What is Stimulus diffusion?

Stimulus diffusion is a term used to describe the spread of ideas, goods, or technologies from one culture to another. Under this concept, even if a culture does not acquire goods or ideas directly from a source, their own cultural products may incorporate elements of foreign goods or ideas that have been diffused from a nearby culture. In other words, stimulus diffusion occurs when cultural traits are transferred from one culture to another through a process of contact and adaptation.