PSYC 307 Lecture 9 Equilibrium -when we think people are not going to do something, we are unlikely to behave in that behavior- called norms in cultural terms -difficult to dissolve, once people have settled in the norms Inflection point -we can try to shift norms in different direction (e.g. from low to high) small local shifts-not very effective -we need to push momentum, so that they pass IP -once beyond this point-can shift to equilibrium -this is how social change occurs -if other people do it as well, it encourages others Distal causes -Neolithic Revolution -domestication of plants/animals-Mesopotamia region -using animals, freed humans from the labor work -could obtain meat, dairy products, emergence of granaries, excess food -could remove people from food production-no need to farm -people explored other things e.g. tools, fires -became specialists -areas that share similar latitudes, share similar climate -migrated along latitudes
-having different initial situations, shaped how these cultures developed -not deterministic, but played a role Biological Revolution -happens slowly -only vertically transmitted Cultural revolution -much quicker -happens in all directions The Memetic View -strict copy of genetic revolution -popularized by- Richard Dockins -unit of cultural transmission- propagates itself by imitation -meme ranges from single unit to complex patterns- e.g. cooking, sewing -meme cultural version of gene -follows same processes as genetic revolution 1) Replication -meme undergoes imitation -copied through-vertical, horizontal, oblique transmission \ -replicates very quickly, lots of copies -high fecundity fi) Variation fi
-memes undergo mutation (changes due to misunderstandings, misinterpretations) or recombination (putting together two or more memes to create something new- cultural innovations) -both processes 3) Selection -not all memes created alike -some enjoy higher attention than others -memes that are forgotten don't get spread -some more likely to have retention- memes that have reproductive, economic advantages, give positive effect, elicit fear against stranger danger, and are easily communicable e.g. lyrics (catchy, easy to remember and spread) Development Socialization experience fi8 weeks (-7 months) response to acoustic stimulation 1) Background noise (noise floor) -maternal sounds -tissues, sensitivity of fetal hearing, route of sound transmission Sleep -parameters of sleep -animals/humans differ in where, how long, parts of brain 3