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Experimental Research Examining How People Can Cope with Uncertainty Through Soft Haptic Sensations

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Published on: September 16, 2015

Collective behaviour, uncertainty and environmental change.

R Alexander Bentley¹, Michael J O'Brien²

¹Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA rabentley@uh.edu.

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences

|October 14, 2015

Summary

Human groups adapt to environmental change differently now than in the past. Understanding cultural evolution helps predict societal responses to future uncertainty.

Keywords:

big data crowd sourcing decision-making fitness landscapes social learning social-media networking

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Area of Science:

Cultural Evolution
Environmental Change Adaptation
Societal Dynamics

Background:

Historically, human group adaptation to environmental shifts occurred gradually over generations via learning and demographic changes, fostering resilience.
Contemporary environmental changes are rapid, occurring within a single generation across vast scales, with increased horizontal learning.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze theoretical frameworks for understanding human group adaptation to environmental change in a globalized context.
To assess the predictability of future societal change and identify limits to forecasting.

Main Methods:

Review and discussion of theoretical tools relevant to cultural evolutionary theory.
Analysis of societal responses to environmental uncertainty.

Main Results:

21st-century adaptation involves faster change, larger scales, and more horizontal learning compared to historical, generational adaptation.
Theoretical tools can help gauge the complexity of societal adaptation to environmental change.

Conclusions:

Predicting future societal change is limited due to the complexity and speed of contemporary adaptation.
Recognizing the limits of predictability is crucial for effective societal response and risk management.