PsychologySeptember 6, 2026
hyperselection
HY-per-suh-LEK-shun
Definition
A process where extreme competition and the optimization of successful traits lead to the repeated selection of identical characteristics while alternative, less efficient options are eliminated.
Etymology
The word combines the Greek prefix 'hyper-', meaning over or excessive, with the Latin 'selectio', meaning a choosing out. It is a modern formation used to describe the intensification of evolutionary or market-driven selection processes.
In the news
The article uses this term to explain why modern music, cities, and academic research are becoming increasingly uniform and predictable as we optimize too efficiently for proven successes.
How ‘hyperselection’ is making modern life efficient, pleasant – and boring
Read the full article ↗The National Tribune