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Updated: May 8, 2026

Visualizing Visual Adaptation
04:43

Visualizing Visual Adaptation

Published on: April 24, 2017

Cultural adaptation to environmental change versus stability

Lei Chang1, Bin-Bin Chen, Hui Jing Lu

  • 1Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. leichang@cuhk.edu.hk http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/eps/people/changl.html.

Summary

Economic development influences culture and freedom in a curvilinear manner, with environmental variability also shaping cultural adaptation. This research explores the complex interplay between climate, economy, and societal norms.

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