what is cultural diffusion essay

Cultural Diffusion: Factors and Effects Expository Essay

Introduction, factors influencing cultural diffusion, effects of cultural diffusion, example of cultural diffusion, works cited.

In all parts of the world, people interact and in one way or the other share their ways of life. On the same note, people are curious about how others carry out their life which makes them learn different methods of accomplishing tasks.

The process by which cultural traits and items are spread from one individual to another, either within a particular cultural setting or from one culture to another is known as cultural diffusion (Blij, Peter and Jan 250). In many instances, cultural diffusion leads to change in the way different activities are accomplished. It is important to note that cultural diffusion is influenced by various factors and has several effects.

Interaction between individuals leads to increased chances of people learning how others carry out their activities. As a result, cultural diffusion takes place at different rates in various parts. Consequently, increased interactions between people increase the rate of cultural diffusion (Zeder 8). Unfortunately, other parts are far apart and interaction does not easily occur.

Therefore, travelling plays a crucial role in cultural diffusion for places that are geographically far apart. People moving from one place to settle in other places or just for leisure, are always fascinated by the different ways in which things are done. Subsequently, they learn the new ways and also pick some other cultural items which they take back to their homes.

On the same note, people have come to embrace the need to accommodate cultural diversity that is present in our society. As a result, they have found it worthwhile to learn other people’s cultural traits to enhance harmonious living. As a result, culture has been spread even faster in recent times than it was anciently.

Cultural diffusion has very many effects which are both positive and negative. To begin with, cultural diffusion leads to the spread of new and sometimes easier ways of accomplishing tasks (Blij, Peter and Jan 277). It is important to note that cultural diffusion has lead to enrichment of cultures. Similarly, cultural diffusion enhances peace by improving understanding and interaction between people.

On the other hand, cultural diffusion has led to loss of some ancient items and ways of life. Similarly, people have assimilated cultural traits from others making cultures increasingly similar. As a result, there has been cases of misinterpretation and misunderstanding of other cultures thus leading to prejudices and even stereotyping (Blij, Peter and Jan 280).

North Africa is located near Southwest Asia and Europe. Consequently, there is transmission of cultural artifacts between these regions especially through trade. The larger part of North Africa and southwest Asia is dry. However, Egypt has been practicing irrigation since time immemorial, which has lead to availability of a variety of agricultural products (Zeder, 13).

Due to travelling and interactions, people from Southwest Asia have also learned the art of irrigation and they have substituted their nomadic way of life with agriculture. Nowadays, some countries of southwest Asia have many agricultural products to the extent that they can afford to export. Countries like Israel have highly invested in agriculture which contributes significantly to their gross domestic product.

It is important to note that cultural diffusion does not necessarily mean complete replacement of cultural elements (Zeder 19). This can be seen from countries of southwest Asia where cattle keeping persist, even after the countries embracing cultivation. However, it is important to note that cultural diffusion occurs everywhere and has increased nowadays due to globalization, social networking and increased travelling.

Blij, Henry J., Peter O. Muller and Jan Nijman. The World today: Concepts and Religions in Geography . Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2010. Print.

Zeder, Melinda A. Documenting Domestication: New Genetic and Archeological Paradigms . Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006. Print.

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The Concept and Implications of Cultural Diffusion

Introduction

Cultural diffusion is a concept that plays a significant role in sociology. It refers to the spread of cultural elements, such as beliefs, ideas, practices, and artifacts, from one society to another. This process occurs through various means, including migration, trade, communication, and technological advancements. Cultural diffusion has a profound impact on societies, shaping their norms, values , and overall cultural landscape. In this blog post, we will outline and explain the concept of cultural diffusion in more detail.

Types of Cultural Diffusion

Cultural diffusion can take different forms, each with its own characteristics and implications. Here are some of the main types of cultural diffusion:

1. Direct Diffusion

Direct diffusion happens when cultural elements are transmitted from one society to another through firsthand contact. This can occur through migration, trade, or intercultural communication. For example, when people from different cultures interact and exchange ideas, customs, or technologies, direct diffusion occurs. This type of diffusion often leads to a more immediate and noticeable impact on the receiving society.

2. Indirect Diffusion

Indirect diffusion, on the other hand, involves the spread of cultural elements through intermediaries or secondary sources. In this case, the original cultural element may undergo modifications or adaptations as it passes through different societies. Indirect diffusion can occur through various channels, such as media , literature, or cultural exchange programs. This type of diffusion may take longer to have an impact and can result in the blending of different cultural elements.

3. Forced Diffusion

Forced diffusion occurs when a dominant culture imposes its cultural elements on a subordinate culture through coercion or force. This can happen through colonization, imperialism, or conquest. In such cases, the cultural elements of the dominant society are imposed upon the conquered or subjugated society, often leading to the erosion or loss of the latter’s original cultural practices and traditions.

4. Stimulus Diffusion

Stimulus diffusion refers to the spread of an underlying idea or concept, rather than specific cultural elements. In this case, the receiving society may adopt or modify the idea to suit its own cultural context. For example, the concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece but has been adopted and adapted by various societies around the world, each incorporating it into their unique political systems.

Factors Influencing Cultural Diffusion

Several factors can influence the process of cultural diffusion. These factors can vary depending on the specific context and the societies involved. Here are some of the key factors:

1. Communication and Technology

Advancements in communication and technology have greatly facilitated the spread of cultural elements. The development of transportation systems, the internet, and social media platforms has made it easier for people from different societies to interact and exchange cultural ideas. This has accelerated the pace of cultural diffusion in the modern world.

2. Migration and Travel

Migration and travel have always been important drivers of cultural diffusion. When people move from one place to another, they carry their cultural practices and beliefs with them, often influencing the societies they encounter. Additionally, the exposure to different cultures during travel can lead to the adoption or adaptation of new cultural elements.

3. Trade and Globalization

Trade has historically played a significant role in cultural diffusion. As societies engage in economic exchanges, they also exchange cultural elements. The process of globalization has further intensified this exchange, as goods, ideas, and people move more freely across borders. Globalization has led to increased cultural interconnectedness and the blending of different cultural practices.

4. Cultural Contact and Interactions

Cultural contact and interactions between societies are crucial for cultural diffusion to occur. When people from different cultures come into contact, whether through trade, diplomacy, or intercultural events, they have the opportunity to share and learn from each other’s cultural practices. This exchange can result in the adoption, adaptation, or rejection of certain cultural elements.

Impact of Cultural Diffusion

Cultural diffusion has both positive and negative impacts on societies. On one hand, it can lead to cultural enrichment, as societies adopt and incorporate new ideas, technologies, and practices from other cultures. This can result in cultural diversity, innovation, and the development of hybrid cultural forms. On the other hand, cultural diffusion can also lead to the erosion of traditional cultural practices and the loss of cultural identity, especially in cases of forced diffusion.

Cultural diffusion is a complex and dynamic process that shapes the cultural landscape of societies. It involves the spread of cultural elements from one society to another through various means. Understanding cultural diffusion is essential for comprehending the interconnectedness of societies and the ways in which cultural practices and beliefs evolve and change over time. By examining the types, factors, and impacts of cultural diffusion, we gain valuable insights into the complexities of human culture and society.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Diffusion — Diffusion and Cultural Diffusion

Diffusion and Cultural Diffusion

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Understanding diffusion, factors contributing to cultural diffusion, the impact of cultural diffusion.

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The Role of Cultural Diffusion in Modern Society

1. introduction.

In today's world, cultural diffusion is very prevalent. With advances in telecommunications and internet capabilities, not to mention the vast array of international travel, people are now far more exposed to the practices of other cultures than previously. Cultures which were previously isolated may find it very difficult in today's society to resist being influenced by major economic powers. Ways of life which had previously continued for centuries may now be quickly subdued. Take for example the rise of Western fast food chains in modern China. The global world we live in today necessitates nations and their citizens to have some understanding of a variety of cultures and global communication. The concept of cultural diffusion fits in several key areas of the geography essential learnings, some of which include interactions within and between places and regions, the processes of change that produce characteristics within places and the history and characteristics of human movement. The Role of Cultural Diffusion in Modern Society. Culture can be broadly described as the shared ideas, values, and practices of a group of people which are transmitted from one generation to another. Cultural practices can exist at a variety of levels ranging from regional through national to local with individual communities having vastly different cultures from each other. Cultural differentiation is the process of interpreting and explaining the manner in which people seem different from each other. In some form or another, cultural differences are shown everyday, sometimes more dramatically than others. These differences can bring people together, but many times they can also tear them apart. To successfully live in the world today, one has to have an understanding of aspects of different cultures.

1.1. Definition of Cultural Diffusion

In archaeology, cultural diffusion is an umbrella term for a set of different and recondite processes characterized by the spread of the definition of knowledge, technology, or culture among human populations. Traditionally, the text has been prevalent as conceptually based on models of population spread, which were both anthropocentric. This anthropocentric bias in the initial attempts of archaeologists to reason the processes of culture change social diffusion. Ethnocentrism linked these ideas into a closely interconnected phenomenon based on evolutionary concepts advanced by early cultural evolutionists, and particularly the work of Leslie White, Julian Steward, and their students, who conceptualized diffusion as the transfer of cultural traits between societies, biotas, or components of the cultural-economic complex. However, archaeological materials do not adequately capture the complexity of social networks, in the broader contemporary human-centered and multidisciplinary attempts to reason the variability of cultural expressions across different human societies or populations. The digital era holds the potential for reconstructing a much better global picture of human networks and diffusions of all kinds that generate changes and/or persisting cultural diversity within the global population. By increasing the richness of our proxy data, the digital revolution opens the possibility of achieving a better understanding of the mechanisms generating observed patterns of the globalization and persistence of cultural diversity - family resemblance and rather than simplifying our definition of cultural traits implemented in the conceptual models underlying the current techniques of quantitative approaches to cultural diffusion.

2. Historical Perspectives

Writing in the October 1932 issue of History, readers about "The Influence of Diffusion on Cultural History," the distinguished French historian Robert Mandrou was moved to make the following observation: "Scientists heap up new methods and overwhelming statistics, and in order to condense their hypotheses, feel obliged to reduce a strictly human civilization to the lowest common denominator of discoveries and innovations it receives from the exterior with little divergences of social reaction and of value." Seventy-five years ago, the issues of what is learned, retained and transmitted by the passage of time, and what is retained or modified in the process, seemed so complex that contemporary intellectuals seem to say: They are too complex to be finessed by science or accounted for in human terms. More meaningful observations, of course, could have been made than the daring ones chronicled in Mandrou's article - as is clear in the first sentence of the quotation just cited. But in the course of about 1,000 words (translated into English here), mandatory constraints would have demanded research to ensure that recklessly iconoclastic and altogether too intuitive generalizations were not rashly made: As indeed may not have been the habit of this independent-minded French writer. Mandrou was urging that historians look more closely at social and individual learning (considering the fame of Professor Henri Pirenne, the editor of History at that time as an economic historian, one might even indulge in expanding the context somewhat) of that which ancient and exotic cultures had to offer. Still their inheritors. Some readers, it must reluctantly be recognized, may feel that an investigation of any such topic surely must border on the banal. Armed with an adequate knowledge of the civilizations that gave their wares to the world, one might go on to say that historians, for the most part, probably would make use of that knowledge in a way that would put the stress upon cultural impact and changes in the receiving cultures. They thereby would be able to account for the past by establishing plausible and verifiable generalizations based upon what seems to have been transmitted, on how it was transmitted, and on what has been assimilated and has survived to be seen in extant historical sources. Such intent can thus lead on to the exploration of both specific and general questions about what brought about culture change.

2.1. Early Examples of Cultural Diffusion

The knowledge of faraway places was considered prestigious, and seeing the rise in political events like confrontations with nomadic peoples seeking empire and their outwardly directed states, enabled archaeologists, Egyptologists, and archaeological geographers to focus their interest on the more speculative aspects of the differential behavior of our people, at seriating our collective product of cultural diffusion. The task of archaeologists is to explain the variance in the archaeological record with reference to hypotheses about the past, and we resorted further than our opponents. Nearly three decades ago, Spicer likewise advocated a more objective, quantified assessment of inter- and intra-continental diffusion effects on artifacts of material culture, data he would have analyzed, using today's methodology and tools, would make him come up with a much more sophisticated view of culture than at present. Differences in styles among imported objects point to different types of specialization among different places. Their presence on a site at a given time and place can at least be taken to indicate a place or an age. The coherent and consistent patterns of incidence of imported objects recovered from a place such as San Diego could vary dramatically from the same patterns on another site, indicating a possible relationship between the lives of cultures and changes in the broader set of relationships relating them. The universe must either exist in statistics or following a set of observations that are to be interpreted by the observational framework, so the intent was not too different from ours. Then instead of using pottery styles through its impact on historians as an index of cultural similarity, it tried to explain variations of frequencies of imported potsherds on sites by calculating ANOVA-like statistics, using frequencies and ranks from number of sites across the region/year. He interpreted the results to shed light on the relationship between cultures by their common interest in trading patterns, which leads to the western shores of the Gulf of California.

3. Impact of Cultural Diffusion in Various Sectors

The importance of cultural diffusion for the development of human society can be seen in various fields such as the establishment of states, introduction of new ideas, science and religion, art and architecture, language, food policy, government systems, rules, political strategy, wars and weapons industries, clothes, jewelry, and fashion. People encounter new cultural ideas, materials, or products within an organization and decide to change in response to them. According to Lindzey, "The acceptance of new cultural materials and products, whereby there is a dissemination of the items within a social culture, is described as the process of diffusion." There are several types of cultural diffusion by which altered entities can acquire various cultures, such as "Stimulus diffusion," "Expansion diffusion," "Relocation diffusion," "Acculturation," and so on. The most powerful and universal is the "Classical cultural diffusion." The process is technical and dynamic, depending on the social environment for its growth and ramparts. Typically, it is periodic, unpredictable, and repeatable. It is also frequently organized and culturally complex. Surprisingly, the process begins irreversibly by the attractiveness of another culture by motivated acquisitives who might incorporate a portion of the society's native culture. This can happen despite the intense displacement of the regional and linguistic identity or tribal cultures incorporating their settlements. Actually, as all societies are migrant communities, they arrive from some channels. Foersster and others who studied the diffusion found that the process might be a leading factor in illegal immigration. According to them, easier acculturation is expected with faster and less costly mass communications. However, high and growing rates of deviation from any dominant culture create negative effects such as increased mortality, morbidity, illusions, and enemy subversions because groups may perceive increased cultural disparities as threats.

3.1. Technology and Innovation

The author figures prominently among groups of actors who carry out the transmission of knowledge, technology, and innovation. There are clearly others who pass on at least some part of society's knowledge and by their actions help perpetuate a particular level of social and cultural complexity. We are interested in identifying these roles and exploring different ways of measuring their effects on the rate of cultural diffusion in relation to the communication and exchange of specific types of material culture such as pottery, mining technologies, the ceramics of new industries, and mass consumption items. The role of transportation costs in the diffusion of such items must also be referred to in order to understand the maturation of a certain type of social complexity that is synonymous with modern material culture and technological progress. Traditionally, as in the case of many "materials" which indicated potential "value" held in all cultures, the upper strata of society used precious metals worthy of being traded among distant places throughout the most disparate of routes. Both metals have also been historically used as raw materials to produce items of high cultural and social value, such as jewels. The movement of the "goods" throughout different types of routes, such as land, river, and maritime routes, has actually fostered the birth of various civilizations, cities, and empires which all had a natural vocation inclined to merchandise.

4. Challenges and Criticisms

While the idea of cultural fusion appears in some ways to be both powerful and positive, it may often be neither. The relics of many ancient cultures enrich the lives of us all, providing a powerful sense of identity, continuity, and beauty, which lends solace to our daily existence. The notion of cultural fusion often leads to the destruction of such things, leaving us all anonymous in our consumption of identical, mass-produced goods. A great part of life today suggests an unneeded level of fear and resentment. In many respects, the apparent lack of local definition of any particular culture saddles the individual with the need to define themselves. One such route, as Thomas Sowell has argued, is to identify the shortcomings of others and exploit them. Only by asserting our difference do we develop our sense of self-existence. Nor is mass marketing simply about differences in values, tastes, or economic opportunities. The differences that have surfaced in the last 20 years of rapid change are often potent and divisive. Many Muslim women see the Western lifestyle as a threat and refuse to adopt it. Others, of both sexes, see European patient capital as an exploitative and corrosive subversion of their own culture. Even within 'liberated' Western societies, opinions are always sharply polarized on many issues. It is essential for any such conflict of values that cultural idealism retains its strong and unambiguous link to some more general pattern of privilege and power. Perceiving cultural assimilation as being the inevitable consequence of an economic hegemony persists in a fundamentally patronizing and essentially feeble view of the peoples of the world. As Tacitus wrote: "The Romans used to create a desert and call it peace."

4.1. Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation

Cultural diffusion is the process of cultural exchange between different cultures in a typically peaceful way. This can be the exchange of artifacts of any kind between societies. In a modern world, we use the term especially in cultures with a mass media influence on literally the whole world. Many groups or people in the modern world think that their culture is being oppressed and that the country which is showing a growing influence on other cultures does this to win more power and control over these peripheral societies. In my essay, I want to present the point that society nowadays does not seem to be aware of the differences of cultural diffusion in contrast to cultural imposition. My thesis is showing the tendency that many people of the world know their rights but are not aware of their own responsibility. The main problem concerning cultural imposition and all its view seems to be a feeling of oppression and inferiority cultures all over the world have towards the countries with the growing power of influence. This is the reason for people to defend their own rituals, rules, or dialect and to fight for their cultural savvy that becomes endangered if the amount and appeal of lifestyle of another cultures become too high. First, I want to differentiate the meanings of a few characteristics that build the essence of cultural diversity. They differ in their understanding and their application in daily life. Growing up in societies that live in an endless mixture of diverse faiths, languages, and opinions, it seems to be useless to emphasize the important features of cultural diversity. It is common knowledge that every society, every habitat on earth is unique in its very own way to survive and to develop a standard of living catering to its own demands.

5. Case Studies

The dramatic rise in the popularity of yoga among Americans is an interesting example. It began in the early 1900s when Swami Vivekananda articulated and advocated the philosophical basis of yoga and static practice in the US. He was followed in the 1920s by Paramahansa Yogananda who further promoted the teachings and practices of yoga with his fellow disciples. Their students further spread interest in yoga in the US. However, it was the veterans of the Beatles and others from the music generational groups and fans of popular musicians such as the Rolling Stones, led to a fascination for India and led other musicians to try meditation and yoga in the early 1970s. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the young Richard Alpert followed. Despite the combination of the establishment and the crazy Left and Right, the concepts of inner peace and meditative spirituality intrigued American society. This was accelerated by the extended economic and social dislocation due to the return of US soldiers from the Vietnam War. By the 1980s, Masters Bikram Choudhury, Tamil, B.K.Iyengar, and others were offering classes in the US, whether as invited guests or because they had left India permanently. However, the simplification of the complex practice of yoga fashionable in US society cannot be underestimated. The vaulting ambition of some, coupled with ignorance of the nuances of the ancient practice, resulted in an emphasis on asanas, powerful flowing movements (vinyasa and flow), and a heavy emphasis on the sculptural and gymnastic aspects of bodily movement in the interior. Some even refer to themselves as PhDs in Yoga, while in India these people are neither recognized nor practicing yoga.

5.1. Globalization and Cultural Exchange

In modern history, contemporary society has experienced almost constant war and ideological clashes between competing interests, mostly based on assumptions about the way societies should be governed. The non-western world is more wary of the erosion of cultural practices that accompany globalization. This relates back to Huntington's original debate in his exchange with Fukuyama - Western consumer goods culture may be internally desired, but it extends an externality that the receiver does not necessarily want. Despite the greater reticence of the oriental worldview, the explosion and spread of Western consumer goods around the world demonstrates that the most powerful force shaping the world cannot be resisted. The development of trade through the "Silk Road" trade routes saw the exchange of commodities, ideas, and religious proselytism from the earliest moments in history. What is fascinating is the cultural aspects of the phenomenon of the spread of Western culture through many of its greatest critics today. This chapter includes consideration of the exchange of knowledge in the case of the development of computer programming languages fundamental to the development of the Internet. The chapter also discusses the parameters and polemic nature of stimulated cultural capital. This includes discussion of cuisine, language, movies, luxury fashion, and sport in addition to more formal evaluations of strategic communication.

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Cultural Diffusion in Sociology: Definition & Examples

Charlotte Nickerson

Research Assistant at Harvard University

Undergraduate at Harvard University

Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.

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Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

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Cultural Diffusion is the process by which knowledge, innovation, language, or cultural characteristics are spread within or between cultures or communities.

In other words, it is the process of cultural change in which elements of one culture are adopted by members of another culture. Diffusion can occur through various means including trade, war, migration, and communication.

The English language is one example of cultural diffusion. The language was first introduced to the British Isles by Germanic invaders in the 5th century. However, it was not until the Norman Conquest of 1066 that the language began to diffuse throughout England.

The Normans were French-speaking and their influence on the English language can still be seen today — in fact, about 45% of modern English vocabulary originates from the French language (Whiten, Caldwell, & Mesoudi, 2016).

Key Takeaways

• Cultural diffusion is the spread of culture through contact with other cultures.
• There are four main types of cultural diffusion: contagious, hierarchical, stimulus, and relocation diffusion. The first three of these fall under the larger category of expansion diffusion.
• Diffusion can happen through the mechanisms trade, technology, migration, and colonization.
• Cultural diffusion has played a role in the spread of language, religion, and art, as well as other major social institutions .

Food :  One of the most obvious examples of cultural diffusion is the spread of food items and cuisine around the world. For instance, Italian pasta and pizza, Chinese stir fry, and Indian curry have all become popular in the United Kingdom and other countries (Whiten, Caldwell, & Mesoudi, 2016).

Clothing : Another example of cultural diffusion is the way in which clothing styles have been adopted by people in different cultures. For instance, jeans were originally designed for American cowboys but are now worn by people worldwide. Similarly, traditional Japanese kimonos are now sometimes worn as fashion items in the West (Whiten, Caldwell, & Mesoudi, 2016).

Music : Music is another form of culture that has undergone diffusion. For instance, Hip-Hop music originated in African American communities in New York City but has since become mainstream across all races. Hip Hop artists have spread from the United States to locales like France and South Korea (Whiten, Caldwell, & Mesoudi, 2016).

Types of Cultural Diffusion

Expansion diffusion.

Expansion diffusion is when innovations spread to new places while staying strong in their original locations.

An example of this would be the spread of the English language to different parts of the world.

Religions can also undergo expansion diffusion — for example, Christianity was originally only practiced in the Middle East but eventually diffused to Europe and other parts of the world.

Expansion diffusion can be caused by various factors including trade, migration, and colonialism (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Contagious Diffusion

Contagious diffusion is when an innovation or concept spreads rapidly throughout a population, like an epidemic.

Contagious diffusion usually happens when people are in close contact with one another, such as in a school or workplace.

This type of diffusion is often seen with fads — for example, so-called “mom-jeans” or the popularity of dance challenges (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Hierarchical Diffusion

Hierarchical diffusion, meanwhile, is The spread of an idea from persons or nodes of authority or power to other persons or places.

This authority can be seen as either a small group or a society.

The diffusion of “Parisian” fashion, royal fashion trends, religious doctrine, and celebrity tweets can all be attributed to hierarchical diffusion (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

In the 21st century, companies and brands often pay influential people to use their products in an attempt to influence youth subcultures.

This mirrors the hierarchical diffusion of the past in European monarchies, where kings and queens would set trends for affluence.

For example, Queen Victoria’s wedding in the early 1800s set off a global trend of brides wearing white wedding dresses in an attempt to project the affluence of the royal family (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Stimulus Diffusion

Stimulus diffusion is when an idea or concept is adopted by a culture after being exposed to another culture. In this adoption, the adopters give the concept a new and unique form.

The concept of zero, for example, was first developed by the Mayans and later diffused to India, where it was integrated into a greater system of math.

Similarly, the game of chess is believed to have originated in India before being diffused to Persia and then Europe, but not without fundamental changes.

Stimulus diffusion is often seen in the arts, where new styles and genres are adopted by artists after being exposed to other cultures, but are mixed by that artist’s own influences to create a novel style (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Relocation Diffusion

Finally, relocation diffusion is a unique form of cultural diffusion that happens when migrants move from one location to another.

This type of diffusion is differentiated from contagious diffusion or hierarchical diffusion in that it is not a type of expansion diffusion (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Blues, for example, is a genre of music that originated from African slaves working on American cotton plantations. It is characterized by a style known as call-and-response.

Songs are composed in a two-phrase pattern, with the second phrase being a direct response or commentary on the first. This is a distinctive element of West African music — the region of the world where many slaves came from (Pitzi & Pitzi, 2004).

Mechanisms: How Does Culture Spread?

There are several theories that attempt to explain how and why cultural diffusion occurs:

Direct vs Indirect

One of the most fundamental explanations is the distinction between direct and indirect diffusion. Direct diffusion happens when two cultures have close contact with one another, such as through trade or migration.

This close contact allows for a more immediate and unmediated exchange of ideas, and  is often the cause of contagious diffusion. Indirect diffusion, on the other hand, happens when there is no direct contact between cultures, but ideas are exchanged indirectly through a third culture.

The spread of Islam to Indonesia, for example, happened indirectly through Indian traders who introduced the religion to the archipelago — despite the fact that Islam had originated in the Middle East (Fort, Crema, & Madella, 2015).

Interaction of cultures

The interaction of cultures is another popular theory that attempts to explain how cultural diffusion happens.

This theory posits that cultures are not static, but are constantly changing and evolving through their interactions with other cultures. This can happen through trade, war, migration, and other forms of contact. The interaction of cultures leads to a process of acculturation (Fort, Crema, & Madella, 2015).

Acculturation is the process by which a culture adopts the customs and ideas of another culture. This can happen on an individual level, such as when someone moves to a new country and adopts the customs of their new home.

It can also happen on a larger scale, such as when a country is colonized by another country and adopts its customs (Fort, Crema, & Madella, 2015).

Fort, J., Crema, E. R., & Madella, M. (2015). Modeling demic and cultural diffusion: An introduction .  Human biology ,  87 (3), 141-149.

Kaufman, J., & Patterson, O. (2005). Cross-national cultural diffusion: The global spread of cricket .  American sociological review ,  70 (1), 82-110.

Levitt, P. (1998). Social remittances: Migration driven local-level forms of cultural diffusion.  International migration review ,  32 (4), 926-948.

Pitzl, G. R., & Pitzl, J. (2004). Encyclopedia of human geography . Greenwood Publishing Group.

Whiten, A., Caldwell, C. A., & Mesoudi, A. (2016). Cultural diffusion in humans and other animals.  Current Opinion in Psychology ,  8 , 15-21.

15 Cultural Diffusion Examples (Human Geography)

Tio Gabunia (B.Arch, M.Arch)

Tio Gabunia is an academic writer and architect based in Tbilisi. He has studied architecture, design, and urban planning at the Georgian Technical University and the University of Lisbon. He has worked in these fields in Georgia, Portugal, and France. Most of Tio’s writings concern philosophy. Other writings include architecture, sociology, urban planning, and economics.

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Chris Drew (PhD)

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Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of cultures around the world. It can happen through migration, media, trade, colonialism, and similar practices.

Common types of cultural diffusion include contagious diffusion , relocation diffusion , and hierarchical diffusion .

Real-life examples include the spread of iron smelting in ancient times and the use of automobiles in the 20th century.

Anthropologists typically define three categories of diffusion mechanisms: direct diffusion, forced diffusion, and indirect diffusion. The six major types of cultural diffusion are: expansion, relocation, hierarchical, contagious, stimulus, and maladaptive diffusion.

Cultural diffusion is a term commonly used in sociology and human geography (including the AP Human Geography course).

Cultural Diffusion Examples

• Direct diffusion (such as during migration) occurs when two cultures are very close, resulting in trade, intermarriage, and possibly warfare. Examples include the cultural diffusion between the US and Canada, Sweden and Norway, England and Scotland, Argentina and Chile, and so on.
• Forced diffusion (such as forced Christianization) occurs when one culture conquers another and forces its culture on the conquered people. An example would be forcing a subject population to accept Christianity, such as the forced Christianization of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. There is substantial cultural lag in this model.
• Indirect diffusion occurs when traits are passed from one culture to another through a third, mediating culture. An example would be the spread of Spanish food to Germany through France.

Expansion diffusion occurs when a cultural item remains strong in the area it was conceived in while it spreads to other cultures.

Relocation diffusion occurs when a cultural item migrates into a new culture, leaving the original culture behind.

• Hierarchical diffusion occurs when a cultural item spreads from larger to smaller places. Social elites often play a role in hierarchical diffusion.
• Contagious diffusion occurs when a cultural item spreads through person-to-person contact within a given population without regard to hierarchies.
• Stimulus diffusion occurs when one cultural item spreads because of its attachment to another cultural item.
• Maladaptive diffusion occurs when a cultural item spreads to a new area but is not adapted for that area.

Case Studies of Cultural Diffusion

1. expansion diffusion.

In expansion diffusion, cultural items spread through a population from one area to another so that the total number of users and the areas of occurrence increase. For example, French wine is one of the most important parts of French culture but has also spread across the globe.

Examples of expansion diffusion include the spread of smelting and war chariots in ancient times, the spread of Latin in medieval times, and the spread of new technologies in modern times.

This type of cultural diffusion can be further divided into three sub-categories: (1) hierarchical diffusion, (2) contagious diffusion, and (3) stimulus diffusion.

2. Relocation Diffusion

The individuals or groups thereby bring the idea or practice to their new homeland. Religions typically spread this way. The spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism was often a result of relocation diffusion.

Relocation diffusion usually occurs when there is a large enough number of migrants. When the culture of the newly relocated population spreads in the new homeland, relocation diffusion occurs between the two cultures.

An example is the migration of Christianity with European settlers who came to America. Another example would be the relocation of diseases through the migration of disease carriers. For religions, another example would be Hinduism, which originated in central Asia but is now predominantly found in India.

3. Hierarchical Diffusion

Hierarchical diffusion occurs when ideas are transferred from one important person to another or from one urban center to another, bypassing other people or territories.

We can see hierarchical diffusion by observing the acceptance of new modes of dress or foods. The cultural item spreads from the social elites downward. We can see examples of hierarchical diffusion in all advertisements that involve celebrities.

An example would be the spread of sushi restaurants from Japan in the 1970s. In the United States, the first sushi restaurants appeared in the major cities of Los Angeles and New York.

Only gradually, during the 1980s and 1990s, did sushi become more common in the less urbanized parts of the country (Domosh et al., 2011, p. 11).

Another example would be the spread of fashion from Paris. Brands like Celine, Saint Laurent, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Balzac, etc., all come from Paris. Brands like these, to a large extent, determine what becomes fashionable and when.  

4. Contagious Diffusion

Contagious diffusion differs from hierarchical diffusion because it is not a top-down process. It involves the spread of cultural items like a contagious virus, moving throughout society without regard to hierarchies.

Hierarchical and contagious diffusion often work together. It can be understood through the analogy of the spread of a virus. Some diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, can spread both hierarchically and contagiously.

That means they can first spread in urban centers, then move to rural areas, while at the same time having no regard for social hierarchies (Domosh et al., 2011, p. 11).

This type of cultural diffusion necessarily requires person-to-person contact. This can be physical or not, frequent or infrequent, and so on. Not being influenced by social hierarchies is not a necessary characteristic of contagious diffusion.

Examples of contagious diffusion include the spread of any cultural item where people often apply the term viral. Examples include viral videos, viral images, and viral memes.

Another example would be the spread of religion. As we saw before, religions can spread through relocation diffusion but can also be contagious. For example, when missionaries spread religion through face-to-face contact with others, often converting locals from their ethnic religions .

5. Stimulus Diffusion

Stimulus diffusion occurs when culture changes as it spreads to new areas. The further a culture or a cultural item spreads, the more it changes.

This type of cultural diffusion can be seen as the foundation for the theories of hyperdiffusionism. Hyperdiffusionism postulates that all major inventions and cultures can be traced back to a single culture (Fritze, 1993, p. 70).

For example, Grafton Elliot Smith asserted that knowledge concerning copper production spread from Egypt to the rest of the world. He claimed that all major inventions originated in ancient Egypt (Gaillard, 2004, p. 48). This theory has since been abandoned.

Sometimes a specific trait is rejected, but the underlying idea is accepted, resulting in stimulus diffusion.

An example would be the domestication of reindeer by the Siberians. The Siberians domesticated reindeer only after they observed that other cultures had domesticated cattle.

They had no use for cattle, but the idea of domesticating herds of animals appealed to them, and they began domesticating reindeer, an animal they had long hunted (Domosh et al., 2011, pp. 11-12).

Definition of Cultural Diffusion

Cultural diffusion denotes the spread of cultural items within or between cultures. Such items include ideas, styles, religions, technologies, languages, fashion, etc.

The term (from Latin diffundere – “to pour out, to spread”) was first introduced in anthropology and sociology by the German ethnologist and archaeologist Leo Frobenius in his work Der westafrikanische Kulturkreis (Frobenius, 1897).

According to this theory, the evolution of human cultures does not follow a monolinear evolutionary logic but a multilinear one: cultures develop their separate sets of knowledge and then interact with each other.

A basic assumption of these research approaches is that cultural innovations are rarely invented everywhere at the same time.

Such innovations are typically born in one culture and then spread to other cultures. Accordingly, similarities between different cultures are typically a result of their contact with each other.

The theory of cultural diffusion developed in the nineteenth century as a reaction against evolutionism and played an important part in German-language ethnology. In the English-speaking world, this theoretical approach became known as the German School (Heidemann, 2011).

Cultural diffusion denotes the spread of cultural items within or between cultures. Such items include ideas, styles, religions, technologies, languages, fashion, and so on. Social scientists generally identify three mechanisms through which cultural diffusion takes place and six types of cultural diffusion.

Domosh, M., Neumann, R. P., Price, P. L., & Jordan-Bychkov, T. G. (2011). The Human Mosaic: A Cultural Approach to Human Geography . W. H. Freeman.

Fritze, R. H. (1993). Legend and Lore of the Americas Before 1492: An Encyclopedia of Visitors, Explorers, and Immigrants . ABC-CLIO.

Frobenius, L. (1897). Der westafrikanische Kulturkreis . Petermanns Mitteilungen.

Gaillard, G. (2004). The Routledge Dictionary of Anthropologists . Psychology Press.

Heidemann, F. (2011). Ethnologie: Eine Einführung (1. Aufl.). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

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