. and Lycett, S.}, citeulike-article-id = {5492781}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.07.005}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1090513808000810}, doi = {10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.07.005}, issn = {10905138}, journal = {Evolution and Human Behavior}, keywords = {cultural-transmission, empirical, evolution}, month = {January}, number = {1}, pages = {41--48}, posted-at = {2009-09-27 19:20:51}, priority = {2}, title = {Random copying, frequency-dependent copying and culture change☆}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.07.005}, volume = {30}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5492781 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5492781 N2 - Previous evolutionary analyses of human culture have found that a simple model of random copying, analogous to neutral genetic drift, can generate the distinct power-law frequency distribution of cultural traits that is typical of various real-world cultural datasets, such as first names, patent citations and prehistoric pottery types. Here, we use agent-based simulations to explore the effects of frequency-dependent copying (e.g., conformity and anti-conformity) on this power-law distribution. We find that when traits are actively selected on the basis of their frequency, then the power-law distribution is severely disrupted. Conformity generates a “winner-takes-all” distribution in which popular traits dominate, while anti-conformity generates a “humped” distribution in which traits of intermediate frequency are favoured. However, a more passive frequency-dependent “trimming”, in which traits are selectively ignored on the basis of their frequency, generates reasonable approximations to the power-law distribution. This frequency-dependent trimming may therefore be difficult to distinguish from genuine random copying using population-level data alone. Implications for the study of both human and nonhuman culture are discussed. IS - 1 JF - Evolution and Human Behavior SN - 10905138 EP - 48 TI - Random copying, frequency-dependent copying and culture change☆ VL - 30 SP - 41 KW - cultural-transmission KW - empirical KW - evolution AU - Mesoudi, A AU - Lycett, S PY - 2009/01// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.07.005 ER -