Publication

Cultural group selection is plausible, but the predictions of its hypotheses should be tested with real-world data

Mar 9, 2016Behavioral and Brain SciencesCooperation Cultural Evolution Cliodynamics

Authors

Peter Turchin, Thomas E. Currie

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.

Journal

Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Publication Details

Vol. 39 · pp. e55

Cite This Publication

Peter Turchin, Thomas E. Currie. (2016). Cultural group selection is plausible, but the predictions of its hypotheses should be tested with real-world data. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 39, e55. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0140525x15000278

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