Diffusion

Objective: Distinguish between the different types of diffusion with

examples of each

What is diffusion?

The process by which an idea, object or innovation is transmitted across space… usually from one culture to another

Relocation- spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another

Expansion- The spread of a feature from one place to another in a snowball process

Two kinds

Immigration/Migration

Business/International Trade

Causes of relocation diffusion

Types of Expansion Diffusion

Hierarchical

Cause: expansion from a person or

node of authority or power

Examples: urban to rural; a law is

passed; popular icon does

something good or bad

Contagious

Cause: expansion catches on quickly and is hard to stop

Examples: flu epidemic of 1918,

AIDS in Africa, AIDS treatment in the US

Stimulus

Cause: the underlying principle

expands specific characteristics do

not

Examples: the MacIntosh mouse

What type of diffusion are each of the following?

What makes expansion diffusion

more likely now than in the past?