Local-optima logic fails where a stepwise-improvement pathway exists between variants

Evidence

The problem with this hypothesis is that there are many differences between groups that are not plausibly explained as alternative, locally optimal solutions to adaptive problems. The logic of multiple local optima is sound and may, at least partially, explain why members of a group maintain a certain cultural variation when deviations from that variant cause the deviant individual to perform worse than nondeviants. However, multiple local optima cannot explain the maintenance of a variant over more adaptive variants when there is a plausible evolutionary pathway linking the two traits. — Joe Henrich and Robert Boyd, The Evolution of Conformist…, 115

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Cultural accumulation locks groups into local optima because traits are integrated

Related

• Cultural accumulation locks groups into local optima because traits are integrated (similarity 0.92)
• Cultural adaptation is path-dependent and condemned to local optima (similarity 0.83)
• Cultural variation can persist without social learning through locally complementary solution sets. (similarity 0.82)