EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF CULTURAL CONSEQUENCES ON CULTURAL SELECTION

Abstract

We investigated the use of individual and cultural consequences of different types in the selection of culturants in metacontingencies. The study included 18 students divided into two groups: Group Goods for Oneself (GBS) and Group Goods for Others (GBO). Each group was composed of eight generations and each generation consisted of dyads. After each generation the oldest participant left the experiment and was replaced by a new naive member. GBS received individual consequences (IC) and cultural consequences (CC) exchangeable for cash. GBO received IC exchangeable for photocopies, and CC exchangeable for school supplies to donate to a social project. There were two phases: in Acquisition Phase IC and CC were available. In Extinction Phase, generation 7 was exposed only to CI without CC, and for generation 8 received neither IC or CC. The selection of operants and culturants in Acquisition Phase was similarly for both groups. In Extinction Phase, GBO showed greater sensitivity to the withdrawal of CC. These results indicate that the use of different types of stimuli as IC and CC influence the maintenance of culturants. We discuss the implications of the results for the metacontingency concept. Key words: cultural consequences; individual consequences; metacontingency; cultural selection; culturants.