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An evolutionary critique of cultural analysis in sociology

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Abstract

A noteworthy development that has transpired in American sociology in the past quarter century has been the increasingly sophisticated interest in the analysis of human cultural systems. Sadly, however, these analyses reveal that social scientists rarely appreciate the profoundly evolutionary aspects of human culture. The chief purpose of this essay is to address this shortcoming and to offer some tentative suggestions toward its rectification. The essay begins by briefly reviewing recent developments in the analysis of cultural systems, primarily by reference to the influential work of Wuthnow. Second, a common flaw in these approaches is addressed—namely, the absence of any recognition of the value of grounding sociocultural theory in an informed evolutionary framework—and the case is made that this shortcoming is avoidable, even within the context of the intellectual traditions of the social sciences. Third, the evolutionary foundations of human cultural behavior are explored in terms of an analysis of relevant theoretical and empirical developments in the evolutionary neurosciences. Fourth, the value of these insights is illustrated by reference to an evolutionary critique of a recent and thought-provoking contribution to the study of modern political culture—Douglas and Wildavsky’s analysis ofRisk and Culture. Finally, the article concludes by emphasizing the value of and the necessity for incorporating evolutionary reasoning into the domain of sociocultural theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Mary Washington College, 22401-5358, Fredericksburg, VA

    Timothy Crippen

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A portion of the research reported herein was supported by a Faculty Development Grant provided by Mary Washington College. Of course, I assume sole responsibility for any errors of fact or judgment.

Timothy Crippen is Associate Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Mary Washington College. His principal research interests concern the application of recent developments in evolutionary theory to conventional problems in sociology, especially problems relating to the evolution of dominance orders and religion in human societies.

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Crippen, T. An evolutionary critique of cultural analysis in sociology. Human Nature 3, 379–412 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734056

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