Article
Details
Citation
Wilks CEH, Atkinson M & Caldwell CA (2022) Children's use of social information from multiple models: Cognitive capacities underlying population size effects on cumulative culture. Culture and Evolution. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2055/aop/article-10.1556-2055.2021.00005/article-10.1556-2055.2021.00005.xml; https://doi.org/10.1556/2055.2021.00005
Abstract
Population size has been proposed to promote cumulative culture in humans. Experimental evidence from adult humans suggests that one explanatory mechanism might involve combining beneficial information from multiple models. However, it is possible that such combinatory social learning requires cognitive capacities restricted to adult humans. In our task, children aged 5–10 were exposed to two models who consecutively searched a 3×3 array for rewards. Models revealed different correct and incorrect reward locations. This information could be used by the child to maximise their own score on the same task. We were interested in children's ability to select rewarded locations, and avoid unrewarded ones, revealed by both models. We also manipulated the spatial and temporal displacement of the information available. Results showed that the youngest children were unable to fully benefit from the additional information provided by the two models under spatial and/or temporal displacement. Such displacement likely applies in most real-world cases of cumulative culture therefore our result may offer insight into the constraints on cumulative culture in nonhumans.
Keywords
cumulative culture; population size; cultural evolution; social learning; multiple models; ratchet effect; cognitive development
Notes
Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Online
Journal
Culture and Evolution
Status | Early Online |
---|---|
Funders | European Commission (Horizon 2020) |
Publication date online | 31/05/2022 |
Date accepted by journal | 29/12/2021 |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/1893/34500 |
Publisher URL | https://akjournals.com/…5.2021.00005.xml |
People (1)
Professor Christine Anna Caldwell
Professor, Psychology