Multilevel cultural evolution: From new theory to practical applications

David Sloan Wilson; Guru Madhavan; Michele J. Gelfand; Steven C. Hayes; Paul W.B. Atkins; Rita R. Colwell

doi:10.1073/pnas.2218222120

Multilevel cultural evolution: From new theory to practical applications

David Sloan Wilson^*, Guru Madhavan^*, Michele J. Gelfand, Steven C. Hayes, Paul W.B. Atkins, Rita R. Colwell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Evolutionary science has led to many practical applications of genetic evolution but few practical uses of cultural evolution. This is because the entire study of evolution was gene centric for most of the 20th century, relegating the study and application of human cultural change to other disciplines. The formal study of human cultural evolution began in the 1970s and has matured to the point of deriving practical applications. We provide an overview of these developments and examples for the topic areas of complex systems science and engineering, economics and business, mental health and well-being, and global change efforts.

Original language	English
Article number	e2218222120
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume	120
Issue number	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2218222120
Publication status	Published - 18 Apr 2023

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abstract = "Evolutionary science has led to many practical applications of genetic evolution but few practical uses of cultural evolution. This is because the entire study of evolution was gene centric for most of the 20th century, relegating the study and application of human cultural change to other disciplines. The formal study of human cultural evolution began in the 1970s and has matured to the point of deriving practical applications. We provide an overview of these developments and examples for the topic areas of complex systems science and engineering, economics and business, mental health and well-being, and global change efforts.",

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AU - Atkins, Paul W.B.

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Multilevel cultural evolution: From new theory to practical applications

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