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Cultural Isolates and Memeology

© Donna L. Quesinberry

Memeology is a science based on the ascription that cultural interdependencies result from transmission of behaviorisms that resemble viral activities in that they are amassed and spread. Memetic isolation is where the traits of culture 'within a society' differs from what would be 'mutual cultural traits.' This occurs in true cultural isolates and/or in cultures that are not true cultural isolates. The subject of memetic isolates is relevant in the study of social contagions and their study, of course, is of interest to the Fourth Estate. Memetic isolation plays a role in informational exchanges, in position paper viewpoints, theory assimilations, and in generalized communications.

Classes of Memetic isolation are spread through two transmission variables that follow:

• Horizontal transmission - is the classic Memeological term referring to cultural exchange between non-familial individuals

• Vertical transmission and/or oblique transmissions - are Memeological terms that refer to the interaction that occurs between related individuals

Horizontal transmission permits cultural sharing between societies while vertical and/or oblique transmission occurs when cultural traits of related groups of individuals occur within the same society; unless migration to another society has occurred.

Vertically transmitted traits behave like haploid (an organism with one set of chromosomes) genes. When horizontal traits have more than one allomeme (being one of a group whose members together have accepted a behavior, idea, or usage and that constitute a structural unit within that) and one of the allomemes has more likelihood than the others of being transmitted the trait is said to be a cultural selection. When one allomeme confers a survival or reproductive advantage on the individual exhibiting that behavior, the trait is said to be under 'natural selection.' Cultural selection, even when slight, results in the spread of a meme to the level of fixation within the population, which is when the cultural selection pressure is maintained for a sufficient time. If this occurs the meme is then said to be 'contagious.'

Cultural isolates are predominately cultures surrounded by different cultures. An example could be that of the Pennsylvania Dutch with their proximity to other Pennsylvanians (located in the North America, United States, in the State of Pennsylvania) and yet their uniqueness as a culture within the surrounding culture.

The Pennsylvania Dutch grew as a community of independents that exist within a community of progressive inter-dependents and they remain independent of progressive communities:

The Pennsylvania Dutch are natives of Central Pennsylvania, particularly Lancaster and its surrounding counties. Unlike the Amish, they are not all one religion. Instead, their common bond is a mainly German background (Pennsylvania Dutch is actually Pennsylvania Deutsch or German). They also have Welsh, English, Scottish, Swiss, and French ancestry.

Donna L. Quesinberry

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