Localized communication clusters sustain cultural diversity of beliefs within a larger society

Evidence

Dynamic social-impact theory applies this idea of social impact to understanding the development and sharing of beliefs within a large group of individuals, such as a culture. Latané and his colleagues assume that relevant beliefs are spread throughout the culture because individuals communicate with other individuals (usually those who are in close physical contact with them). And, in line with the power of social influence, it is expected that over time the size of the majority endorsing a belief will increase and the size of the minority will decrease. However, in comparison to what would be expected in smaller groups, dynamic social-impact theory does not predict that a society will become completely homogeneous in their beliefs. Rather, because individuals share ideas with others who are nearby (their “neighbors”), it specifically predicts that clusters (or subcultures) of individuals who hold similar beliefs will develop within the larger culture, and thus that there will be cultural diversity. Furthermore, as a result of the frequent communication among their neighbors, the subclusters will develop sets of beliefs that they share with each other, even if the culture as a whole holds different beliefs. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1910

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to vault claims about conformity and the local-norms explanation of prejudice persistence; parallels Milgram’s information-reputation work and the spatial clustering of belief diffusion. — connects to: Restricting concern to local issues stunts learning about the wider world — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 130; Shared beliefs can sustain group boundaries despite environmental and technological similarity. — Joe Henrich and Robert Boyd, The Evolution of Conformist…, 9; Transnational movement organizations sustain dispersed coalitions by brokering communication and shared identity. — Michelle I. Gawerc, Coalition-building and the forging of…, 126
• DEFINE: Explains dynamic social-impact theory and its cluster prediction in one compact pass.