Social Learning In Animals: The Roots of Culture

by Cecilia M. Heyes (Editor), Bennett G. Galef Jr. (Editor)

Overview

The increasing realization among behaviorists and psychologists is that many animals learn by observation as members of social systems. Such settings contribute to the formation of culture. This book combines the knowledge of two groups of scientists with different backgrounds to establish a working consensus for future research. The book is divided into two major sections, with contributions by a well-known, international, and interdisciplinary team which integrates these growing areas of inquiry.

• Integrates the broad range of scientific approaches being used in the studies of social learning and imitation, and society and culture
• Provides an introduction to this field of study as well as a starting point for the more experienced researcher
• Chapters are succinct reviews of innovative discoveries and progress made during the past decade
• Includes statements of varied theoretical perspectives on controversial topics
• Authoritative contributions by an international team of leading researchers

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780080541310
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	05/23/1996
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	411
Lexile:	1410L (what's this?)
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Cecilia Heyes completed her doctoral research on social learning in animals in the Department of Psychology at University College London (UCL), under the supervision of Professor Henry Plotkin. As a Harkness Fellow of the Commonwealth Fund of New York, she spent two years in the United States, studying evolutionary epistemology and philosophy of science at the University of Chicago, Lehigh University, and Tufts University. On her return to England, she was a Research Fellow of Trinity Hall, working in the Laboratory of Experimental Psychology at the University of Cambridge. Since 1988, she has been on the faculty at UCL.In her research on social learning in rodents and social cognition in primates, Dr. Heyes seeks to combine the strengths of associative learning theory and evolutionary approaches to the study of cognition. In her own empirical work (e.g. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 45B, 81-92, 1992; Animal Learning and Behavior, 21, 221-225, 1993), and through her literature reviews (e.g. Animal Behaviour, 46, 177-188, 1993; 46, 999-1010, 1993; 47, 909-919, 1994; Biological Reviews, 69, 207-231) she promotes the use of learning theory's rigorous methodology to address the important questions posed by evolutionary psychology. She has co-edited with Bennett Galef Social Learning in Animals: The Roots of Culture for Academic Press (1996), and is currently preparing a book on imitation.Dr. Heyes is an Associate Editor of The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, a Consulting Editor of Animal Behaviour, a Fellow of the 21st Century Trust, and a member of the International Society for History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology. She has appeared in several television documentaries on animal thought.

Table of Contents

Social Learning:
B.G. Galef, Jr., Introduction.
J. Terkel, Cultural Transmission of Feeding Behavior in the Black Rat (Rattus rattus).
B.G. Galef, Jr., Social Enhancement of Food Preferences in Norway Rats: A Brief Review.
D.M. Fragaszy and E. Visalberghi, Social Learning in Monkeys: Primate 'Primacy' Reconsidered.
L.A. Dugatkin, Copying and Mate Choice.
L. Lefebvre and L.-A. Giraldeau, Is Social Learning and Adaptive Specialization?
K.N. Laland, P.J. Richeron, and R. Boyd, Developing a Theory of Animal Social Learning.
M.E. West, Social Learning: Synergy and Songbirds.
R.R. Provine, Contagious Yawning and Laughing: Significance for Sensory Feature Detection, Motor Pattern Generation, Imitation and the Evolution of Social Behavior.
Imitation:
C.M. Heyes, Introduction: Identifying and Defining Imitation.
T.R. Zentall, An Analysis of Imitative Learning in Animals.
B.R. Moore, The Evolution of Imitative Learning.
M.A. Huffman, Acquisition of Innovative Cultural Behaviors in Nonhuman Primates: A Case Study of Stone Handling, a Socially Transmitted Behavior in Japanese Macaques.
A. Whiten and D. Custance, Studies of Imitation in Chimpanzees and Children.
M. Tomasello, Do Apes Ape?
A. Meltzoff, The Human Infant as Imitative Generalist: A 20-Year Progressive Report.
C.M. Heyes, Genuine Imitation?
Chapter References.
Author Index.
Subject Index.

Editorial Reviews

Presents papers by behaviorists and psychologists, investigating whether, how, and why animals learn by observation as members of social systems. Sections on social learning and imitation review research in areas such as cultural transmission of feeding behavior in rats, copying and mate choice, social learning as an adaptive specialization, contagious yawning and laughing, and imitative learning in nonhuman primates and children. For researchers in animal and human behavior and learning. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Clearly, this volume offers much that appeals to a wide ranger of potential readers. Moreover, this panarama of intriguing material is presented at a level that is accessible by both students and faculty. The only thing left at this point is to acquire a copy of this fine work." —CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY

"Bennett Galef and Celia Heyes provide useful introductory chapters to each of these sections... Overall I found this book authoritative, informative, and frequently entertaining." —BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

From the Publisher