Cultural drift, indirect minority influence, network structure, and their impacts on cultural change and diversity.

Jiin Jung; Aaron Bramson; William D. Crano; Scott E. Page; John H. Miller

doi:10.1037/amp0000844

Cultural drift, indirect minority influence, network structure, and their impacts on cultural change and diversity.

American Psychologist ◽

10.1037/amp0000844 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 1039-1053

Author(s):

Jiin Jung ◽

Aaron Bramson ◽

William D. Crano ◽

Scott E. Page ◽

John H. Miller

Keyword(s):

Cultural Change ◽

Network Structure ◽

Minority Influence

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Supplemental Material for Cultural Drift, Indirect Minority Influence, Network Structure, and Their Impacts on Cultural Change and Diversity

American Psychologist ◽

10.1037/amp0000844.supp ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Cultural Change ◽

Network Structure ◽

Minority Influence

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Are Collectivistic Cultures More Prone to Rapid Transformation? Computational Models of Cross-Cultural Differences, Social Network Structure, Dynamic Social Influence, and Cultural Change

Personality and Social Psychology Review ◽

10.1177/1088868319855783 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 103-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Michael Muthukrishna ◽

Mark Schaller

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Influence ◽

Cultural Differences ◽

Cultural Change ◽

Network Structure ◽

Computational Models ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Majority Opinion ◽

Cross Cultural Differences ◽

Social Network Structure

Societies differ in susceptibility to social influence and in the social network structure through which individuals influence each other. What implications might these cultural differences have for changes in cultural norms over time? Using parameters informed by empirical evidence, we computationally modeled these cross-cultural differences to predict two forms of cultural change: consolidation of opinion majorities into stronger majorities, and the spread of initially unpopular beliefs. Results obtained from more than 300,000 computer simulations showed that in populations characterized by greater susceptibility to social influence, there was more rapid consolidation of majority opinion and also more successful spread of initially unpopular beliefs. Initially unpopular beliefs also spread more readily in populations characterized by less densely connected social networks. These computational outputs highlight the value of computational modeling methods as a means to specify hypotheses about specific ways in which cross-cultural differences may have long-term consequences for cultural stability and cultural change.

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Information and Communication Technology and Cultural Change

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000123 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 222-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Nina Hansen ◽

Tom Postmes ◽

Nikita van der Vinne ◽

Wendy van Thiel

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Information And Communication Technology ◽

Communication Technology ◽

Cultural Change ◽

Control Group ◽

Self Construal ◽

Information And Communication ◽

The Impact ◽

Ict For Development ◽

Practical Implications

This paper studies whether and how information and communication technology (ICT) changes self-construal and cultural values in a developing country. Ethiopian children were given laptops in the context of an ICT for development scheme. We compared children who used laptops (n = 69) with a control group without laptops (n = 76) and a second control group of children whose laptop had broken down (n = 24). Results confirmed that after 1 year of laptop usage, the children’s self-concept had become more independent and children endorsed individualist values more strongly. Interestingly, the impact of laptop usage on cultural values was mediated by self-construal (moderated mediation). Importantly, modernization did not “crowd out” traditional culture: ICT usage was not associated with a reduction in traditional expressions (interdependent self-construal, collectivist values). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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