Transmitted versus Evoked Culture

Evoked culture is a way that different geographies can affect cultural norms. It is the notion that all people, regardless of where they are from, have certain biological encoded behavioural repertoires that are potentially accessible to them, and these repertoires are engaged when the appropriate situational conditions are present. That is, for example, all individuals are capable of acting in an intimidating manner when their child is being threatened by others. This ability to act in this manner is universally present, however it is only evoked in some people when they find themselves in a threatening situation. Transmitted culture is when people come to learn about particular cultural practices through social learning or by modeling others who live near them. For example, if you see your neighbour planting a specific seed and seeing benefits from doing so than you are more than likely to plant the same seed.

I believe that I grew up in and evoked culture when comparing my upbringing to how we pick our mates. Physical attractiveness means a lot to people in our culture these days. But that is not everything that us individuals are attracted to. Other characteristics consist of intelligence, kindness, sense of humor and so on.