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The Varieties of Cultural Selection

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  • Smaldino, Paul E.

Abstract

Evolution requires variation, transmission, and selection. Formal theorizing on cultural evolution has largely focused on transmission processes. Though the boundary between transmission and selection can be blurry at times, I focus on selection and introduce a taxonomy of cultural selection processes. These can be sorted into two broad classes: source selection and content selection, each with several subcategories. This framework identifies cultural attraction, often discussed as distinct from selection, as form of transformative selection, offering a more integrative and consilient view of how cultural variation is selectively transmitted. More generally, this taxonomy provides a unifying language for discussing cultural evolution and highlights important but underdeveloped research areas for theoretical investigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Smaldino, Paul E., 2026. "The Varieties of Cultural Selection," SocArXiv z2m5e_v3, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:z2m5e_v3
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/z2m5e_v3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Baldini, Ryan, 2012. "Success-biased social learning: Cultural and evolutionary dynamics," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 82(3), pages 222-228.
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