Toward an Understanding of Cultural Orientations Through the Lens of Human Behavioral Ecology

Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. 2025. Vol. 19. No. 3. P. 205–226.

Gallyamova A., Grigoryev D.

This article introduces a Cultural Orientations Model Based on Human Behavioral Ecology (COM–HBE), which redefines the study of cultural orientations. Our research program formulates and intends to describe a unified framework that integrates cultural orientations, mechanisms of cooperation and social conformity, and principles from life history theory. This integrated approach has the potential to bridge evolutionary science and social science, offering a more comprehensive understanding of both human behavior and culture. The proposed framework encapsulates established patterns at both the group and individual levels, providing a holistic understanding of human behavior and culture within an ecological and evolutionary context. Furthermore, our model is aimed to capture the mechanisms of cooperation and social conformity across all levels, from neurophysiological to cultural. This comprehensive approach not only deepens our understanding of cultural diversity and commonality but also enhances our ability to predict and manage the adaptive behaviors that arise in response to ecological pressures.

Keywords: individualism, cooperation, cross-cultural research, collectivism, individualism-collectivism, social conformity, cultural orientations, life history theory, human behavioral ecology

Publication based on the results of: Адаптивные основы культуры: к пониманию культурных ориентаций через призму компромиссов истории жизни (2024)