Memetics (What the heck is that?)
February 11, 2006 - 3:10pm — pitamind
Was doing an internet search and came across Memetics: Science of mind viruses. I'm a layperson and would like to get the opinions of you psychological professionals. Ever heard of it? What is it? How, if in anyway does it compare/contrast with Contextualism/ACT/RFT etc.?
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Remember those memes!
Thanks for the reminder, Joel. On seeing the word "memetics," I couldn't quite get my mind around the etymology of it, perhaps being distracted by such similar-sounding words as "emetics" and "mimetics." Now that you remind me, though, I do recall the concept of "memes," which I found to be an intriguing idea, although it seems to me to be some time since I heard anything about the concept.
John W. Balchunas, MS
Licensed Psychologist (WV)
Licensed Psychological Associate (KY)
Since you haven't gotten a
Since you haven't gotten a reply to your question, I'll jump in. I am a mental health professional, and while my 30 years of experience make me something of a dinosaur, I do try to keep current. I have never heard of "memetics." My seat-of-the-pants impression is that as yet we know so little about the software of the brain that I am not sure we are ready to identify "viruses," except in the informal way that psychotherapists have been doing so for decades.
the Selfish Meme
I am familiar with the idea of "memes" as self-perpetuating units of meaning/culture with memes being to culture what genes are to biology. I think it is an interesting idea to study how cultural units propagate across generations via their "hosts" (i.e., "us" in our respective groups) to the degree that they convey some advantage and "fit" with their environment. It is intellectually interesting to think about how some cultural concepts/values get passed on (e.g., individualism in some cultures vs. collectivism in others, capitalism, various other -isms, religions, etc.) and how/why others die out. Similar to genes, the idea is NOT that the cultural product is necessarily better/more ideal, but that it "works" in a particular context (think the light and dark moths in England around time of industrialization/increased pollution).
Analagous to organisms, memes that have functional traits (like a species might have aggression or a high rate of reproduction) are more likely to persist across generations than memes that do not. For example, via the "meme" idea, religions that have developed institutions to promote their own propagation (i.e., a means of "reproduction") and a value system supportive of proselytization are more likely to persist than religions without such mechanisms. Another example would be how ideas that can be aligned with effective forms of government could persist in similar manner. For example, capitalism "parasitizing" democracy but now, in modified form, finding a host in China. Which "works" better in the sense of conveying greater fit with the environment?--time will tell, I guess.
Interesting, though I was not aware that there was a science, as such, of this. I know little else about "memetics" formally or its methods. There is probably some connection between the issues in this thread and issues of: forms of psychotherapy, conducive environments for various forms, the history of science, Kuhn/paradigms, and all that. Heck, there may even be relevance to ACT/RFT and this website (?). However, I think I will refrain from making that leap as I have yet to have my coffee and I am beginning to ramble on! Back to work.
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Joel Guarna, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
joel@whitepinepsych.com
16 Fifth Street, Dover, NH 03820; Ph:603-749-4462x23
25 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101; Ph:207-272-8500