Cultural Evolution
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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 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
600,000 in Sweden
Privacy essential
Commune 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