A new computational theory of social learning in animals
Associative mechanisms can result in transfer of information and behaviour from experienced to naive individuals. A new model and results from the Centre for Cultural Evolution show that associative processes supported by genetic predisposition can account for most types of social learning processes found in nonhuman animals.
Social transmission of information is a key phenomenon in the evolution of behavior and in the establishment of traditions and culture. To this day, a plethora of social learning processes have been described. Here, we used a computational formulation of associative learning, taking instinctual aspects of behavior into account, to analyze social learning in nonhuman animals. Our results show that associative processes supported by genetic predisposition can account for most types of social learning processes found in nonhuman animals. We conclude that combining associative learning with instinctual aspects of behavior provides a unitary framework for the study of social learning in nonhuman animals.
The full paper is publicly available:
Johan Lind, Stefano Ghirlanda & Magnus Enquist (2019): Social learning through associative processes: a computational theory. Royal Society Open Science (6), 181777.
Last updated: September 9, 2022
Source: Centre for Cultural Evolution