Types of Diffusion
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| diffusion/dɪˈfjuːʒn/ | The net movement of particles from higher to lower concentration due to their random motion. |
| hearth/hɑːθ/ | A place or region where a cultural practice, innovation or idea originates before spreading elsewhere. |
| relocation diffusion/rɪləʊˈkeɪʃn dɪˈfjuːʒn/ | The spread of a cultural trait when people move and carry it to new locations. |
| contagious/kənˈteɪdʒəs/ | Describing diffusion through widespread person-to-person or nearby contact rather than primarily through a hierarchy of centres. |
| hierarchical/haɪəˈrɑːkɪkl/ | Describing diffusion through influential people or places and their networks, rather than spreading evenly to every nearby location. |
| stimulus/ˈstɪmjʊləs/ | A form of diffusion in which an underlying idea spreads but is adapted rather than copied in its original form. |
| expansion diffusion/ekˈspænʃn dɪˈfjuːʒn/ | The spread of a trait to additional people or places while it remains established in its original area. |
How culture spreads
- Diffusion 扩散 is the spread of a cultural trait from its hearth 源地 (origin).
- There are two big families of diffusion.
- Knowing which type explains how an idea travelled.
The place where a cultural trait begins is its ____.
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The hearth is the origin from which diffusion spreads.
Relocation diffusion
- Relocation diffusion 迁移扩散 spreads as people migrate.
- The trait appears in the new place but may fade at the source.
- Example: immigrants bringing their cuisine to a new country.
Relocation, contagious 传染扩散, hierarchical 等级扩散 and stimulus 刺激扩散 diffusion
In relocation diffusion, the trait spreads because people migrate and carry it.
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Relocation diffusion moves with migrating people.
Expansion diffusion
- Expansion diffusion 扩展扩散 spreads outward while staying strong at the source. Three types:
- Contagious — person-to-person to nearby people (a viral video).
- Hierarchical — from big, important places first (a trend from major cities); stimulus — the idea spreads even as the form changes (a chain adapting its menu).
Which type of diffusion?
Sort each example into its diffusion type.
A trend that appears in major cities before reaching small towns is spreading by ____ diffusion.
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Big/important places first = hierarchical diffusion.
Select all types of expansion diffusion.
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Contagious, hierarchical, and stimulus are expansion types; relocation is separate.
Match each example to its diffusion type.
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Relocation = moved with people; contagious = nearby; stimulus = idea spreads, form changes.
The key split: in relocation diffusion the people move (and carry the trait); in expansion diffusion the people mostly stay and the trait spreads outward from a source that keeps it. Ask: did the carriers migrate, or did the idea jump while they stayed put?
A viral dance spreading through a school is contagious (person to person, nearby). A fashion appearing in world capitals before small towns is hierarchical (big places first). Immigrants bringing a festival to a new country is relocation (it moved with them).
Diffusion spreads a trait from its hearth. Relocation diffusion moves with migrating people; expansion diffusion spreads outward while staying strong at the source, in three forms: contagious (nearby), hierarchical (big places first), and stimulus (idea spreads, form changes).
Write from relocation diffusion
- Migrants carry a cooking custom from their home region to a new city.
- They practise it in the new place.
What type of diffusion is this?
Relocation diffusion travels with migrants.
What diffusion carries a custom with migrants?
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The custom moved because the people moved.