The hottest Cultural Evolution Substack posts right now

Cultural change needs bold rebels promoting alternatives.
Close-knit societies care about social approval, suppressing individualism.
Economic growth may not always lead to cultural liberalism in societies with strong kinship or labor-intensive agriculture.

Societies are constrained by laws of nature, specifically human nature and cultural evolution.
Building a sustainable society requires considering factors like population expansion and high technology.
A compromise between fertility and technology is essential for a society to thrive for generations to come.

Meritocratic civil service exams in East Asia led to heavy investment in education for social mobility.
Education fever in East Asia sparked an arms race of intensive parenting, seen as costly and labor-intensive.
Cultural liberalization and economic development in East Asia have weakened the pressure to bear multiple sons, leading to plummeting fertility rates.

East Asia saw a shift in gender dynamics with more women joining the workforce and gaining autonomy.
Social and cultural differences influenced how East and South Asia approached patriarchy and women's roles.
Economic factors played a role in shaping the gender landscape of East and South Asia.

The birth of Israel dates back to ancient times, with the earliest mention of Israel on the Merneptah Stele in around 1208 BC, indicating their presence and significance.
The origins of the Israelites are complex, involving gradual settlements, interactions with various groups like the Philistines, and the assimilation of diverse traditions into a shared cultural identity.
Archaeological evidence and historical context suggest that the Israelites likely originated as pastoralist groups like the Shasu, gradually forming a distinct group in the highlands of Canaan, challenging the established Canaanite and Egyptian powers.

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East Asians prefer social cohesion and harmony over self-expression and individualism
Factors like rice farming, socio-economic threats, Confucianism, and authoritarianism may contribute to cultural tightness
Despite cultural tightness, societies like South Korea have shown resistance and democratization

Prominent online figures are revealing their faces after years of anonymity
Anonymity for public figures can amplify their mystique and persona
The visual iconography of public figures should match or exceed the mystery of their anonymity

Honor culture is more prevalent in regions where legal systems are weak or absent.
East Asian cultures are often characterized as 'face cultures' where reputation and relationships with others are of great importance.
Face culture values humility, harmony, and hierarchy, and is distinct from both honor culture and victimhood culture.

Tribal superfoods from India may become popular in 2023 due to their cultural significance and potential health benefits.
The shift from traditional tribal diets to modern diets raises questions about gut microbiome health and adaptation.
Research on tribal diets and gut microbiomes is important to understand the impact on human health and the need for diversity in gut microbiomes.

Snakes have evolved diverse traits through sudden phase shifts rather than incremental changes, expanding their adaptive possibilities significantly.
Cultural and technological evolution also experience periods of sudden expansion and contraction of possibilities, akin to biological evolution's singularities.
In addition to platform shifts, singularities in evolution can be driven by the emergence of single new traits leading to significant consequences in exploring new ecological niches.