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Stochastic evolution of bad memes

Ian Braga1, Lucas Wardil1

  • 1Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.

Physical Review. E
|January 20, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Humans may be meme-replicating machines, like animals are gene-propagating machines. Social conformity helps "bad memes" with low appeal spread and persist, despite initial low probability of propagation.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • Richard Dawkins proposed humans act as gene-propagating machines.
  • Susan Blackmore suggested humans also function as meme-replicating machines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To mathematically model the propagation of "bad memes" (low intrinsic appeal) influenced by social conformity.
  • To analyze the dynamics of meme spread and persistence in populations.

Main Methods:

  • Development of "meme equations" to quantify meme populations.
  • Analytical approximations to calculate extinction times and population states.
  • Qualitative analysis using mathematical models.

Main Results:

  • Bad memes have a low initial probability of spreading, similar to viruses.
  • Despite low initial spread, large meme production can lead to stochastic rises.
  • Social conformism significantly aids the persistence of bad memes within groups.

Conclusions:

  • Social conformity plays a crucial role in the long-term survival of memes with limited inherent appeal.
  • Mathematical modeling provides insights into the spread and persistence dynamics of cultural information.
  • The study extends evolutionary concepts to the replication and spread of memes.

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