Withingeneration

Withingeneration is a term used in some theoretical discussions to denote the set of processes and dynamics that occur within a single generation. Broadly, it refers to changes that take place within the lifetime or cohort before reproduction that influence which traits or behaviors are present when the next generation is produced. The concept is employed to examine how variation is generated and filtered inside a generation, apart from longer-term changes that accrue across generations. Interpretations of withingeneration vary by discipline but share an emphasis on intra-cohort dynamics rather than transgenerational transfer alone. In evolutionary biology and related fields, withingeneration can encompass developmental plasticity, somatic selection within an organism, and other non-genetic influences that alter phenotype during the reproductive window. In cultural evolution and social science contexts, the term is used to describe rapid shifts in norms, technologies, or practices within a cohort that subsequently affect the traits available to later offspring or successors. The term often appears in discussions of non-genetic inheritance, epigenetic mechanisms, and the role of within-cohort interactions in shaping evolutionary outcomes. Critics caution that withingeneration is not a single, precisely defined notion and can be variably operationalized. Proponents emphasize its usefulness for distinguishing intra-cohort processes from cross-generational change. Related concepts include within-generation selection, non-genetic inheritance, epigenetics, and cultural evolution.