Cultural group selection is plausible, but the predictions of its hypotheses should be tested with real-world data. (9th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Turchin, Peter; Currie, Thomas E.
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 39(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-03-09
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X15000278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: The evidence compiled in the target article demonstrates that the assumptions of cultural group selection (CGS) theory are often met, and it is therefore a useful framework for generating plausible hypotheses. However, more can be said about how we can test the predictions of CGS hypotheses against competing explanations using historical, archaeological, and anthropological data.