Cultural evolutionism

Cultural evolutionism attempts to describe and explain long-term change in human sociology, insofar as those ways are socially rather than biologically acquired. As the development of a culture, it may be viewed as a uni-linear or multi-linear phenomenon. Uni-linear describes the change in human behaviour whereas multi-linear describes the change in separate cultures and societies.

The idea that human beings' culture changes with time is evident with the fact that human beings have become a more civilized species through history.

Though often used interchangeably with the terms "social evolution" and "sociocultural evolution," the term "cultural evolution" sometimes is useful for specifying a focus on long-term change not in properties of a social group as such (e.g., its sheer size or location), but in the way of life–the characteristic artifacts, behaviors, and ideas–of the group. Defined this way, cultural evolutionism is not inherently ethnocentric, though of course the cultural past can be – and often has been – interpreted ethnocentrically. Today, many archaeologists, some cultural anthropologists, and even some sociologists are self-identified cultural evolutionists; and many more scholars are shown, by virtue of their research interests, to fit this definition.

History

Historically, cultural evolution occurred through migration. Migration happens as a result of war, geographical changes or survival requirements and demands. War affected the cultures morals, and regions (if they were dominated etc.) Regional domination could imply control over the population, causing the citizens to move. (see Archadian movement 16th century) Geographic changes, such as climate change (increase/decrease) affects the individual's attire. For instance, a warmer climate typically requires less clothing, and a colder climate requires additional clothing. If the population resides in either of these climates, their attire accommodates to the temperature, and therefore creating materialistic culture.

There had also been evidence explaining that cultural evolution was the result of diffusion, the movement and spread of cultural patterns to another culture. The method of adoption of different cultural practices for social equilibrium maintenance, could have resulted in diffusion of culture during the adaptation of the changes.

Today, the theory of cultural evolution is an (often unstated) underpinning for other, more complex explanations for cultural change, and for the most part archaeologists believe that social changes are not only driven by biology or a strict adaptation to change, but by a complex web of social, environmental, and biological factors.

See also

• Processualism
• Sociocultural evolution
• Dual inheritance theory
• Transformation of culture

References

• Cultural evolution (social science) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/146212/cultural-evolution>
• Heine, S.J.(2008) Cultural Psychology p. 45
• Michael G, Michlovic. (1986). Cultural Evolutionism and Plains Archaeology. Plains Anthropological Society. 31(113), 207-218. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/stable/25668613