The **Rice Theory of Culture** is a social psychology theory that suggests the demands of traditional rice farming, particularly paddy rice, led to the development of more **interdependent (collectivist)** and **tight** cultures, especially when compared to cultures that traditionally farmed other major staple crops like wheat.

### 🍚 Key Ideas of the Theory

The core argument centers on the differences between traditional wet rice farming and dry-land farming (like wheat):

* **Intense Labor & Labor Sharing:** Traditional paddy rice farming is significantly more labor-intensive than wheat farming. This high demand for labor encouraged farmers to develop customs for sharing work, relying heavily on neighbors and extended family during peak seasons like planting and harvesting.
* **Need for Coordination and Cooperation (Interdependence):** Rice paddies rely on **complex irrigation systems** (canals, dikes, sluices) to flood and drain the fields.
* Building and maintaining these systems is beyond the capacity of a single farmer, requiring **collective organization and constant coordination** among the community.
* Decisions about water use—who gets how much water and when—require strict cooperation to function successfully, creating a shared fate among the village.
* **Resulting Cultural Traits (Tightness and Collectivism):** Over generations, this continuous need for coordination and mutual dependence is argued to have shaped the psychological and social culture, leading to:
* **Interdependent/Collectivistic mindsets:** Prioritizing the group, harmony, and social context over individual needs.
* **Tight Social Norms:** Having strong social rules with a low tolerance for deviation, which helps maintain the high degree of coordination required for the farming system.

### 🌾 Contrast with Wheat Cultures

In contrast, traditional **wheat farming** often relies on rain (dry-land farming) and requires significantly less labor and inter-community coordination. This relative independence is argued to have fostered **individualistic (independent)** and **looser** cultures, where there is more personal autonomy and less reliance on a tight social network.

### 🗺️ Evidence and Scope

The theory was initially proposed and tested by Thomas Talhelm and colleagues, focusing on the cultural differences **within China**, where the south historically farmed rice and the north farmed wheat.

* **China:** Studies have found differences along the rice/wheat historical border, with rice regions showing lower implicit individualism, more holistic thinking, lower divorce rates, and tighter social norms.
* **Global Scope:** The theory has also been extended to cultural differences in other nations with a history of intensive rice cultivation (e.g., Japan, South Korea, parts of India) compared to those based on wheat or herding.

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