How did neoevolutionism differ from nineteenth-century evolutionism?

In the context of sociology and anthropology, neoevolutionism emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the limitations of 19th-century evolutionism. While both schools are concerned with long-term social change, they differ fundamentally in their assumptions and methodologies.12

Key Differences

• Developmental Stages: Nineteenth-century evolutionism assumed that all societies followed a single, predetermined, and inevitable line of development, often positioning Western society as the most "advanced" or the ultimate destination for all others. In contrast, neoevolutionism rejects the idea that all societies must pass through the same stages. Instead, it emphasizes multilinear evolution, focusing on the diverse ways different cultures adapt to their unique environments.21
• Determinism vs. Probability: Early theories viewed social evolution as a fixed, inevitable process governed by universal laws. Neoevolutionists, however, understand evolutionary development in terms of probabilities rather than predetermination.2
• Progress: Nineteenth-century thinkers frequently equated evolutionary development with moral or social "progress." Neoevolutionism explicitly avoids equating evolutionary change with progress, treating it instead as a cumulative and patterned process of adaptation.2
• Focus: While 19th-century theories were often descriptive and classificatory, neoevolutionism emphasizes the relationship between cultures and their environments, often incorporating cultural ecology and the study of how societies harness energy to adapt.1