In this blog post, we will explore how human behavior, culture, and social change occur through Dawkins’ gene theory and concept of memes.
Dawkins explains that competition, cooperation, and sacrifice among human beings are strategies used by genes to spread more copies of themselves, arguing that humans are merely carriers of genes. His argument emphasizes the view that human behavior ultimately functions as a tool for the survival of genes. Furthermore, Dawkins suggests that culture, like gene transmission, is replicated as specific units of information, which he calls “memes.”
According to Dawkins, memes are basic units of replication related to culture, distinct from genes. Concepts such as the afterlife and fashion are examples of memes that are replicated from one human to another. Similar to how genes are spread from one body to another through sperm and eggs, memes are spread from one person’s brain to another through imitation. Blackmore explains this as a parasite-host model. Just as viruses parasitize their hosts, repeatedly replicating themselves to expand their existence and infect nearby hosts, memes need human hosts in order to spread themselves more widely. From this perspective, considering the behavioral aspect of spreading more copies of oneself, genes and memes can be said to function as replicators and actors. This is a position that does not view human beings as actors.
When the transmission of memes occurs through imitation, Blackmore distinguishes imitation from “contagion,” “personal learning,” and “non-imitative social learning.” When you see someone yawning, you sometimes yawn too. This contagion is an innate behavior that can be performed without learning, so although we follow others, it is not imitation. Personal learning is when an individual performs a specific response or behavior through interaction with the environment, but it is not imitation because it does not involve observation. Non-imitative social learning is when a response to a given stimulus is rewarded appropriately, thereby reinforcing that stimulus. In non-imitative social learning, specific behaviors are learned through observation of other individuals, but the object of learning is not the behavior itself. Since learning takes place in an environment where responses to stimuli are appropriately rewarded, it is not imitation.
Some people are skeptical about the existence and function of memes, pointing out that they are not physical entities, so it is difficult to define them as specific units, and the principle of replication is unclear. Supporters of meme theory attempt to refute this by explaining memes from a neuroscientific perspective. Memes are transmitted from brain to brain through imitation, and therefore, specific clusters of neurons in the human brain are connected to form memes. From this perspective, it can be said that the ability to imitate triggered memes, and memes in turn played a role in developing the ability to imitate.
The meme theory, which attempts to explain cultural transmission from the perspective of memes, is a useful tool for explaining how ideas and cultures are transmitted and spread. This theory can contribute not only to the transmission of information but also to the understanding of the complex interactions between cultural evolution and social behavior. For example, it enables us to explain how certain religious beliefs or political ideologies spread rapidly and transform, or how fashion trends and technologies influence society as a whole.
Furthermore, meme theory is useful for analyzing various aspects of modern society, such as education and learning, media and advertising, and the phenomenon of internet memes. With the advent of the digital age, memes are spreading more quickly and widely through the internet, giving rise to new forms of cultural phenomena. On social media platforms, countless people share and transform specific memes in a short period of time, which has a tremendous impact on social trends and public opinion.
The spread of memes often leads to positive change, but sometimes it can also have negative effects. For example, when misinformation or hate speech spreads in the form of memes, it can cause social conflict or reinforce prejudices against certain groups. Therefore, it is important to understand the influence of memes and develop appropriate responses.
In conclusion, Dawkins’ meme theory provides important insights into cultural evolution and the complexity of human behavior. If genes are the basic units of biological evolution, memes are the basic units of cultural evolution and are useful concepts for explaining various aspects of human society. Memes theory will continue to develop through active research and discussion in various academic fields, and its scope of application is expected to expand further.
