memeplex

A memeplex is a cohesive cluster of memes—units of cultural information such as ideas, behaviors, or practices—that cohere and reinforce one another, spreading together as a unit. While a meme represents a single element of culture, a memeplex describes an interconnected bundle that is more likely to persist because its parts support each other and fit within the social and cognitive environment.

The term was popularized by Richard Dawkins in The Selfish Gene (1976) to explain how complex cultural systems can propagate not merely as isolated memes but as interdependent networks. A memeplex can include beliefs, rituals, symbols, and norms that reinforce one another, making the whole system more resilient to counter-memes. Transmission occurs through communication, education, institutions, and social practice, allowing the entire bundle to spread even when individual memes face resistance.

Examples of memeplexes include religious traditions with their doctrines, rituals, and moral codes; political ideologies with corresponding narratives and practices; national myths and civic rituals; professional norms and industrial standards; and contemporary brand ecosystems that combine logos, slogans, and consumer practices. Internet cultures also often function as memeplexes, where memes, formats, and participatory practices reinforce one another and propagate collectively.

Critics note that the concept can be difficult to operationalize and boundaries between memeplexes and their constituent memes can be fuzzy. Despite varying applicability, the idea helps explain how clusters of related ideas adapt and spread within societies, shaping behavior and cultural evolution.