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What makes inventions become traditions?

Author

Listed:
  • Susan E. Perry

    (Unknown)

  • Alecia Carter

    (Unknown)

  • Jacob Foster

    (Unknown)

  • Sabine Noebel

    (Unknown, IAST - Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse)

  • Marco Smolla

    (Unknown)

Abstract

Although anthropology was the first academic discipline to investigate cultural change, many other disciplines have made noteworthy contributions to understanding what influences the adoption of new behaviors. Drawing on a broad, interdisciplinary literature covering both humans and nonhumans, we examine (1) which features of behavioral traits make them more transmissible, (2) which individual characteristics of inventors promote copying of their inventions, (3) which characteristics of individuals make them more prone to adopting new behaviors, (4) which characteristics of dyadic relationships promote cultural transmission, (5) which properties of groups (e.g., network structures) promote transmission of traits, and (6) which characteristics of groups promote retention, rather than extinction, of cultural traits. One of anthropology's strengths is its readiness to adopt and improve theories and methods from other disciplines, integrating them into a more holistic approach; hence, we identify approaches that might be particularly useful to biological and cultural anthro pologists, and knowledge gaps that should be filled.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan E. Perry & Alecia Carter & Jacob Foster & Sabine Noebel & Marco Smolla, 2022. "What makes inventions become traditions?," Post-Print hal-03947000, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03947000
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/8ma5q
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03947000v1
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    Keywords

    cultural change; innovation; cultural diffusion; social learning;
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