Characterizing the Interaction of Cultural Evolution Mechanisms in Experimental Social Networks

2025-02-18

AI Summary

Cultural evolution models often emphasize isolated mechanisms—social network topology, individual preference, or transmission bias—yet how these interact to shape complex cultural artifacts (e.g., melodies) remains poorly understood. Method: We conducted a large-scale online experiment (N = 2,404) under a controlled naturalistic paradigm, integrating iterative singing tasks, experimentally manipulated social networks, and computational behavioral modeling. Contribution/Results: We provide the first systematic evidence of synergistic interaction among all three mechanisms in driving cultural evolution. Networked transmission significantly enhanced melody complexity and aesthetic appeal; however, omitting any single mechanism substantially attenuated this effect, confirming strong interdependence. This challenges reductionist models that prioritize one mechanism in isolation and establishes an empirically grounded theoretical framework for understanding the collective emergence of complex cultural forms.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Social Cognition And Interaction
• Multiagent Systems: Mechanism Design
• Game Theory and Economic Paradigms: Mechanism Design

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Models for Web evolution
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Social networks and social learning

Abstract

Understanding how cognitive and social mechanisms shape the evolution of complex artifacts such as songs is central to cultural evolution research. Social network topology (what artifacts are available?), selection (which are chosen?), and reproduction (how are they copied?) have all been proposed as key influencing factors. However, prior research has rarely studied them together due to methodological challenges. We address this gap through a controlled naturalistic paradigm whereby participants (N=2,404) are placed in networks and are asked to iteratively choose and sing back melodies from their neighbors. We show that this setting yields melodies that are more complex and more pleasant than those found in the more-studied linear transmission setting, and exhibits robust differences across topologies. Crucially, these differences are diminished when selection or reproduction bias are eliminated, suggesting an interaction between mechanisms. These findings shed light on the interplay of mechanisms underlying the evolution of cultural artifacts.

Problem

• Interaction of cultural evolution mechanisms
• Impact of social network topology
• Selection and reproduction bias effects

Innovation

• Controlled naturalistic paradigm
• Social network topology analysis
• Interaction of cultural mechanisms