The refinement paradox and cumulative cultural evolution: Complex products of collective improvement favor conformist outcomes, blind copying, and hyper-credulity.

Second, our analysis does not allow for recombination of behavioral variants, cultural exaptation (devising new functions for existing technology), a disproportionate valuing of novelty, or cooperation among innovators, all of which may be significant major sources of cultural diversity [ 5 , 8 , 14 ].

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