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Strong group-level traits and selection-transmission thickets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2014

Jeffrey C. Schank
Jeffrey C. Schank*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616. jcschank@ucdavis.eduhttp://www.agent-based-models.com
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Abstract

I suggest that we should distinguish between weak and strong group-level traits. It is the latter that are especially problematic for developing models of cultural evolution. Using Campbell's notion of vicarious selection mechanisms, I argue that these mechanisms become intertwined with other group-level traits resulting in selection-transmission thickets that are obstacles to modeling cultural evolution.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 272 - 273
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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