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RFT and evolution:
are memetics the missing link?
Marco Kleen, psychologist
PsyAdvies / BrainDynamics
University of Groningen
2009
150th aniversary of
On The Origin of Species
by Charles Darwin
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Does relational framing
increase genetic fitness?
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"behavior analysts think of the
shaping of behavior as working in
just the same way as the evolution
of species" (Baum, 1994, p. 64).
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“Both the evolution of species and
the evolution of behavior can be
described as selection by
consequences” (Skinner, 1981)
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• Selectionism involves an emphasis on the role
historical context and consequences play in
shaping the form and function of the
phenomenon of interest in the current
setting—an emphasis that clearly reflects both
the root metaphor and truth criterion of
contextualism (Fox, 2005, contextualpsychology.org)
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Science
Art
Philosophy
Technique
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Shelter
Medicine
GENETIC
FITNESS
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Communication
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Destructive normality
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Psychopathology
Genocide
Selfsterilizing
behavior
Terrorism
GENETIC
FITNESS??
X
Warfare
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“Cui bono?” (Dennett)
(who profits?)
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What is the function of
contragenetic behavior?
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Evolutionairy algorithm
(Darwin, 1859)
• If there is variety…
• and if there is selection…
• and if there is heredity…
• ..then there MUST be evolution
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Common misconceptions about
evolution
• Evolution has a goal (= “intelligent design”)
• Humans are evolved from apes (= describing
evolution as a lineair process)
• Evolution is only about genes
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“Darwinism is too big a theory to
be confined to the narrow
context of the gene”
Richard Dawkins, 1976
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Is the gene the only replicator?
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The second replicator: the meme
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What is a meme?
• Any piece of information that has the ability to
replicate itself through imitation
• “Imitation, to mime”  meme (Dawkins,
1976)
• “Unit of cultural evolution”
• Infectious ideas
• Analogy: parasite
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Example 1.
“I just can’t get you out of my head”
(Kylie Minogue, 2002)
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Imitation
• Vertical: from one generation to the next
• Horizontal: spreading of contagious ideas
within one generation
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Meme-cariers
• Anology: meme-memecarrier,
gene-genotype
• Human brains
• Media: books, CD’s, DVD’s, internet
• Buildings, fashion, music, cultural
manifestations, lectures, congresses,
discussions
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Mutation
original: “5th symphony”
(Beethoven)
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Mutation
mutation: “5th symphony”
(Steve Vai)
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The Wuppie-meme (Weeple)
1981- 2005 dormant
period, 2006
mutations (color+ size)
± 1970 US
2008 Netherlands:
EK welpie
1980 Netherlands
2006-2007 dormant
period, 2008 major
mutation
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2006 Netherlands:
WK (worldcup) wuppie
and ‘megawuppie’
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Memetic fitness
• Fidelity: the more faithful a copy, the more of
the original information remains
• Fecundity: the faster the rate of copying, the
more the meme will spread
• Longevity: the longer a meme survives, the
more copies can be made from it.
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Copy the product vs
copy the instruction
• Example: Dutch stue
• Copying the instruction only possible in
organisms that are able to frame relationally
(use language)
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Meme-gene coevolution
• Memetic drive (Blackmore, 1999)
• Selection of brains that are good in imitating
(mirror neurons!)
• ‘big brain’ theory  physical adaptation of the
brain, relatively big neocortex
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Genes vs Memes
• The ‘genetic leash’ (Lumsden & Wilson) seems
to be broken  memetic replication does not
have to be good for genes
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GENES
Culture/memes
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GENES
Culture/memes
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GENES
Culture/memes
Culture/memes
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Contragenetic behavior
• The ‘genetic leash’ (Lumsden & Wilson) seems
to be broken  memetic replication does not
have to be good for genes
• Memes are selfish: their only goal is to get
replicated as much as possible
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Who profits?
Memes
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RFT and memetics are highly
complementary theories which
explain each other’s missing links
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RFT and Memetics
RFT
• Selectionistic foundation
• Explains complex human
behavior
Memetics
• Selectionistic foundation
• Explains complex human
behavior
• Evolutionairy function of
contragenetic behavior
unclear
• Psychological mechanism of
imitation unclear
The Missing Link
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Hypothesis:
Relational framing increases
chance of memetic reproduction
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Mechanisms
• Stimulus  Relational Framing  activation
of bigger cognitive network  transformation
of stimulusfunction  reproduction of memes
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Relational responding….
DANGER
Dixon et al (2003)
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..results in reproduction of memes
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Relational responding….
Theo van Gogh 1957-2004
DANGER
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..results in reproduction of memes
Translation:
“The cross will not make place for the mosque”
Mr. Wilders
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Relational responding….
Cognitive Behavior
Therapy
Acceptance
and
Commitment
Therapy
same
Common
sense
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..results in reproduction of memes
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Mechanisms
• Stimulus  Relational Framing  activation
of bigger cognitive network  transformation
of stimulusfunction  reproduction of memes
• Memetic reproduction through experiential
avoidance
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Experiential avoidance and
reproduction of memes
• Death of a loved one  avoidance of painful
experiences  immortal soul living on in
heaven  reproduction of religious/dualistic
memes
• Death of a loved one acceptance of painful
experiences  no need for immortal soul 
no reproduction of religious/dualistic memes
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Is relational framing itself a meme?
• Relational framing is an idea that gets
replicated
• Relational framing as behavior is taught by
multiple exemplar learing in which imitative
behavior is rewarded in certain contexts
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Who benefits from combining RFT
and memetical paradigms?
• RFT
- even more complex behavior explained
- increasing ‘evolutionairy validity’
• Memetics:
- psychological mechanism of transmission
explained (copy the instruction)
- methodology (predicton and influence)
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Memetic experiment
• White Bear Suppression Revised
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The future of science of mind?
RFT
ToM
?
Memetics
Mirror
neurons
Contemporary
philosophical
models*
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* Multiple draft model (Dennett)
Self as memeplex (Blackmore)
Self as ‘strange loop’ (Hofstadter)
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Thank you very much for your
attention!
Marco Kleen
marcokleen@hotmail.com