Longitudinal Evidence of Enculturation: Rice and Wheat Movers

Research from diverse cultures shows that human social behavior varies immensely across a broad range of domains. Efforts to explain behaviors have increasingly pointed to the importance within-culture variation such as modes of subsistence and unique differences in ecological features in the social environment. This study tested rice and wheat farming and how patterns of enculturation can occur during a recent migration to a new socio-cultural environment (e.g. a rice-to-wheat move or wheat-to-rice move). We longitudinally tested 1,186 newly arrived Han Chinese participants at fifteen sites and found evidence to support the rice theory. Rice-growing southern China was more holistic than the wheat-growing north. More importantly, findings revealed evidence of enculturation as thought style of rice and wheat border crossers became more similar to the host site at time 2. This research investigation supports growing evidence that individuals respond to particular ecological environment and adapt themselves to the receiving culture.