Cultural Evolution Sources of cultural variation Proximal vs

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

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 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 home stuga Ø 600, 000 in Sweden ØPrivacy essential ØCommune with nature http: //www. odebolt. net/stuga. html • 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

• 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