In this paper, we generalize a model by Enquist and Ghirlanda [12] to analyze the "macro" dynamics of cumulative culture in a context where there is a coexistence of adaptive and maladaptive cultural traits. In particular, we introduce a different, nonlinear specification of the main processes at work in the cumulative culture dynamics: imperfect transmission of traits, generation of new traits, and switches from adaptive to maladaptive and vice-versa. We find that the system exhibits a variety of dynamic behaviors where the crucial force is the switching between the adaptive and maladaptive nature of a certain trait, with the other processes playing a modulating role. We identify in particular a number of dynamic regimes with distinctive characteristics.
Cultural ecologies of adaptive vs. maladaptive traits: A simple nonlinear model / Antoci, Angelo; Russu, Paolo; Sacco, Pier Luigi. - In: COMMUNICATIONS IN NONLINEAR SCIENCE & NUMERICAL SIMULATION. - ISSN 1007-5704. - 58:(2018), pp. 92-106. [10.1016/j.cnsns.2017.06.023]
Cultural ecologies of adaptive vs. maladaptive traits: A simple nonlinear model
ANTOCI, Angelo;RUSSU, Paolo;
2018-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, we generalize a model by Enquist and Ghirlanda [12] to analyze the "macro" dynamics of cumulative culture in a context where there is a coexistence of adaptive and maladaptive cultural traits. In particular, we introduce a different, nonlinear specification of the main processes at work in the cumulative culture dynamics: imperfect transmission of traits, generation of new traits, and switches from adaptive to maladaptive and vice-versa. We find that the system exhibits a variety of dynamic behaviors where the crucial force is the switching between the adaptive and maladaptive nature of a certain trait, with the other processes playing a modulating role. We identify in particular a number of dynamic regimes with distinctive characteristics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.