Statistical Physics of Culture

In statistical physics, the problem of modelling the motion of numerous particles is concerned.

In the view of classical mechanics, the motion of particles is described individually to give a accurate result, but it becomes impossible when the number of particles becomes so large. A way to describe a group of particles as a bigger unit is required.

Statistical physics gives the solution by making use of statistics to describe particles. They are not concerned individually but as a distribution of particles. As particles show variations in properties, a statistical distribution can describe the properties of the particle group.

In this way, this group of particles is viewed macroscopically as a whole but not microscopically as individuals.

The method of statistical physics demonstrated the benefits of scaling up, which is also useful for understanding of culture.

Cultural behaviour can be seen individually or collectively, similar to the modelling of particles mentioned above.

In a culture, individuals have different behaviours, while sharing some of them in common.

The cultural behaviour as a whole can be seen by having a characteristic distribution of individual behaviours.

In that way, the cultural behaviour can roughly be understood as the majority of individual behaviours, but it leaves us one concern.

Cultural minority does not behave this way, while they are members of the culture.

They may align with the cultural majority, or try to influence them, depends on the preference of specific behaviour in a culture.

Finally, an equilibrium of influence is achieved, preserving different behaviours in the culture, giving the state of cultural diversity.

Cultural diversity can alternatively be achieved by concerning all individual behaviours in the culture, but it is not economical and necessary.

Understanding a group of things as a whole gives us a general view, while concerning them individually gives us a specific view.