Verandering genereert verandering. Van biologische evolutie naar sociaal-culturele ontwikkeling

Samenvatting

Change Generates Change. From Biological Evolution to Social-Cultural Development. The coevolution of hominids and other species has been a necessary condition for the development of human society and culture. Since the rise of Homo sapiens, however, the major changes in human behavior have resulted from intraspecific social processes. In trying to explain why certain new forms of behavior "stuck" and became lasting, shifts in power balances should be examined: those new forms of behavior -- innovations as the cultural equivalent of mutations -- became lasting that either yielded more favorable power positions or provided accommodation to power positions that became less favorable. The accelerating pace of social change can be seen from this perspective to be generated by the increasing pressures of intraspecific competition. 33 References. Adapted from the source document.