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RFT and evolution: are memetics the missing link?

RFT and evolution: are memetics the missing link?. Marco Kleen, psychologist PsyAdvies / BrainDynamics University of Groningen. 2009 150th aniversary of On The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Does relational framing increase genetic fitness?.

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RFT and evolution: are memetics the missing link?

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  1. RFT and evolution: are memetics the missing link? Marco Kleen, psychologist PsyAdvies / BrainDynamics University of Groningen

  2. 2009150th aniversary of On The Origin of Speciesby Charles Darwin

  3. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  4. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  5. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  6. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  7. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  8. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  9. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  10. Does relational framing increase genetic fitness? marcokleen@hotmail.com

  11. "behavior analysts think of the shaping of behavior as working in just the same way as the evolution of species" (Baum, 1994, p. 64). marcokleen@hotmail.com

  12. “Both the evolution of species and the evolution of behavior can be described as selection by consequences”(Skinner, 1981) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  13. Selectionism involves an emphasis on the role historical context and consequences play in shaping the form and function of the phenomenon of interest in the current setting—an emphasis that clearly reflects both the root metaphor and truth criterion of contextualism (Fox, 2005, contextualpsychology.org) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  14. Science Art Technique marcokleen@hotmail.com Philosophy

  15. Shelter Medicine GENETIC FITNESS marcokleen@hotmail.com Communication

  16. Destructive normality marcokleen@hotmail.com

  17. Psychopathology Genocide Self-sterilizing behavior Terrorism X GENETIC FITNESS?? Warfare marcokleen@hotmail.com

  18. “Cui bono?” (Dennett) (who profits?) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  19. What is the function of contragenetic behavior? marcokleen@hotmail.com

  20. Evolutionairy algorithm (Darwin, 1859) • If there is variety… • and if there is selection… • and if there is heredity… • ..then there MUST be evolution marcokleen@hotmail.com

  21. Common misconceptions about evolution • Evolution has a goal (= “intelligent design”) • Humans are evolved from apes (= describing evolution as a lineair process) • Evolution is only about genes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  22. “Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow context of the gene” Richard Dawkins, 1976 marcokleen@hotmail.com

  23. Is the gene the only replicator? marcokleen@hotmail.com

  24. The second replicator: the meme marcokleen@hotmail.com

  25. What is a meme? • Any piece of information that has the ability to replicate itself through imitation • “Imitation, to mime”  meme (Dawkins, 1976) • “Unit of cultural evolution” • Infectious ideas • Analogy: parasite marcokleen@hotmail.com

  26. Example 1. “I just can’t get you out of my head” (Kylie Minogue, 2002) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  27. Imitation • Vertical: from one generation to the next • Horizontal: spreading of contagious ideas within one generation marcokleen@hotmail.com

  28. Meme-cariers • Anology: meme-memecarrier, gene-genotype • Human brains • Media: books, CD’s, DVD’s, internet • Buildings, fashion, music, cultural manifestations, lectures, congresses, discussions marcokleen@hotmail.com

  29. Mutationoriginal: “5th symphony”(Beethoven) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  30. Mutationmutation: “5th symphony”(Steve Vai) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  31. The Wuppie-meme (Weeple) 1981- 2005 dormant period, 2006 mutations (color+ size) ± 1970 US 1980 Netherlands 2006-2007 dormant period, 2008 major mutation 2006 Netherlands: WK (worldcup) wuppie and ‘megawuppie’ 2008 Netherlands: EK welpie marcokleen@hotmail.com

  32. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  33. Memetic fitness • Fidelity: the more faithful a copy, the more of the original information remains • Fecundity: the faster the rate of copying, the more the meme will spread • Longevity: the longer a meme survives, the more copies can be made from it. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  34. Copy the product vscopy the instruction • Example: Dutch stue • Copying the instruction only possible in organisms that are able to frame relationally (use language) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  35. Meme-gene coevolution • Memetic drive (Blackmore, 1999) • Selection of brains that are good in imitating (mirror neurons!) • ‘big brain’ theory  physical adaptation of the brain, relatively big neocortex marcokleen@hotmail.com

  36. Genes vs Memes • The ‘genetic leash’ (Lumsden & Wilson) seems to be broken  memetic replication does not have to be good for genes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  37. GENES Culture/memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  38. GENES Culture/memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  39. GENES Culture/memes Culture/memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  40. Contragenetic behavior • The ‘genetic leash’ (Lumsden & Wilson) seems to be broken  memetic replication does not have to be good for genes • Memes are selfish: their only goal is to get replicated as much as possible marcokleen@hotmail.com

  41. marcokleen@hotmail.com

  42. Who profits? Memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  43. RFT and memetics are highly complementary theories which explain each other’s missing links marcokleen@hotmail.com

  44. RFT and Memetics RFT Memetics Selectionistic foundation Explains complex human behavior Psychological mechanism of imitation unclear • Selectionistic foundation • Explains complex human behavior • Evolutionairy function of contragenetic behavior unclear The Missing Link marcokleen@hotmail.com

  45. Hypothesis: Relational framing increases chance of memetic reproduction marcokleen@hotmail.com

  46. Mechanisms • Stimulus  Relational Framing  activation of bigger cognitive network  transformation of stimulusfunction  reproduction of memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  47. DANGER Relationalresponding…. Dixon et al (2003) marcokleen@hotmail.com

  48. ..results in reproduction of memes marcokleen@hotmail.com

  49. DANGER Relationalresponding…. Theo van Gogh 1957-2004 marcokleen@hotmail.com

  50. ..results in reproduction of memes Translation: “The cross will not make place for the mosque” Mr. Wilders marcokleen@hotmail.com

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