Understanding culture across species

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Richard W ByrnePolly Wiessner

Abstract

Recent claims of culture in great apes have provoked fervent argument about the 'true' definition of culture, most of which has been unhelpful. Instead, a range of definitions should be used to explore different aspects of the cognitive processes that together result in human culture, many of which can be productively studied in non-humans. A richer cognitive account of the contents of culture needs to be developed and used to compare animal and human cultures, instead of sterile searching for a cognitive Rubicon between them. Exploring six views of culture, this article highlights the fundamental contrast of whether culture evolves as a by-product of cumulative change in cognitive mechanisms, or whether it is actively selected for its advantages.

References

Jul 10, 1999·The Netherlands Journal of Medicine·M J Kuper-HommelG Vreugdenhil
Sep 4, 2001·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·L Rendell, H Whitehead
Nov 28, 2002·American Journal of Primatology·Tatyana Humle, Tetsuro Matsuzawa
Jan 4, 2003·Science·Carel P van SchaikMichelle Merrill
Feb 13, 2003·Perspectives in Biology and Medicine·Rachel L DayF John Odling-Smee
Apr 15, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Michael TomaselloBrian Hare
Jul 26, 2003·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Thomas Wynn
Dec 31, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Dan Sperber, Lawrence A Hirschfeld
Dec 29, 2004·Current Biology : CB·W C McGrew

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 10, 2007·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Richard W Byrne
Nov 6, 2009·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Nicolas Claidière, Dan Sperber
Sep 1, 2005·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Michio Nakamura, Toshisada Nishida
Apr 22, 2006·Cognitive Processing·Pamela Lyon
Aug 12, 2009·Journal of Physiology, Paris·Thierry Chaminade, Gordon Cheng
Nov 28, 2012·American Journal of Primatology·Michio Nakamura, Toshisada Nishida
Mar 1, 2010·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science·Iain Davidson
Feb 22, 2008·Journal of Physiology, Paris·Michael Cole
Jun 10, 2015·International Anesthesiology Clinics·Gail A Van Norman
Mar 30, 2010·Neuron·Richard W Byrne, Lucy A Bates
Jul 7, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Janne-Tuomas Seppänen, Jukka T Forsman
Mar 7, 2007·Current Biology : CB·Richard W Byrne
May 8, 2008·Current Biology : CB·Kevin N Laland
Dec 29, 2004·Current Biology : CB·W C McGrew
Nov 3, 2006·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Horacio Fabrega
Oct 7, 2006·Animal Cognition·József TopálVilmos Csányi
Mar 12, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Hollis Taylor

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Kevin N Laland, Vincent M Janik
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Richard W Byrne
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Daniel J. Povinelli, Jennifer Vonk
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
L Rendell, H Whitehead
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Joshua M PlotnikDiana Reiss
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved