Selective group genetic advantages in cultural evolution.

In rare circumstances selective genetic adaptation within a group can be a stronger culturally evolutionary force when compared to the genetic change affects produced by migration. However, even a few percentage point advantages created by a genotype change that is of selective benefit to a group could be considered an extremely significant competitive advantage over neighboring groups. Such genetic advantage could only be maintained if the incoming migration rate is very low as otherwise any beneficial change would be liquidated by the expanded gene pool. The adaptation of human groups to the lack of sunshine in the northern regions of the world and the genetic evolution of lighter skin tones is a selective genetic advantage that must be understood to have evolved in this manner. By comparison to the generally slow processes of genetic evolution the imitation of cultural traits is on the other hand very rapid as we saw in China and is therefore responsible for the vast amount of cultural evolution. Some researchers (e.g. Boyd & Richerson, 2010) have suggested that human cultural evolution is similar to the evolution of separate species of animals and mathematical models of phylogenetic evolution work well in explaining cultural variation as it does in understanding the development of species.

Neighboring cultural groups often compete in adaptation to similar ecological environments. The historical outcome is either the exclusion of disadvantageous groups or their assimilation into cultural groups that have evolved adaptive advantages. The power of the Western socio-economic model to influence change in other countries in modern times is a form of assimilation as countries seek inclusion in economic trade organizations and ever larger political structures. However, there are serious environmental disadvantages to long term adaptation to the Western model as it has produced extinction of species, global warming, and endemic economic insecurity. Unlike genetic evolution that evolves vertically and requires a common ancestor, cultural evolution is driven by socio-cultural motivators that can rapidly spread horizontally. Social imitations and conformity pressures create stable models for emulation within groups and along with geographical isolation have over time produced significant differences in cultural traits between groups.

Date: 2015-01-11; view: 726