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The primacy of scaffolding within groups for the evolution of group-level traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2014

Linnda R. Caporael  and
Colin K. Garvey
Linnda R. Caporael
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180. [email protected]@rpi.eduhttp://www.rpi.edu/~caporl
Colin K. Garvey
Affiliation:
Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180. [email protected]@rpi.eduhttp://www.rpi.edu/~caporl
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Abstract

Although both a “simple dyad or a population of thousands” are groups, these are, respectively, face-to-face embodied groups and collective symbolic groups. We applaud Smaldino for recognizing and describing the concept of the group-level trait. As an expansion, we propose an evolutionary-developmental model of face-to-face groups that scaffolds theorizing the evolution of cultural group-level traits.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 255 - 256
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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