Cultural differentiation does not entail group-level structure: The case for geographically explicit analysis

Behav Brain Sci. 2016 Jan:39:e49. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X15000217.

Abstract

Richerson et al. argue that relatively large cultural F ST values provide evidence for group structure and therefore scope for group selection. However, recent research on spatial patterns of cultural variation demonstrates that, as in the genetic case, apparent group structure can be a consequence of geographic clines, not group barriers. Such a pattern limits the scope for cultural group selection.

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