AP Human Geography: Cultural Diffusion - The Night Before 🌃

Hey! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of cultural diffusion. We'll make sure everything clicks, and you'll feel confident walking into that test. Let's dive in!

What is Cultural Diffusion?

Cultural diffusion is simply the spread of cultural traits (ideas, customs, technologies) from one place to another. Think of it like culture going on a road trip! It’s a key concept for understanding how our world is interconnected.

Types of Cultural Diffusion

We can break down cultural diffusion into two main categories:

1. Relocation Diffusion
2. Expansion Diffusion

Let's explore each type in detail:

Relocation Diffusion

• Occurs when people migrate from their original location to a new one, bringing their cultural traits along.
• It's about the physical movement of people and their culture.

Examples of Relocation Diffusion

• Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: The forced migration of Africans to the Americas led to the diffusion of African music, cuisine, and architectural styles in the Southern US and Caribbean.
• Jewish Migration (1881-1914): The migration of Jewish people from Eastern Europe to the UK and the US introduced new cultural traditions and foods.

Expansion Diffusion

• The spread of an idea or trait from a hearth (source) to other places, with the number of adopters growing larger.
• The idea itself spreads, not necessarily the people.

Expansion diffusion has three sub-types:

1. Contagious Diffusion
2. Hierarchical Diffusion
3. Stimulus Diffusion

Contagious Diffusion

• The rapid, widespread diffusion of a trait throughout a population by direct contact.
• Spreads like a disease or a forest fire, from person to person.

Examples of Contagious Diffusion

• Universalizing Religions: The spread of Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism through missionaries and everyday interactions.
• Social Media Trends: The viral spread of memes, videos, and social media challenges.
• Globalization of Social Networking: The rapid spread of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Hierarchical Diffusion

• The spread of a trait from a position of power or authority to other people or places.
• Often starts in major cities or among influential individuals.

Examples of Hierarchical Diffusion

• Governmental Policies: New laws or policies often start at the federal level before reaching state and local levels.
• Corporate Decisions: A new product or marketing strategy is often first implemented in major urban centers.
• Fashion Trends: New styles often emerge in fashion capitals before spreading to other regions.
• Popular Music: Music trends often start in major urban centers like NYC, LA, and Chicago before spreading to the wider public.

Stimulus Diffusion

• The spread of an underlying idea or principle, even though the specific trait is altered or adapted.
• The idea is adopted but modified to fit the new context.

Examples of Stimulus Diffusion

• McDonald's Menu Variations: McDonald's adapts its menu to suit local tastes in different countries (e.g., McSpicy Paneer in India).
• Religious Text Translations: The interpretation of religious texts can change as they are translated into different languages and cultural contexts.

Maladaptive Diffusion

• The adoption of traits that are not suitable or beneficial for a particular environment or culture.
• Can lead to negative consequences.

Examples of Maladaptive Diffusion

• Grass Lawns: The widespread adoption of grass lawns in arid regions, which requires excessive water use.
• Monoculture Crops: The cultivation of a single crop over large areas, which can deplete soil nutrients and increase vulnerability to pests.
• Blue Jeans in All Weather: Wearing blue jeans in the winter, which is not practical in cold conditions.

• This model, by Hagerstrand, shows how the adoption of a new technology or idea typically follows an S-shaped curve.
• Innovators (first adopters), early adopters, majority adopters, and laggards (late adopters).
• The rate of adoption increases rapidly, then slows down as the market becomes saturated.

• High-Priority Topics: Relocation vs. expansion diffusion, the three types of expansion diffusion (contagious, hierarchical, stimulus), and maladaptive diffusion.
• Common Question Types:
  • Multiple Choice: Identifying types of diffusion from examples.
  • Short Answer: Explaining the differences between diffusion types.
  • Free Response: Analyzing the impact of diffusion on cultural landscapes.
• Time Management: Quickly identify the type of diffusion in the question before you start writing. Don't overthink the obvious!
• Common Pitfalls: Confusing relocation and expansion diffusion. Remember, relocation involves people moving, while expansion involves ideas spreading.

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The spread of the English language through colonization is an example of: (a) Contagious diffusion (b) Hierarchical diffusion (c) Relocation diffusion (d) Stimulus diffusion (e) Maladaptive diffusion

2. Which of the following best describes hierarchical diffusion? (a) The spread of a disease through a population (b) The spread of an idea from a major city to smaller towns (c) The movement of people from one region to another (d) The modification of an idea as it spreads (e) The adoption of a harmful cultural trait

3. The adaptation of McDonald's menus to suit local tastes in different countries is an example of: (a) Contagious diffusion (b) Hierarchical diffusion (c) Relocation diffusion (d) Stimulus diffusion (e) Maladaptive diffusion

Free Response Question

Question:

Discuss the different types of cultural diffusion, using specific examples to illustrate each type. Analyze how cultural diffusion can lead to both positive and negative cultural changes. (7 points)

Scoring Breakdown:

• (1 point) Correctly defines relocation diffusion and provides a relevant example (e.g., migration and spread of language).
• (1 point) Correctly defines expansion diffusion and identifies its three subtypes: contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus.
• (1 point) Correctly defines contagious diffusion and provides a relevant example (e.g., spread of a viral meme).
• (1 point) Correctly defines hierarchical diffusion and provides a relevant example (e.g., fashion trends from major cities).
• (1 point) Correctly defines stimulus diffusion and provides a relevant example (e.g., McDonald's menu variations).
• (1 point) Discusses a positive cultural change resulting from diffusion (e.g., increased cultural exchange and understanding).
• (1 point) Discusses a negative cultural change resulting from diffusion (e.g., loss of traditional practices, cultural homogenization, or maladaptive diffusion).

That's it! You've got this. Go get some rest and walk into the exam with confidence! 💪