Cultural Evolution

• Sources of cultural variation

• Proximal vs Distal

• Transmitted vs Evoked

• Biological vs Cultural evolution

• How do ideas spread?

• How have cultures been changing?

• Flynn Effect

Sweden – A dichotomous culture

• Ideology: The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, or culture

• Ethnotheory: The theories of a culture that inform and influence cultural practices

World cultures and life satisfaction

The Jante Law (Old Scandinavian value system)• “Folk theory” – 10 “commandments” for instilling in children self-

inhibition and conformity• Reflected in current Swedish “personality” traits – humility, lack

of confidence, shyness

1. Du skal ikke tro at du *er* noe.Thou shalt not presume that thou art anyone [important].

2. Du skal ikke tro at du er like saa meget som *oss*.Thou shalt not presume that thou art as good as us.

3. Du skal ikke tro at du er klokere en *oss*.Thou shalt not presume that thou art any wiser than us.

4. Du skal ikke innbille deg du er bedre enn *oss*.Thou shalt never indulge in the conceit of imagining that thou art better than us.

5. Du skal ikke tro du vet mere enn *oss*.Thou shalt not presume that thou art more knowledgeable than us.

The “Jante Law”

6. Du skal ikke tro du er mere enn *oss*.Thou shalt not presume that thou art more than us [in any way].

7. Du skal ikke tro at *du* duger til noe.Thou shalt not presume that that thou art going to amount to anything.

8. Du skal ikke le av *oss*.Thou art not entitled to laugh at us.

9. Du skal ikke tro at noen bryr seg om *deg*.Thou shalt never imagine that anyone cares about thee.

10. Du skal ikke tro at du kan lære *oss* noe.Thou shalt not suppose that thou can teach us anything.

Child’s Rights• Right of inheritance –

regardless of gender• Right to inherit property

from the biological father whether or not parents are married

• Right to be wanted• Right to a healthy

prenatal environment (free prenatal care – ALL Swedes receive)

• Healthy perinatal environment (newborns)

The summer homestuga

• Love of nature and tradition– Scandinavians invented orienteering; hiking,

canoeing, picking berries– Strong ties to farm life– Low power distance; horizontal individualists– Individualism = self-reliance

http://www.odebolt.net/stuga.html

600,000 in SwedenPrivacy essentialCommune with nature

• Individualism through self-development– Retreat to stuga for self-reflection, self-growth– Swedes are individualistic in order to promote personal growth, not gain advantages

over others– Swedes are insular; not as open, or “friendly” toward neighbors

• Equality– Allelamansratt – everyman’s right – camp, walk, canoe anywhere – nature belongs

to everyone– jamlikhet – egalitarianism – High level of feminism

http://www.lodgingcatalog.com

Leisure

More regular exercise, including elderly

No golf carts at courses

People used to walking everywhere

Skiing, Hiking, Camping – “Allelamansratten”

Computer use more popular among youth

Gardening

End of High School celebration – Norway and Sweden