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Article contents
Subjective selection needs context: Culture shapes goal selection, evaluations of usefulness, and “actual” effectiveness
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2026
Abstract
Singh compellingly describes some psychological factors that shape selection of cultural variants, but his approach gives insufficient attention to how culture shapes psychology. We argue the subjective selection account needs to pay greater attention to the psychological nuances of goal pursuit, cultural shaping of both perceived and “actual” effectiveness, and importance of social consensus cues.
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- Open Peer Commentary
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- Copyright
- © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press
Target article
Subjective selection, super-attractors, and the origins of the cultural manifold
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Author response
Goals, power, and selection: Foundational issues in the naturalistic study of culture