The Ratchet Effect

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 BLOG #1- The Ratchet Effect- September 15th, 2024

The ratchet effect is an important cultural psychology theory coined by Michael Tomasello to describe how ideas are passed down through generations. As discussed in Steven J. Heine’s (2000) book on Cultural Psychology, these ideas can progressively evolve but rarely revert to earlier forms. For instance, a hairbrush, first made using materials like bone and bristles, has now been manufactured and commercialized into its modern form. As I walked around the campus of St. Francis Xavier University, I reflected on the ratchet effect, noticing the everyday gadgets we often take for granted and over-commercialize. Computers, pencils, utensils—so much of what we use today has evolved through cultural progress, building on the designs and innovations of our ancestors. This raises a big question I would love you, blog readers, to reflect on: Are our modern adaptations of everyday gadgets driven by practicality and convenience, or do commercial interests primarily shape them? 

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