Behavioral Processes in the Evolution of Cultures Sigrid S. Glenn University of North Texas, USA. This paper outlines a theoretical position on the evolution of cultures that assumes the fundamental mechanisms for the origin of cultures lie in behavioral processes, most particularly in operant processes. The transmission of cultural practices among non-humans is the starting point for the analysis. Examples are given to demonstrate the role of behavioral processes in animal cultures. The evolution of operant control over vocal behavior is suggested as the species characteristic that allowed rapid learning at the level of individual organisms in humans, and rapid transmission of learned behavior across humans participating in cultural practices. The positive feedback loop that ensued is suggested to have given rise to cultural-level selection processes that account for complexity at the cultural level. Selection at each level -- organic, behavioral, and cultural -- is presented as impacting what evolves at each of the other levels. Keywords: cultural transmission, operant processes, animal cultures, human cultures, verbal behavior

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