3 research outputs found
The relationship between creativity, imitation, and cultural diversity
There are both benefits and drawbacks to cultural diversity. It can lead to friction
and exacerbate differences. However, as with biological diversity, cultural
diversity is valuable in times of upheaval; if a previously effective solution no
longer works, it is good to have alternatives available. What factors give rise to
cultural diversity? This paper describes a preliminary investigation of this
question using a computational model of cultural evolution. The model is
composed of neural network based agents that evolve fitter ideas for actions by
(1) inventing new ideas through modification of existing ones, and (2) imitating
neighbors' ideas. Numerical simulations indicate that the diversity of ideas in a
population is positively correlated with both the proportion of creators to imitators
in the population, and the rate at which creators create. This is the case for both
minimum and peak diversity of actions over the duration of a run.Arts and Sciences, Irving K. Barber School of (Okanagan)Psychology, Department of (Okanagan)UnreviewedFacult