Theory of Cultural Maladaptation
Learning Plan, Framework, and Cognitive Foundations
1. Six-Month Learning Plan
Goal: Understand how human institutions evolve and become maladaptive.
Structure (15 hrs/week): Reading (6), Lectures (3), Writing (4), Notes (2).
Month 1: Cultural evolution foundations (Henrich, Boyd & Richerson)
Month 2: Social cognition and bias (Tomasello; Kahneman)
Month 3: Institutions (North; Ostrom)
Month 4: Cooperation & group selection (Wilson; Henrich)
Month 5: Institutional failure (Acemoglu & Robinson; Diamond)
Month 6: Synthesis and application.
2. Theory of Maladaptation Framework
Core Loop:
Environment → Cognitive Architecture → Cultural Traits → Institutions → Outcomes → Feedback
Maladaptation arises when evolved cognitive systems and inherited institutions are mismatched to modern environments (Boyd & Richerson, 1985; Henrich, 2016).
Types: Cognitive, Institutional, Incentive maladaptation.
Rate mismatch: Cognition (slow), Culture (medium), Institutions (slow), Environment (fast).
3. Role of Cognitive Biases
Cognitive biases are the micro-foundations of cultural evolution.
Functions: filtering information, shaping transmission, stabilizing groups.
Adaptive in small groups but often maladaptive at scale (Kahneman, 2011; Mercier & Sperber, 2017).
Feedback loop: Bias → Belief → Institution → Reinforcement.
4. Applications
Populism: authority bias, in-group bias.
Climate change: present bias, normalcy bias.
Capitalism: status bias, incentive structures, externalities.
Framework Diagram
References
Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. (2012). Why Nations Fail.
Boyd, R., & Richerson, P. (1985). Culture and the Evolutionary Process.
Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse.
Henrich, J. (2016). The Secret of Our Success.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow.
Mercier, H., & Sperber, D. (2017). The Enigma of Reason.
North, D. (1990). Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance.
Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the Commons.
Tomasello, M. (1999). The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition.
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