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Serial killers, spiders and cybersex : social and survival information bias in the transmission of urban legends

Stubbersfield, J.M.; Tehrani, J.J.; Flynn, E.G.

Serial killers, spiders and cybersex : social and survival information bias in the transmission of urban legends Thumbnail


Authors

J.M. Stubbersfield

E.G. Flynn



Abstract

This study uses urban legends to examine the effects of the social information bias and survival information bias on cultural transmission across three phases of transmission: the choose-to-receive phase, the encode-and-retrieve phase, and the choose-to-transmit phase. In line with previous research into content biases, a linear transmission chain design with 60 participants aged 18–52 was used to examine the encode-and-retrieve phase, while participants were asked to rank their interest in reading the story behind a headline and passing a story on for the other two phases. Legends which contained social information (Social Type), legends which contained survival information (Survival Type), and legends which contained both forms of information (Combined Type) were all recalled with significantly greater accuracy than control material, while Social and Combined Type legends were recalled with significantly greater accuracy than Survival Type legends. In another study with 30 participants aged 18–22, no significant differences were found between legend types in either the choose-to-receive phase or the choose-to-transmit phase.

Citation

Stubbersfield, J., Tehrani, J., & Flynn, E. (2015). Serial killers, spiders and cybersex : social and survival information bias in the transmission of urban legends. British Journal of Psychology, 106(2), 288-307. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12073

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 28, 2014
Online Publication Date Jun 27, 2014
Publication Date May 1, 2015
Deposit Date May 7, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal British Journal of Psychology
Print ISSN 0007-1269
Electronic ISSN 2044-8295
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 106
Issue 2
Pages 288-307
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12073
Keywords Cultural evolution, Cultural transmission, Evolutionary psychology, Content biases, Urban legends.

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Accepted Journal Article (522 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Stubbersfield, J. M., Tehrani, J. J. and Flynn, E. G. (2015), Serial killers, spiders and cybersex: Social and survival information bias in the transmission of urban legends. British Journal of Psychology, 106(2): 288-307, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12073. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.





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