Definition
Cultural evolution is the transmission and change of behavior, knowledge, and belief through learning across generations. It operates on a faster timescale than genetic evolution and is at least as consequential for human life.
Why it matters
Talking about evolution without talking about cultural evolution produces impoverished, deterministic accounts of human behavior. Culture is not window dressing — it is a primary evolutionary force.
The Science
Cultural evolution research (Boyd, Richerson, Henrich) shows systematic accumulation and change of practices through social learning. Genes and culture co-evolve.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats cultural evolution as inseparable from biological evolution in shaping the modern human nervous system.
Clinical Implications
Cultural context is not decorative in clinical work. It is part of the biology.
Practical Application
You are shaped by evolution and by the specific culture you grew up in. Both are real. Neither alone is enough.
References
- 1.Henrich J. The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter. Princeton University Press; 2015.