The ontogeny of cultural learning

Tomasello, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.09.008

Cited by 79 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Some have argued that human children possess specialised 32 adaptations for acquiring knowledge from adults with little understanding of the benefits or uses of 33 that knowledge [94,95], which would preclude any kind of individual learning. The general pattern 34 of more social learning in youth accords with theoretical models showing that social learning is 35 most effective when combined with subsequent individual learning later in life [96,97].…”

Section: Age Differences 25mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution of Individual and Cultural Variation in Social Learning

Mesoudi

Chang

Dall

et al. 2016

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

208

189

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There has recently been huge growth in studies of social learning and culture (see Glossary) across 33 diverse species [1,2] successful individuals or copying the majority: [13,25]), much less attention has been devoted to 49 documenting and explaining individual variation in these phenomena within species, or among 50 groups of individuals (e.g. populations) within species. 51 52In experiments, typically the demonstration of social learning, or a particular mechanism or strategy 53 of social learning, in enough individuals or on enough trials to reach statistical significance leads to 54 the claim that this phenomenon is present in this particular species. The authors of one recent study 55

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Section: Age Differences 25mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution of Individual and Cultural Variation in Social Learning

Mesoudi

Chang

Dall

et al. 2016

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

208

189

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“…Young children are well equipped with a complex repertoire of social learning capacities (1,40). Cumulative culture transmission requires a particular kind of social learning that allows the accumulation of successful modifications over time through a process of cultural ratcheting (41)(42)(43). For example, humans improved upon the Oldowan single-face stone tool, used more or less intact for a million years, by creating bifacial Acheulean handaxes with dramatically improved functionality-an example of cultural continuity followed by punctuated innovation (44).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Teaching, high-fidelity imitation, and language are three linked abilities that work in concert to support cultural transmission in humans (48). Teaching and imitation reflect the distinction between instructed and imitative learning (43). Language allows information transfer between individuals, supporting both teaching and imitation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Cumulative cultural learning: Development and diversity

Legare

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

138

101

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The complexity and variability of human culture is unmatched by any other species. Humans live in culturally constructed niches filled with artifacts, skills, beliefs, and practices that have been inherited, accumulated, and modified over generations. A causal account of the complexity of human culture must explain its distinguishing characteristics: It is cumulative and highly variable within and across populations. I propose that the psychological adaptations supporting cumulative cultural transmission are universal but are sufficiently flexible to support the acquisition of highly variable behavioral repertoires. This paper describes variation in the transmission practices (teaching) and acquisition strategies (imitation) that support cumulative cultural learning in childhood. Examining flexibility and variation in caregiver socialization and children's learning extends our understanding of evolution in living systems by providing insight into the psychological foundations of cumulative cultural transmissionthe cornerstone of human cultural diversity.cumulative culture | cultural evolution | cross-cultural comparison | teaching | imitation

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“…But it still mostly holds, and we (9) argued that this difference in social learning accounted for the fact that chimpanzee culture was tentative and fragile, whereas human culture was so well entrenched that its products and practices could ratchet up in complexity over time cumulatively. And I (10)(11)(12) argued that this process of cumulative cultural evolution accounts for human groups having such complex technologies, symbol systems, and institutions.…”

Section: Communication and Social Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Great Apes and Human Development: A Personal History

Tomasello

2018

Child Dev Perspectives

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ABSTRACT-In this article, I recount my history of research with great apes. From the beginning, the idea was to compare apes to human children, with an eye to discovering facts relevant to describing and explaining processes of human development. The research went through three more or less distinct stages, focusing on communication and social learning, social cognition and theory of mind, and cooperation and shared intentionality. I conclude by identifying problems and prospects for comparative research in developmental psychology.

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The ontogeny of cultural learning

Cited by 79 publications

References 27 publications

The Evolution of Individual and Cultural Variation in Social Learning

The Evolution of Individual and Cultural Variation in Social Learning

Cumulative cultural learning: Development and diversity

Great Apes and Human Development: A Personal History

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