1. Is sexiness cumulative? Arguments from birdsong culture.
- Author
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Geller, Franny C. and Lahti, David C.
- Subjects
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SOCIAL evolution , *SEXUAL attraction , *BEHAVIORAL sciences , *BIRDSONGS , *SEXUAL orientation , *AGE groups - Abstract
'Cumulative cultural evolution' broadly describes the process by which cultural traits accumulate improvements to efficacy over generations of social learning and innovation. The term can arguably be applied without much controversy to the cultural evolution of tool use, for example. However, it has recently gained momentum in the aesthetic realm as well, where it has been used to describe changes to sexually selected cultural traits. These, the argument goes, can gain efficacy in the sense of evoking stronger emotional responses from receivers. Here, we use examples from birdsong literature to outline our objections to the application of cumulative cultural evolution to cultural traits that achieve popularity based on no standard other than social or sexual preference. Moreover, we distinguish between categories of cultural traits that are preferred for different functional reasons, presenting arguments for or against describing changes to each as improvements. We conclude by proposing that a detailed and nuanced understanding of the mechanisms and outcomes of cultural change is of more service to behavioural and cultural science than a fraught binary distinction between what we can and cannot label 'cumulative'. • We summarize current definitions of 'cumulative cultural evolution' (CCE). • We suggest areas where CCE may apply to socially learned vocal communication. • We use birdsong to explore the untenability of applying CCE in the aesthetic realm. • More nuanced distinctions are needed between cultural traits than CCE can provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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