Topic 3.4

Essential Knowledge: 

What is Cultural Diffusion? 

• Definition: The spread of cultural traits, ideas, or innovations from one place to another. 
• Key Idea: Diffusion explains how cultures interact, adapt, and change across space. 
• Two main categories:
  • Relocation diffusion 
  • Expansion diffusion 

Relocation Diffusion 

• Definition: When people physically move and carry their cultural traits with them. 
• Example:
  • Spread of Spanish and Catholicism to the Americas during European colonization. 
  • Migration of Italians to the U.S. bringing pizza, pasta, and traditions. 

Expansion Diffusion 

• Definition: Spread of a cultural trait from a central point outward, while still remaining strong in the place of origin. 
• Three Types of Expansion Diffusion:
  • Contagious Diffusion
    • Rapid, widespread diffusion through direct contact. 
    • Example: Memes or viral videos on social media; spread of Islam in its early years across the Arabian Peninsula. 
  • Hierarchical Diffusion
    • Spread from nodes of authority, power, or influence to other places. 
    • Example: Fashion trends spreading from major cities (Paris, Milan, New York) to smaller towns; hip-hop music from urban centers to global audiences. 
  • Stimulus Diffusion
    • Spread of an idea, even though a specific trait is changed or rejected. 
    • Example: McDonald’s menu adapted to local tastes (McAloo Tikki in India, Teriyaki Burger in Japan); the spread of paper money (adopted but modified in form and design by different cultures). 

Contextualization

Video #1: Cultural Diffusion 

This video breaks down what cultural diffusion means and provides some great examples.  

Video #2: Types of Diffusion 

In this video, Mr. Sinn breaks down what cultural diffusion is, and what types of diffusion we need to know about. 

In Practice

Essential Question:  

Define contagious, stimulus, expansion, hierarchical and relocation diffusion. 

Conceptual Analysis: (Text pages 179-183) 

1. Define a cultural hearth. 
2. Explain how relocation diffusion through forced migration might differ from relocation diffusion through voluntary migration.  
3. Introduced by Italian immigrants, pizza spread from Italian neighborhoods of New York City outward to every corner of America. Explain how this spread represents both relocation and expansion diffusion.  
4. Compare the three types of expansion diffusion and explain how each is affected by wealth and power.  

Vocabulary Review 

Provide a shorthand working definition for each of the following terms. This means it needs to be in YOUR OWN WORDS. 

• Diffusion – spread of cultural traits or innovations across space. 
• Relocation diffusion – spread through migration/movement of people. 
• Expansion diffusion – spread outward while remaining strong at origin. 
• Contagious diffusion – rapid spread through widespread contact. 
• Hierarchical diffusion – spread through levels of power, influence, or authority. 
• Stimulus diffusion – spread of an underlying idea, even if a specific trait is altered. 

MCQ:

(You only need to write the letter of the answer you select)

1.Which of the following best describes relocation diffusion? 

A. The adoption of an idea after it is modified in a new cultural context 
B. The spread of an idea through direct contact across a large population 
C. The movement of people who bring their cultural practices with them 
D. The spread of ideas from nodes of authority to less influential areas 
E. The gradual loss of a cultural practice over time 

2. Which of the following is the best example of stimulus diffusion? 

A. The spread of Spanish across Latin America during colonization 
B. A popular meme spreading across the globe via the internet 
C. Starbucks offering green tea lattes in Japan 
D. Parisian fashion trends influencing designers in smaller cities 
E. The worldwide spread of Christianity through missionaries 

3. Hierarchical diffusion is most likely to occur in which situation? 

A. A disease spreads quickly through casual contact between individuals. 
B. A migrant family brings its traditional food customs to a new country. 
C. An innovation spreads from major cities to smaller towns. 
D. A cultural practice is completely rejected in one society. 
E. An ancient tradition disappears because it is no longer practiced.